Panama City dolphin tours and Shell Island trips with St. Andrews Bay Charters are small, private charters, for a maximum of 12 guests (no more than 13 per boat). This not only allows for a much more intimate and interactive experience but also a safer trip since you won’t be sharing the boat with anyone outside your party.
The captains are local and friendly with decades of experience. They have extensive knowledge of the manatees, dolphins and other marine life in the area. They are happy and able to customize any trip for you, and they love showing off the natural beauty this place has to offer.
Rent a pontoonboat and become your own guide! Our pontoon boats can be rented for guests who want to charter their own boat. We will mail you our Map, which includes the location of our preferred snorkeling locations, sandbars as well as common dolphin areas.
St. Andrews Bay Charters provides private charters to Panama City for up 12 people. This makes it more intimate and personal, but also safer as you will not be sharing the boat or with others.
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.
You can book a private tour and reserve the whole boat for you. This is your personal tour. You can customize the tour to suit your needs. Private charters can accommodate up to six guests.
Our boat will allow you to snorkel to your heart's content and you won't have to pay an extra cent! The onboard cooler will provide complimentary Capri Suns or bottled water for your refreshments. You can also bring your own drinks, snacks, and BYOB.
Our Dolphin Boat Tours provide a more personal experience with dolphins. These tours last two hours and give you the opportunity to swim and snorkel with them. You can arrange your private tour. Our captains can help you find the best places where dolphins can be seen.
You will go in the water before the dolphins arrive. You will attract the dolphins towards you, and they'll become curious. Dolphins can be finicky so we need to pretend that they aren’t there.
At Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB, our captains are highly trained and experienced in spotting, observing, and interpreting dolphin’s behavior and movements. We place the boat at a safe distance and instruct you when to get in the water to get a closer look and mingle with them.
A variety of starfishes, sanddollars, bay scallops. whelks. Conchs up to 21". Seahorses. Urchins. Hermit crabs. These animals are easy to bring to the surface. They can also be photographed. We use large containers to allow snorkelers and non-snorkelers to see the animals up close before they are released into a bay. You can also take any shells you find that have not been inhabited by living creatures home.
Book a private tour with your group. Private charters allow you to extend your private dolphin tour by adding additional time (starting at 2 to 3 hours). This allows you to add more snorkeling locations, island time, and so on. Thirteen passengers can be accommodated on a boat. The captain will show you how to get into the water and observe the dolphins in their natural habitat. Next, take a guided snorkel trip to see other marine life around Shell Island.
Our mission is to work with purpose. Panama City Beach dolphin tours are educational experiences that allow you to appreciate and understand wildlife. We are an eco-friendly company and do everything possible to protect wildlife. You will be a blessing to dolphins if you choose an eco-tour company that cares.
It was wonderful. The captain was great. We were even shown a jelly fish type that doesn't sting. We stopped by a large area with many shells. It was a wonderful time, and everyone will return.
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.