Out of the water, you’ll see a huge variety of birds, ranging from raptors like bald eagles and ospreys, to shorebirds like great blue herons and egrets, to seabirds like magnificent frigatebirds and terns. We also sometimes see deer on the island.
Our mission: We work with a purpose. Panama City Beach dolphin trips are educational experiences. This allows for greater appreciation and understanding about wildlife. We are an ecofriendly tour, and we take all necessary steps to ensure no wildlife is disturbed or harmed. You'll be remembered by the dolphins as an ecotour outfitter that cares.
After many years of watching dolphins in their natural habitats, our guides are well-versed in locating them and instructing our guests how to safely enter the water. You will be accompanied by your captain to snorkel alongside starfish, pufferfishes, welch cones, sanddollars and other sea creatures.
Dolphins are a loose grouping of different aquatic mammals that live all over the world. In Florida, the most common dolphin is the bottlenose dolphin. The iconic grey dolphin that Panama City Beach Snorkeling & Dolphin Tours LLC made famous. For many years, Americans were used to see dolphins perform tricks for fish at various marine attractions around the country. But in recent years, more protections have been put in place around wild dolphins.
Shell Island, St Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are exciting and new experiences every time you visit. The whole family can enjoy snorkeling in the shallows and grass flats of the island. For a personalized wildlife adventure, we offer both small-group and private tours. This tour offers it all! Family fun is our specialty and we have been doing it for more than 30 years.
Our Dolphin & Island Tours typically last for three hours. Seasonal departure times will vary. At the moment, we leave the dock around 9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Panama City dolphin tours and Shell Island trips with Panama City Beach Snorkeling & Dolphin Tours LLC are small, private charters, for a maximum of 12 guests (no more than 6 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.
Swim with Panama City’s resident pod of wild bottle-nosed dolphins in their natural home on your trip aboard super-fast boats specially designed for finding and visiting with the dolphins. We are located in Panama City Beach and near Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa, Destin, Mexico Beach & Cape San Blas as well as all of 30A and Beaches of South Walton FL.
These are some of Florida's most picturesque beaches and snorkeling locations! Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe provide the ideal starting point for your adventure.
We see many species, including starfish, sand dollar, bay scallops. Whelks. Conchs up to 212" long. Seahorses, Urchins. 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 are released into the bay. The shells of non-living creatures can be taken home.
Dolphin Tours & Snorkel Tours are unforgettable in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Our tours will take you to the island to get as close as possible with the dolphins. It is an unforgettable experience. We will make stops on the island during our tours for snorkeling and shelling exploration.
Maximum group size is 6 people per boat. Maximum number of 12 guests. We can accommodate up to 6 people per boat, but we can also make arrangements with local partners if you have a larger group.
Please visit our Pricing & Information Page for more information on pricing, policies, expectations, and what you can bring.
Captain Jack was extraordinary. He was extremely informed. He allowed us to choose what was important. We chose dolphin sightings for the majority.
Shell Island is a great spot to visit for Panama City Beach locals looking for unspoiled white sandy beaches. You will find plenty of space for your snorkeling or swimming, as well calm waters in the nearby area.
About twenty minutes. The ride to the island takes about twenty minutes. There are great opportunities to spot manatees, turtles, and dolphins along the way. On the ferry boat, we often see seabirds on our journey to Shell Key.
Destin is very family-friendly. You will find beautiful beaches and calm waters in this area. There are also plenty of activities such as Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Panama City is a great family-friendly beach destination. The area is known for its large sandy beaches and amusement parks.