Crab Island
With one of our well-maintained Shell Island Pontoon Boat Rentals, you can explore Shell Island on your own or with your loved ones.
Shell Island is a 7-mile-long barrier beach and barrier island that lies in the southern end of St. Andrews State Park. You can reach the island by either private boat or official Shell Island Cruise. This is the perfect spot for those who desire a beautiful beach experience. It is a great place to snorkel and swim. The island's inland hiking trails offer the chance to view rare Florida bird and plant species in their natural environment.
After about an hour on Shell Island will be over, we'll sail leisurely out to see if wild dolphins are there. (Please see the below dolphin disclaimer). We hope the conditions are perfect and dolphin sightings are very common. But, we do not control the weather. The cruise back to Panama City Beach is a great sailing party with upbeat music, games, and dancing.
We love our dolphins, and we want them to thrive for future generations. We would love for them to be just as excited to meet us as we are! However, it would also mean that dolphins are being fed on boats by people. This is illegal and potentially dangerous for them.
And of course, seeing Shell Island is only part of the tour! As we cross out to the island. Keep a sharp eye out for dolphins, because we often see wild schools of dolphins in the area. You could also make a Shell Island rest stop part of a charter fishing trip.
St. Andrews State Park Campground Camp Store has beach bike rentals. Ride along the loops and park roads of the campground, or on the 2-mile paved bicycle trail that winds through the park. This trail is great for seeing deer and other park wildlife. There are two easy, short hiking trails in the Park that allow walkers to get a closer look at coastal scrub habitats as well as native pine forests.
Had a great time relaxing on the catamaran, looking out for dolphins and snorkeling and paddle boarding. The staff was great! We saw quite a few dolphins and sting rays as well. Not many fish to see snorkeling, but it was still fun.
There is still an amazingly pristine, uninhabited island just waiting to be explored. Shell Island is a barrier island, a 7-mile stretch of undeveloped land nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews
Shell Island has a fascinating amount of local wildlife including dolphins, loggerhead turtles, green sea turtles, ghost crabs, beach mice, nine-banded armadillos, alligators that live in the lake on the island, marsh rabbits, racoons and more.
Shell Island is a nature preserve with no restrooms or any other visitor facilities such as trash receptacles, picnic tables, or shade pavilions. There is no trash removal service. Island visitors are asked to be responsible and take everything they bring to the Island with them when they leave.
Shell Island is seven miles of undeveloped scenery between the Gulf and St. Andrew Bay. At one point, Shell Island was inhabited by Native Americans, Spanish Settlers, and even pirates.