St. Andrew Bay's dolphins are wild animals. Therefore, it is difficult to predict when they will be most active. The season, weather, tide cycles and availability of prey all influence dolphin behavior. There is generally a good chance that dolphins will be seen when the sun is shining and the water is clear and calm. Feeding activities can usually be seen at an outgoing tide. You are best to find a dolphin tour operator such as Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours, which is available almost every day of the year.
What should we take? Although we have most of the items you'll need, you can also bring your own. If the temperature is less than 80 degrees, we recommend you bring a towel and polarized sunglasses. The breeze makes it cooler on open-air boats. You can also bring snacks and beverages. The consumption of alcohol is permitted!
"St. Andrews bay has over 2,900 species and is America's most diverse estuary. You can find nearly anything in the waters of St. Andrews Bay on any given day. It is also one the most fragile estuaries on the coast and needs to be protected. Mike Brim, Executive Director St. Andrews Bay Environmental Science Team.
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.
Tours depart every 2 hours, giving you plenty of options for time slots. Sunset tours can also be arranged!
That’s really up to you. The boat tour is often better for those traveling with young kids, or those with more limited mobility, but it really depends on you. If you’re not sure if your group would do better on Waverunners or boats, give us a call, and we’ll help you decide what would be best.
The number of passengers on our Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours is limited to six. Our guests can explore St. Andrew Bay comfortably, have a good conversation with their tour captain and see the dolphins up close. Your captain will bring the tour boat as close as possible to the dolphins, while being respectful and cautious to avoid causing them stress.
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.
Journey the Historic Grand Lagoon on the unforgettable Shell Island Dolphin Sea-fari Boat Tour! Watch for a variety of aquatic wonders, sea shells, and wildlife. Explore Shell Island and swim, go shelling, picnic, or just relax and enjoy the beautiful island! Book your Shell Island Dolphin Sea-fari Boat Tour today and make memories that last a lifetime!
Private dolphin tours are $300 per person for up to six guests. This works out to $50 per person. This is a great deal for groups of this size. Dolphin Seafari is able to accommodate larger groups if you give us notice. To check availability for groups larger than 6, please call 850-908-8107
This tour takes guests to the best places for snorkeling and swimming alongside dolphins. You will learn everything about the underwater world around this island from your guides as you cruise by.
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.
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.
Let's look at the top Shell Island dolphin tours available for tourists who want to view dolphins in their natural habitat.
It's not uncommon to see dolphins frolicking along the Shell Island coast during the summer months. Because they are present throughout the year, bottlenose dolphins (common dolphins) and harbour porpoise can be seen most often.
It is worth the effort once you reach it. This is some of my favorite water spots. It's almost like swimming in a pool. We were unsure what to expect so we decided to spend some time on the island. Expect to spend the whole day there!
July is the wettest month of the year. Summer and autumn are the driest months. This is mainly because of frequent afternoon thunderstorms. July is Panama City Beach's rainiest month on average.