During the second leg of your excursion, you’ll come across the best of what St Andrews Bay has to offer in terms of wildlife. These include birds like herons, ospreys, and pelicans, underwater marine life like hermit crabs, sea urchins, sea horses, blue crabs, and starfish, plus all the animal life on Shell Island. Shell Island is an exploring heaven for those interested in shells and sand dollars. Snorkel grass flats and discover St. Andrews Bay along the Gulf of Mexico.
These friendly local captains have decades experience in the waters of this area and are knowledgeable about dolphins, manatees, as well as other marine life. They love to customize your trip and show you the natural beauty of this special place.
Your group will swim in the water faster than the dolphins. If you do this, dolphins will start to be curious about you and your group, and instead of swimming off, they will gravitate towards you. It is important to remember that dolphins can be wild animals so it is not easy to inspire curiosity in them. This can be related to people who appear to only care about someone they are with when they have shown the least amount of caring. This is likely how your mom came to know your dad.
Our Dolphin & Island Tours usually last 3 hours. The departure times can vary depending on the season. We leave the dock at 9:30 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.
St. Andrews Bay Charters organizes private charters that can accommodate 12 guests. This will allow for a more intimate, interactive experience and safer trip as you won’t be sharing the boat.
For complete information about pricing, policies, what to expect and what to bring, please visit our Pricing & Information page.
It was a great time. Captain was amazing. The captain even showed us a jelly fish that doesn’t sting. We stopped at a shell island with lots of shells. We had a great time and we will be back.
Relax and enjoy as your USCG Captain/tour guide takes to the water to show you some amazing sunsets and views. While you are enjoying the evening, bring your favorite beverage and/or snacks.
We will reserve the boat for your group or family, and the captain, during our private dolphin tour. Coast Guard regulations stipulate that 13 passengers are allowed, including children and infants.
Your captain will provide many options to help you make the most of your dolphin tour. One option is to snorkel on the grass flats or jetties of Shell Island. Perhaps you'd like to take a walk along the beach, where you can see starfish and crabs, fish, and birds of all sorts during this amazing eco-tour!
Your group will jump into the water first before the dolphins. This will make the dolphins curious and they will swim towards you instead of away. Since dolphins are wild animals, it is best to be uninterested in them. This can be attributed to those who are only interested in someone when they show little care. This is probably how mom met your dad.
We depart from the docks in Off the Hook Bar & Grill near the Thomas Drive bridge at 1101 Bayview Avenue Panama City FL, 32401.
If conditions allow, guests are welcome to get in the water when dolphins are nearby. Safety is always our first priority, and your captain will instruct you how to safely snorkel around marine mammals.
This is a wonderful way to spend a single day. My 22-year-old son and his friends went for half a day. The pontoon boat was amazing, as was the entire day. Rob was great, and everyone had the most amazing time.
Snorkeling is a fun and easy activity for people of all ages. One of the best things about Shell Island is that the calm shallow water behind the jetty is ideal for first-time snorkelers.
When is the Best Time to Visit Florida to See Dolphins? The best time to see dolphins is from late May to early August. You're most likely to see them between 10 a.m. and noon, and then again between 2 p.m. and dark.
If you and your family enjoy fishing, eating seafood, golfing, a vibrant nightlife, and shopping, Destin is the place to be. However, if you want a more relaxed family vacation with excellent waterfront lodging and a variety of children's activities, Panama City Beach is the place to be.