Our guides have spent many years studying dolphin behavior and are proficient at finding them and instructing guests how to get into the water to observe them in their natural environment. Your captain will also snorkel with you, showing you starfish, pufferfish and welch conchs.
Your captain can show you how to best enter the water, and get close up and personal with the dolphins. It is forbidden to swim or reach out towards dolphins. We use the most ethical approach to interaction with them by swimming parallel to them, as well as allowing them freely to approach us.
“We had so much fun today swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, and playing on Shell Island! I would highly recommend this company. This was the highlight of our vacation.” – Christy
Your trip aboard the super-fast boats, specially designed to find and visit with dolphins, will take you along Panama City's native pod of wild bottle-nosed Dolphins. Blue Dolphin Tours can only carry 13 people on some boats, and 7-15 passengers on other boats (children of any age included). Our snorkel gear can be put on quickly so you don't have to splash around and scare off the dolphins. Learn from Your Knowledgeable Captain. Your captain will show you the best way to interact with the dolphins. Swim with Dolphins. We'll take you into the water before the dolphins arrive. So the dolphins are more likely than not to swim away to us, to swim with us. Find wildlife like birds of prey, pelicans underwater creatures, and herons. Shells and Sand Dollars are found on Shell Island. Enjoy snorkeling in the flats of seagrass and exploring St. Andrews Bay, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Your captain will direct you in the right direction so that you can see the dolphins close up.
You will have many options when it comes to how you spend your time so that you get the most out of your dolphin cruise. There are many options, including snorkeling on the grass flats of Shell Island and the jetties. This eco tour allows you to walk on the beaches and find starfishes, starfishes, crabs, fish and birds of every kind.
Our Dolphin & Island Tours last approximately 3 hours. Seasonally, departure times may vary. We currently leave the dock at 9:00 am and 12:30 pm.
Our captains will offer plenty of options of how you can spend your time to ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your dolphin tour. Some of those options include snorkeling the grass flats of Shell Island or the jetties. Maybe you would enjoy a walk on the beach where you can find sand dollars, starfish, crabs, fish & birds of all kinds during this amazing eco tour!
What a great way to spend a day! Took my 22 year old son and his friends out for 1/2 day. Pontoon boat was fantastic as was the day. Rob was great and everyone had the best time!
Gabby's Dolphin ToursPCB has highly-trained and experienced captains who are skilled in spotting, observing and interpreting dolphin behavior and movements. We keep the boat safe and show you how to get into the water to have a closer look at the dolphins.
You'll find a wide variety of birds out of the water. These include raptors such as bald eagles or ospreys, shorebirds such as great blue herons or egrets, and seabirds such magnificent frigatebirds. Sometimes, we also see deer on the Island.
This was the highlight of our Florida vacation. We felt secure, enjoyed our trip, and also learned a lot. Captain Jack was kind, knowledgeable, and accommodating."
Boat tours can be enjoyed by all ages. Lagoon Pontoons boat tours are great for relaxing and swimming with the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.
Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB, a private charter company and boat tour operator offering guided snorkeling and swimming alongside wild dolphins in beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida. This once-in-a lifetime experience is available to all ages, including families and individuals.
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.