These watercraft enable you to cover more ground quickly, which is a bonus if you are looking to see more of the region. This tour is a great option for guests who need a little extra adrenaline to ride the waves.
For many years, we have been taking guests on dolphin tour with us. We follow all safety precautions to ensure that our guests are safe and that the dolphins are well-being. All safety equipment required by US Coast Guard is included on our comfortable and stable tour boats. All guests will have a great time on our Panama City Beach Dolphin tour. We do our best to accommodate guests who have special access requirements, so let us know.
Shell Island Dolphin Tours is able to accommodate larger groups, so call ahead to confirm availability if you have more than six guests.
You can swim with Panama City's wild bottle-nose dolphins on your trip in super-fast boats that are specially built for visiting and finding them. Shell Island Dolphin Tours is smaller than larger boats, which can carry between 150 and 150 people. We only take 6 people on certain boats and 7-15 on others boats, with children of all ages. You can be in the water quickly with your snorkel gear on without any disruptions or splashing that large groups cause, which often scares the dolphins away. Your Captain will teach you how to interact with dolphins. For example, it is better to swim parallel to them than to reach out and touch them. Swim with Dolphins – We will put you in the water prior to the dolphins arrive. This will make it more likely that the dolphins swim to us rather than to us. You can see wildlife such as birds of prey and pelicans, along with underwater creatures, herons, and even underwater creatures. Shells and sand dollars can be found in the Shell Island area. Explore St. Andrews Bay or the Gulf of Mexico by snorkeling grass flats.
Relax and unwind as your USCG captain/tour leader takes you out to enjoy breathtaking sunsets and views that only can be seen from the water. While you are enjoying the evening, bring your favorite beverage and/or snacks.
Although you may have seen dolphins in captivity in a marine park or aquarium, it is much more fascinating to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Even though wild dolphin behavior cannot be predicted, and sightings on all trips are not guaranteed, tour captains have a lot of experience on the waters of St. Andrew Bay almost every day. Our captains know where dolphins can be found, and they do everything possible to ensure guests have a good time. Dolphins can be seen on most tours jumping, playing, looking for food and communicating with each other.
Time to depart: 8:00 a.m 10:00 a.m 12:30a.m 3.00 p.m 5 :15 p.m. The most popular activity requires reservations: Jetski dolphin...
What should we bring? You will find almost everything you need onboard, but you are free to bring whatever you want. If it's below 80 degrees, we recommend that you bring a towel, polarized glasses, and a jacket or sweater. Open air boats are always cooler because of the breeze. Any snacks and drinks are welcome! You are permitted to bring alcohol!
It is possible to spend a lot of time exploring Shell Island with an experienced guide, but some people prefer to take things slow. It is best to rent your boat! This way you can take your boat out on the open sea and park where ever you want.
There are no Dolphin Tours available at the moment. We will soon offer them! This unique opportunity to observe wild bottlenose dolphins is certain to make for unforgettable Panama City Beach vacation memories. For a memorable experience, we invite you to join one of our Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours.
These private tours can be booked for up six people and cost $400. That is less that $70/person. This tour is only 3 hours long, so it's a steal! This tour is open to infants and children, making it a wonderful option for those who want to share some memories with their child.
"St. Andrews Bay is home to over 2,900 different species. There are many things you can find in the waters around St. Andrews Bay. It is also one our most important coastal estuaries and requires our continued protection. Mike Brim (Executive Director St. Andrews Bay Environmental Science Team).
Enjoy a trip on super-fast boats designed to allow you to swim with wild bottle-nosed dolphins. Shell Island Dolphin Tours has a smaller number of passengers than the larger boats that can hold up to 150 people. With your snorkel gear on, we can get you in the water quickly without causing any splashing or disruptions. This is often what scares the dolphins away. Your knowledgeable captain will guide you in how to interact best with the dolphins. This includes swimming parallel to the dolphins and not swimming towards them or reaching for them. Swim with Dolphins--We'll get you in the water before they arrive. The dolphins will be more likely to swim towards us than away, this way. Explore wildlife, including birds of Prey, pelicans and underwater creatures. Shells and sanddollars can be found at Shell Island. You can snorkel the flats of sand grass and visit St. Andrews Bay as well as the Gulf of Mexico.
Private tours are perfect for groups that want to have a more intimate experience and/or to reduce exposure to other groups to make their trips more COVID-friendly. You can also choose how long to stay in an area on private tours.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the Gulf of Mexico's coastal waters. There are blooms every season. The Florida red tide organism Karenia Brevis blooms most often between August and December. However, blooms can sometimes deviate from this time period.
Panama City Beach, Go Where the Dolphins Are Shell Island is 7 Miles of amazing beach bliss across the water from Saint Andrew's Park. This natural wonder is a great place to swim with dolphins in Panama City Beach.
The best time to find sanddollars is between low tide and high tide. This is when the sea pulls back on the beach and expands it. You can find the best low tide times on beaches that are open during the new or full moons. People prefer to search for shells at low tides in the morning.