This trip is for you if you want to have a personal encounter with the dolphins. It's not just a sightseeing tour. You get to choose the activities and how much time you spend on the tour.
If conditions allow, guests are welcome to get in the water when dolphins are nearby. Safety is always our first priority, and your captain will instruct you how to safely snorkel around marine mammals.
Swimming parallel with the dolphins rather than swimming toward them or reaching out for them (this is also illegal), we will allow the dolphins to come to us (best, most ethical method).
Do you want to go on a seafari near Panama City Beach. Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB has the best in guided snorkeling trips, dolphin excursions, pontoonboat rentals, and many other activities!
If conditions permit guests are welcome to swim with dolphins in the waters if this is possible. Safety is our first priority. Your captain will teach you how to safely snorkel with marine mammals.
You will be visiting Panama City Pass, and exploring the area where St. Andrews Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico during your excursion. Here dolphins can be found and we will show you how to swim in the water to see them up close.
Your privacy is guaranteed on your private dolphin tour. The boat will only have you and the captain. Keep in mind that 13 passengers is the maximum allowed by the Coast Guard, children of all ages are included.
Please visit our Pricing & Information Page for more information on pricing, policies, expectations, and what you can bring.
There are many species we see, including starfish, sanddollars bay scallops, whelks conchs upto 21" long, seahorses urchins and hermit crabs. These animals can be brought up to the surface, handled gently, and photographed. We bring large containers so that snorkelers, as well as non-snorkelers, can get close to the animals before they're released into the bay. The shells of non-living creatures can be taken home.
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.
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!
We'll bring you as close as possible and ensure your safety as well as their safety. The dolphins decide how close they want and how much interaction they want. "Passive observation" is a practice that allows dolphins to approach us. Our guests often have unforgettable encounters with dolphins at St. Andrews Bay. They are playful and interactive and will always remember them.
Snorkeling is a fun and easy activity for people of all ages. One of the best things about Shell Island is that the calm shallow water behind the jetty is ideal for first-time snorkelers.
When is the Best Time to Visit Florida to See Dolphins? The best time to see dolphins is from late May to early August. You're most likely to see them between 10 a.m. and noon, and then again between 2 p.m. and dark.
If you and your family enjoy fishing, eating seafood, golfing, a vibrant nightlife, and shopping, Destin is the place to be. However, if you want a more relaxed family vacation with excellent waterfront lodging and a variety of children's activities, Panama City Beach is the place to be.