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.
Relax and enjoy the company of your USCG captain/tourguide as you watch stunning sunsets from the water. You can bring your favorite beverage or snack to enjoy the evening.
All snorkeling tours include snorkeling gear. We frequently visit different snorkeling areas. We regularly change our snorkeling site. The conditions at our local snorkeling sites can change daily. We do our best to take you snorkeling at the calmest and clearest sites on the day we conduct your Dolphin and Snorkeling tour. We also snorkel sandbars, artificial reefs, as well as seagrass beds. We will take you to some of the most beautiful spots in the area.
St. Andrew Bay houses one of most populous populations of bottlenoses. They are the iconic gray dolphins many people associate with television, movies, or marine parks. Although the dolphins in St. Andrew Bay are wild, they are comfortable around humans. It is not uncommon for boaters to see dolphins swimming, feeding and playing on the Bay.
To start off your tour, our guides will show you the beauty of Shell Island. This 7 mile stretch of undeveloped paradise is a barrier island that runs east to west between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. This is Florida at its most natural, far away from the theme parks and resorts. Shell Island is a home for endangered species like loggerhead sea turtles and piping plovers, and is known for the abundance of beautiful shells that are found on the beaches.
Do you want a private tour that includes a bit more? Dolphin Seafari also offers walking and snorkeling tours.
Shell Island is best explored with an expert. But some visitors prefer to do it slowly. It's best to rent a boat. By renting a boat, you can get out on open water and park wherever it is convenient for you.
This is the best spot to find the newest attractions in Pcb. Find the best attractions and prices in our Featured section.
Because we are exploring the dolphins’ natural habitat, it’s always possible that we won’t be able to find where the dolphins are playing today. However, our guides have been doing this for years, and know all the places the dolphins love to be. Virtually all of our tours encounter at least a few of the dolphins that make up the largest population of wild dolphins in the world.
Shell Island is a favorite destination for those who visit the Panama City Beach area. The undeveloped island makes it an ideal place for visitors to explore the beauty and natural wonders of Florida.
This guided tour allows visitors to see both the sea and land sides of Shell Island.
Fun PCB provides a 2-hour, jet ski tour for $120 These tours can be quite costly, but you get a completely different experience.
For those who wish to combine both, Shell Island Dolphin Tours offers a 2-hour Split Charter Dolphin & Snorkeling Tour. These tours cost $55/person. They are open to all ages, making them suitable for everyone.
Let's take an overview of some of the most popular Shell Island dolphin tours, for those who wish to see dolphins in natural habitat.
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 Atlantic Ocean Bottlenose dolphins can be found in all oceans, but they are most common in the Atlantic Ocean.
Remember that Shell Key currently has no toilets or food and water.