We will get you as close as possible to dolphins while still ensuring your safety and their safety. It's up the dolphins to decide how close and how often they interact with us. Passive observation is what we do. It simply means that we allow the dolphins to come to us. The dolphins of St. Andrews Bay are extremely playful and interactive. Guests often have incredible encounters that they will never forget.
Rent a pontoonboat for the day and be your own captain! We have pontoon boats for rent for visitors who wish to be their captain. Our Map will be sent to you with the directions to our favourite snorkeling spots, sandbars and common dolphin areas.
Our boats are designed for cruising and you can enjoy watching dolphins in their natural habitats or swimming with them.
2 hour tours $59/person2 hour private tours $299/boat (maximum 6 guests)3 & four hour PRIVATE tour also available
Our mission is to work with a purpose: By providing Panama City Beach dolphin tours as educational experiences, which allows a greater understanding and appreciation of wildlife. We are an eco-friendly tour and take steps to make sure we do not disturb or harm any wildlife. The dolphins will thank you for choosing an eco-tour outfitter who cares, we will too.
Our Pricing & Information section provides complete information regarding pricing, policies as well as what you can expect.
You will snorkel to your satisfaction aboard our boat and YOU WON’T PAY AN EXTRA CENT! For your refreshments, the onboard cooler will have Capri Suns and/or complimentary bottled water. You are also welcome to bring your own beverages, snacks and BYOB.
Enjoy a trip on super-fast boats designed to allow you to swim with wild bottlenose dolphins in Panama City. Blue Dolphin Tours has a smaller number of passengers than the larger tour boats which can hold up to 150 people. With your snorkel gear on, we can get you in the water quickly without causing any disruptions or splashing that large groups often cause. This is important because it doesn't scare away the dolphins. Your knowledgeable captain will guide you in how to interact best with dolphins. This includes swimming parallel to the dolphins and not swimming towards them or reaching for them. Swim with Dolphins- We'll get you in the water before they arrive. The dolphins will be more likely to swim towards us than away, this way. Explore wildlife, including birds of Prey, pelicans and underwater creatures. Shells and sanddollars can be found at Shell Island. You can snorkel the flats of sand grass and visit St. Andrews Bay as well as the Gulf of Mexico.
Our dolphin Boat Tours offer a more intimate experience with dolphins. They last 2 hours and allow you to swim with them, explore Shell Island, and snorkel for sand dollar. Your own private tour. Our captains have the knowledge and experience to find the best places to see Dolphins.
Compared to other bigger tour boats that have a capacity of up to 175 tour goers, this Dolphin Tour boat carries a maximum of six passengers, including kids of all ages. Now, larger groups always create lots of noise, which disturbs the dolphins and drives them away. The best thing is that we will expertly get you in the water fast, and most importantly, without scaring the dolphins away.
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.
You can rent a pontoonboat to be your guide for the day. Pontoon boats are available to rent for those who want to own their boat. The Map includes directions to the most popular snorkeling areas, sandbars, common dolphin zones, and more.
Your captain will instruct you on the best method of entering the water and seeing the dolphins up close and personal. Reaching out to or swimming towards the dolphins is not allowed. We employ the most ethical way of interacting with them by swimming parallel with them and also let them come willingly towards us.
You would like to book a private tour of the dolphins for your group? Customers can add time to their private dolphin tour, starting at 2 to 3 hours. This is to add extra activities such as snorkeling, island time, or other fun activities. Each boat can hold 6 people. Your captain will guide you in how to enter the water to see dolphins in their natural habitat. Next, enjoy a guided snorkeling tour to view other sea creatures around Shell Island.
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.