It was a great time. Christian, our captain, was great. Our group included children from 2 years to 81 years of age. Everyone had a lot of fun. We were able to touch a jellyfish from a cannonball, saw dolphins and went on a boat ride to Shell Island. Christo was friendly, knowledgeable and polite. Christo was our captain and we will be returning. Lagoon Pontoons' booking staff was very friendly and easy to deal with. They were able to answer all our questions and offer suggestions on how to accommodate toddlers and seniors. 5 stars!! !
Captain Jack was an amazing man. He was very knowledgeable. We decided what was most important to him and he chose dolphin sightings for the majority.
Would you like to reserve a private tour? Our private charter options let customers add additional time to their dolphin tour (which starts at 2 or 3 hour) and add activities (ex. additional snorkeling area, more island time etc.). 13 people can each boat. Your captain will help you get in the water to view dolphins in their natural habitat. You can then take a guided snorkel tour around Shell Island to observe other sealife.
You can be your own guide by renting a pontoon boat! Rentable pontoon boats are also available for those visitors who prefer to take control of their own boat. We will send you a Map that shows where we recommend snorkeling, sandbars or common areas for dolphin sightings.
Cancellation requests made within 24 hours of the tour date/time CANNOT receive a refund due to the time it takes to reserve the seats for other clients, and WILL be charged the full amount of the tour.
There can be no more than 13 people (including children) per boat, as per Coast Guard regulations. The Family Cruiser has a maximum of 13 passengers.
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.
“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.”
Your trip aboard our super-comfortable boats will allow you to swim and see dolphins in their natural habitat. Children will love snorkeling in the water and being able to see the dolphins from our boats.
If you want to be close to the dolphins and have the opportunity to interact with them, this trip is for your.
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.
This Dolphin Tour boat can carry six people, which is a lot less than larger boats with a capacity for up to 175 tourists. Larger groups can create a lot of noise which disrupts the dolphins and drives them away. It is important to note that we can quickly and expertly get you into the water without scaring away the dolphins.
Our friendly, local captains have decades of experience on these waters and a wealth of knowledge about the area’s dolphins, manatees, and other marine life. They are always happy to customize your trip and love showing you the natural beauty of this unique place.
Additionally, we often see manatees. If conditions allow, you may enter the water near manatees, but we practice passive observation and never approach them.
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.