Relax and enjoy the company of your USCG captain/tourguide as you watch stunning sunsets from the water. You can bring your favorite beverage or snack to enjoy the evening.
On your trip with Blue Dolphin Tours, you will be able to swim with Panama City’s resident pods of wild bottlenosed dolphins. These boats are super fast and specifically designed for meeting with the dolphins. Blue Dolphin Tours does not carry more than 150 people. Instead, we can take six passengers on some boats and seven to fifteen on other boats. This includes children of all ages. Your snorkel gear and you can be in the water within minutes. We don't need to cause any disturbances or splashing, which can sometimes scare the dolphins. Your Captain is Your Guide - Your captain will help you learn how to interact well with dolphins. Swim with Dolphins. - You'll be able to swim in the ocean before the dolphins arrive. Dolphins are more likely not to swim away from us if we do this. See wildlife such as birds, pelicans, aquatic creatures and herons. Shells, sand dollars, and other treasures can be found on Shell Island. Snorkel the flats of grass and discover St. Andrews Bay.
“This was a highlight of our Florida trip. We felt safe, really enjoyed ourselves, and learned some things too. Captain Jack was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.”
We had an amazing time! Christian, our captain of the boat, was fantastic. Our group ranged in age from 2 years to 81, and everyone had a blast. We went to Shell Island, met dolphins, touched jellyfish cannonballs, and enjoyed the boat trip. Christo was polite, knowledgeable, and friendly. Christo was a great captain. Lagoon Pontoons booked staff were very helpful and friendly. They answered all questions and provided suggestions for seniors and toddlers. 5 stars!! !
To ensure that you have the best experience possible, our captains will give you many options for how to spend your time. You can snorkel the grass flats at Shell Island and the jetties. You might enjoy a stroll on the beach to see starfish, starfish, crabs and fish of all types during this incredible eco tour.
We can accommodate a maximum group size of 13 per boat, for a maximum of 12. If you have a larger party, though, we can make arrangements with our local partners.
"We had so many fun today swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling on Shell Island. I highly recommend this company. This was the highlight our vacation." - Christy
Be your own guide and rent a pontoon boat for the day! For visitors who would like to captain their own vessel, we have pontoon boats available for rent. You will receive our Map with directions of our favorite snorkeling locations, sandbars, common dolphin areas, and more.
You can cruise in one of our boats designed for cruising, while you watch beautiful dolphins in the wild and swim with them.
You will be able to see dolphins in the water under the expert guidance of your captain.
There are many species we see, including starfish, sanddollars bay scallops, whelks conchs upto 21" long, seahorses urchins and hermit crabs. These animals can be brought up to the surface, handled gently, and photographed. We bring large containers so that snorkelers, as well as non-snorkelers, can get close to the animals before they're released into the bay. The shells of non-living creatures can be taken home.
Private tours are available to reserve the entire boat only for you. This is your personalized tour. You can personalize your tour. A private charter may only be used by six people.
"Captain Jack placed us just at the right moment to view the dolphins swim under our feet. It made for a unique experience."
Your privacy will be assured on your private dolphin tour. You and your group will only be allowed to board the boat with your captain. The Coast Guard has limited the number of passengers to 13, with children of all ages.
Dolphins are most active at dawn, between 10 a.m. and noon, and from 2 p.m. to dusk. A good pair of telephoto lenses or binoculars can be extremely useful for spotting dolphins.
Islamorada and Key Largo are popular locations for seeing the animals in the wild. The Florida Keys are a popular breeding ground for dolphins, so you can see them all year.
A: You can get to Shell Island by boat or jet ski. The St. Andrews Shuttle to Shell Island costs $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for children ages 2 to 12, and free for infants ages 0 to 1. There are also several locations where you can rent a jet ski or pontoon boat.