If the conditions are safe, you might get the chance to swim or snorkel with dolphins. This means we might be able get in the water right next to the dolphins. You will not be able to touch the dolphins in any way. They are wild dolphins with a mind of their very own. They will sometimes swim close to you at times. Dolphins are not fed or harassed by us. Swimming with dolphins is not something we guarantee. We feel that promising "swimming" with dolphins would be unethical. We appreciate the wild dolphins as they are. All our boat tours comply with and support the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If dolphins swim in unsafe areas for us to swim, we won't allow them to enter the water. This decision is up to captain.
Shell Island is a popular destination for tourists visiting Panama City Beach. The island is small and undeveloped making it a great spot to see Florida's natural beauty.
Shell Island Dolphin Tours Holmes Beach FlFlorida law bans dolphin swimming, touching and feeding. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officers monitor the waters to ensure that these rules and regulations are being followed. You might be able to spot dolphins close enough to the boat that you have a wonderful view and great opportunity for photos. Shell Island Snorkel Tours may be the best option for you if wild dolphins are in the water. They often swim near snorkelers.
Rent a pontoon boat for a new adventure. Maximum occupancy: 10 passengers or 1600 lbs. Safety equipment is provided.
These guided tours offer a unique opportunity to visit Shell Island from both land and water.
These tours leave every two hours so there is plenty of time for you to pick from. Sunset tours are also possible!
These private dolphin tours start at $300 and can accommodate up to 6 guests. The cost is $50 per person. This is a fantastic deal if you have this many people! Dolphin Seafari can accommodate larger parties if given advance notice. Please call 850-960-8107 if your group includes more than 6 persons to verify availability.
Private tours for up to 6 persons are $400, or less than $70/person. It's a bargain for a 3-hour tour. It is great for families with children and infants, as it allows you to create memories together.
What should I bring? There is almost everything that you will need, but you can still bring any you wish. A towel, polarized sunglasses and a sweater/jacket are recommended if the temperature is below 80 degrees. Because of the breeze, it is always cooler to be on an open-air boat. Bring any snacks or beverages with you. It is allowed to have alcohol.
Top Attraction in PCB Florida. Ask about private tours for you and your loved ones. It is more expensive but worth the extra effort. Contact us to inquire about pricing and other requirements.
We cruise along the waters surrounding Shell Island and Grand Lagoon, St. Andrews State Parks, St. Andrews Bay and Panama City Beach, looking for all types of wildlife and marine life. Every day, we have the opportunity to see different species of wildlife on our boat tours. Each day is different, depending on what the environment and wildlife are in the area. We adjust our boat rides daily to provide you with the best possible dolphin tour and snorkeling tour. Each day is different. Shell Island's marine life, snorkeling spots, as well as the stops we make, change daily. This is great because you'll see something new every time you go on a tour with us. Your captain will be happy to accommodate any special requests you might have for your boat tour.
Jet ski tours also have another cool feature: dolphins are curious about jet ski wakes, which is a great bonus.
It is possible to have seen dolphins captive in a marine sanctuary, but it is more exciting to watch them in their natural habitat. Although wild dolphin behavior is unpredictable and not possible to predict, the tour captains have many years of experience operating on the waters around St. Andrew Bay almost every single day. They know where dolphins are most common and do everything they can to ensure that guests have an amazing time. Dolphins can often be seen jumping, playing and searching for food on many tours.
If the conditions allow, you may be able to swim with and snorkel alongside dolphins. We may be able to swim in the same area as the dolphins. However, you won't be able touch them. These dolphins are wild and can have their own thoughts. Sometimes they can swim within 3 feet of your body, other times they may swim away from you. We don't feed dolphins or harass them. Swimming with dolphins is not guaranteed. We don't believe it ethical to promise'swimming' with dolphins. We are happy to be able to interact with wild dolphins. All of our boat tours follow the Marine Mammal Protection Act guidelines. We will not allow dolphins to swim in areas that are unsafe for us to swim. The captain can decide.
Low tide is the best time to be on the beach, especially if the tides are low in the morning. It is often just a matter of finding the right moment to be on the beach and looking for seashells. This is especially true after storms or strong winds. Even better can be low spring tides at full moon and new moon times.
Shell Island (or Key), is only accessible by boat as it is part of the Shell Key Preserve. You can find it in Pinellas County between Fort Desoto Park & Pass-A-Grille Beach. To load your kayak or boat, take the Pinellas Byway South through Terra Verde.
The area has an average of 320 sunny days per year. However, the region's late spring, summer, and early fall seasons offer the highest air and water temperatures. Avoiding March and April is a good idea as it will avoid the throngs of college students who flock to the area's ivory sands each year for spring break.