You can snorkel to your hearts content aboard our boat, and there is no additional cost! You can also get complimentary Capri Suns and bottled water from the onboard cooler. Bring your own beverages, snacks, or BYOB.
You and your group will go in the water together before the dolphins do. You and your group will then be able to get into the water before the dolphins do. Instead of swimming away, they will become curious about you. Because dolphins are wild animals and will be curious about you, you should not try to stimulate their curiosity. This can be explained by people who show no caring and only become interested in someone they're dating. This is how Mom met your dad.
Online bookings close 12 hours before tours begin. For same day reservations please call (850) 392-7717
It was wonderful. The captain was great. We were even shown a jelly fish type that doesn't sting. We stopped by a large area with many shells. It was a wonderful time, and everyone will return.
You'll see the best of St Andrews Bay's wildlife on the second leg. These include birds like pelicans and herons as well as underwater marine life like starfish, blue crabs and blue horses, along with hermit crabs and other sea life. Shell Island offers a unique opportunity to discover shells and sanddollars. You can snorkel the flats of sand grass and visit St. Andrews Bay on the Gulf of Mexico.
Our guides have spent years studying the natural behavior of dolphins. We are experts at finding them, and then safely instruct our guests how they can enter the water to observe them. Additionally, your captain will go snorkeling with you to show starfish, pufferfishes welch conchs and other types sea creatures.
Our Carolina Skiffs, 21-foot and 23,-foot Carolina Skiffs, are stable and comfortable. These boats have a center console design to maximise open space and allow for easy movement about the boat. They also feature a fully cushioned forward platform for observation (and lounging), plus comfortable cushions for everyone in your group.
Your excursion will take you to Panama City Pass and show you the area where St. Andrews Bay converges with the Gulf of Mexico. We will guide you in how to interact and interact with dolphins.
If we swim parallel to dolphins instead of swimming towards them or reaching out to them (which is also illegal), then this will be the best, most ethical way to allow dolphins to come to our aid.
For maximum 12 persons, we can accommodate six people on each boat. We can accommodate up 13 people in a boat.
“We had so much fun today swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, and playing on Shell Island! I would highly recommend this company. This was the highlight of our vacation.” – Christy
Once you have reached your snorkeling spot your captain will be with you in the water to guide you on how to find seashells and other marine life. You can choose how you wish to spend your tour time, so it is as personalized as you would like.
In addition to observing dolphins, our dolphin and island tours visit beautiful Shell Island. Here we can explore the beach, hunt for shells, wade, swim, and, if conditions allow, snorkel in the crystal clear protected waters and observe a wide variety of marine life.
Swim with Panama City’s resident pod of wild bottle-nosed dolphins in their natural home on your trip aboard super-fast boats specially designed for finding and visiting with the dolphins. Unlike the larger tour boats that carry up to 150 people, Blue Dolphin Tours carries only 13 passengers on some boats & 7-15 on other boats (children of all ages included). We can have you in the water with your snorkel gear on quickly and without all the splashing and disruptions that large groups create, often frightening the dolphins away.Learn from Your Knowledgeable Captain - Your private captain will instruct you on the best means of interacting with the dolphins, such as swimming parallel with the dolphins rather than swimming toward them or reaching out for them.Swim with Dolphins - We'll put you in the water before the dolphins arrive. That way, the dolphins are more likely to come to us than swim away.Discover wildlife including birds of prey, pelicans, underwater creatures and herons. Explore the Shell Island area for sand dollars and shells. Snorkel grass flats and explore St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
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.