1. Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca). While we often think of orcas living somewhere colder, there are about 500 orcas that live in the Gulf of Mexico. These orcas eat tuna and sometimes dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico's deep waters.
Panama City Beach: Gulf World Marine Park
We do need to note that dolphins are wild animals. Although we know all the places they’re likely to be, very rarely the dolphins evade us. When you book your tour with Adventures at Sea, whether you want to be close to the water or relax on the deck of our pontoon boats. We’ll do everything possible to make sure you don’t miss this iconic piece of Florida’s natural landscape. Contact us today to book your date!
Shell Island is home of a large number bottlenose dolphins. Our Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours allows you to view these fascinating marine mammals in the wild.
Do not touch the dolphins. The dolphins will attempt to make physical contact with you if they feel the need. Touching one dolphin will cause them to leave the area. This not only affects dolphin behavior, but also causes irritation to other members of your group as everyone loses in the swim.
Dolphins will not swim with or "kiss", people or pull people through the waters because they enjoy it. Because they are not natural behaviors, all dolphins are taught how to properly perform these behaviors.
It is possible to have seen dolphins in captivity at a marine park. However, it is more exciting to watch them in their natural habitat. Although wild dolphin behavior is unpredictable and not possible to predict, the tour captains have many years of experience operating on the waters around St. Andrew Bay almost every single day. Our captains have extensive knowledge of the areas where dolphins are most common and do everything they can to ensure that guests have an unforgettable experience. You may see dolphins jumping, searching for food and communicating among themselves on many tours.
There are many different species of dolphins found on Panama City Beach.
Some dolphins from coastal areas with higher latitudes exhibit a strong tendency towards seasonal migrations. They travel further south during winter. For instance, coastal bottlenose Dolphins from the Atlantic side migrate seasonally to North Carolina and New Jersey.
According to officials, tannins are formed when organic matter such as pine needles, leaves and grasses get into water. They then break down over time giving the water a dark tea-colored appearance.
In Florida, wild dolphins are not allowed to swim with humans. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission states that it is against federal law to harass or feed wild dolphins. Swimming with dolphins can increase the chance of them being injured by humans.
The spring and the summer months are the best times to catch Mahi Mahi Mahi in Florida. The Atlantic Ocean is less than 10 miles away from this migratory fish, and you can see it there between April and October. The Mahi mahi can grow up to 63inches in length, and weigh about 30 pounds.
Caladesi Island, located off Clearwater Beach's northern end (accessed via ferry), deserves to be mentioned as it is very similar to beaches found in the Caribbean. It features turquoise waters with sugar-soft, white sands making it one among the most beautiful beaches in Florida.
Panama City Beach - Gulf World Marine Park
The Gulf of Mexico is home to many species of sharks. The most common sharks found along our coast are the Bull Shark and Thresher Shark.
The Gulf of Mexico's marine mammals are comprised of dolphins, whales, sea lions, and one coastal sirenian species, the West Indianmanatee (Trichechus menatus). Sea lions and fur seals are not found here, nor are sea-going orter otters.
Do not touch the dolphins. The dolphins will attempt to make physical contact with you if they feel the need. Touching one dolphin will cause them to leave the area. This not only affects dolphin behavior, but also causes irritation to other members of your group as everyone loses in the swim.