You'll see the best of St Andrews Bay's wildlife on the second leg. These include birds like pelicans and herons as well as underwater marine life like starfish, blue crabs and blue horses, along with hermit crabs and other sea life. Shell Island offers a unique opportunity to discover shells and sanddollars. You can snorkel the flats of sand grass and visit St. Andrews Bay on the Gulf of Mexico.
Our Dolphin & Island Tours typically last for three hours. The departure time varies depending on season. At the moment, we leave the dock around 9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
St. Andrews Bay Charters organizes private charters that can accommodate 12 guests. This will allow for a more intimate, interactive experience and safer trip as you won’t be sharing the boat.
Gabby’s Dolphin Tours PCB captains are well-trained and highly experienced in spotting, watching, and interpreting dolphin movements and behavior. We position the boat at a safe distance from the dolphins, and we will instruct you how to get in the water to allow them to see and interact with you.
MAXIMUM of 6 guests (including all children) on each boat per Coast Guard regulations except the larger Family Cruiser is 13 passengers
We leave from the docks at Off the Hook Bar & Grill at the foot of the foot of the Thomas Drive bridge, 1101 Bayview Avenue Panama City, FL 32401.
We often see manatees. Manatees may occasionally be found in the waters near you, but we only practice passive observation.
"We had so much fun today snorkeling with dolphins and playing on Shell Island. This company is highly recommended. It was the highlight of our vacation." - Christy
This Dolphin Tour boat has a maximum of six passengers. That's six more than the 175-person capacity of larger tour boats. Larger groups create too much noise, which can disturb the dolphins, driving them away. The best part is that we will quickly get you in to the water, and not scare away the dolphins.
After you reach your snorkeling spot, your experienced captain will join you in the water with you to help you locate marine life. You will have the option to arrange your own private tour so you can make it as enjoyable as possible.
Online bookings close 12 hours before tours begin. For same day reservations, please call (850).392-7717
You will enter the water before the dolphins arrive. In this manner, the dolphins will get curious and instead of swimming away, they’ll be drawn towards us. The dolphins can be finicky and the more we "pretend" they are not there, the more curious they become.
There are many birds that can be seen out of water. They include raptors like bald Eagles and Ospreys as well as shorebirds like great Blue Herons and Egrets. Seabirds include magnificent frigatebirds (terns) and terns. There are also deer sometimes found on the island.
Swim parallel to the dolphins and not towards them or reaching to them (also illegal), we will let the dolphins come to you (best, most ethical).
It's all worth it once you get there because the water is the most beautiful I've ever seen. The water is so clear that it feels like you're swimming in a pool. We had no idea what to expect, so we went with the intention of spending a few hours on the island. Come prepared to spend the entire day!
Dolphins, loggerhead turtles, green sea turtles, ghost crabs, beach mice, nine-banded armadillos, alligators that live in the island's lake, marsh rabbits, racoons, and other wildlife can be found on Shell Island.
Wear nothing but a swimsuit. Dolphins have extremely sensitive skin, and because you will be able to touch them during your interaction, we recommend that you refrain from wearing sunscreen, oils, or perfumes.