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.
Florida law forbids dolphins from swimming or touching them. This is to ensure their well-being. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has officers on the water to enforce these rules. You may have the opportunity to see dolphins from your boat, which will give you a great view and excellent photo opportunities. You can have wild dolphin encounters with dolphins by taking one of our Shell Island Snorkel Tours. Dolphins often swim close to snorkelers.
Six passengers are allowed on the Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours. This allows our guests to tour St. Andrew Bay in comfort and allow them to interact with the tour guide. Your captain will take all your questions and allow you to snap pictures.
Jet ski tours also have another cool feature: dolphins are curious about jet ski wakes, which is a great bonus.
You can book a private tour to have the boat for you and up to 6 people, or you can book a public tour. Public tours allow up to six guests to share the boat with multiple people. Our tours can accommodate up to 6 people. To accommodate larger groups, we can take multiple boats.
You can either book a private tour for two to six people or a public one. For up to 6 people, we can combine multiple groups on the same boat during public tours. All tours accommodate 6 guests. For larger groups we can accommodate multiple boats.
Shell Island Dolphin Tours also can accommodate larger groups. If you have more guests than 6, please call to confirm availability.
You have the option to explore Shell Island by getting off the boat. Shell Island is a place where you can explore, find seashells and snorkel. Shell Island is a nature preserve and can only be reached by boat. It measures approximately 7 miles in length. Shell Island is home to a diverse ecosystem that includes some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Florida. Shell Island is paradise for nature lovers!
Since long, guests have enjoyed dolphin tours with us. We adhere to all safety and welfare guidelines. Additionally, all safety equipment required for US Coast Guard compliance is available on board our safe, comfortable boat tour boats. Our Panama City Beach Dolphin tours offer a safe, fun and enjoyable experience for guests of all ages. We make every effort to accommodate guests with disabilities, so please let our staff know.
You are looking for a private dolphin trip that offers a little more? Dolphin Seafari offers dolphin tours that include walking and snorkeling.
Do you want a more active dolphin tour of Shell Island? Jet skis can be a fun way for dolphins to get close to their natural habitat.
Private tours start at $400 and can accommodate up to six people. This is less than $70 per person. This is a great deal for a three-hour tour. This tour is suitable for infants and children.
St. Andrew Bay hosts one of world's largest resident populations (the iconic gray dolphins) of bottlenose dolphins. This is the area most people are most familiar with from movies, television and marine parks. Although the dolphins of St. Andrew Bay may be wild animals, they are used the human presence. Boaters are often found among a group that is swimming, feeding, or playing with dolphins.
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.
About twenty minutes. The ride to the island takes about twenty minutes. There are great opportunities to spot manatees, turtles, and dolphins along the way. On the ferry boat, we often see seabirds on our journey to Shell Key.
Destin. Destin is often referred to by many as the Florida beach where the water is clearest. This beach is special. It is because of the Choctawhatchee Bay, just beyond the beach, that acts as a filter, taking in the darker soil and leaving clear water atop Destin’s fine quartz sand. 6 September 2021
Snorkeling in the Jetties A popular spot is the "children’s pool", which is how locals refer the calm, protected waters behind Shell Island Jetty. The protected swimming area at the southern end St. Andrews State Park is another good spot.