Our Dolphin & Island Tours are normally scheduled for 3 hours. Departure times vary seasonally. We are currently leaving the dock at 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
For complete information about pricing, policies, what to expect and what to bring, please visit our Pricing & Information page.
Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour begins will not be eligible for a reimbursement due to the delay in reserving seats. Clients who cancel within this time frame will be charged full price.
Our boats can be used as real diving boats. The children will love to see dolphins and have the chance to snorkel in water just like SCUBA divers.
In the course of your excursion, you will visit Panama City Pass and explore the area where St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico converge. Here, there are lots of dolphins, and what’s more, we’ll guide you on how to interact with them in the water.
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.
Species we frequently see include a variety of starfish, sand dollars, bay scallops, whelks, conchs up to 21” long, seahorses, urchins, and hermit crabs and other crab species. These animals can be brought to the surface, handled carefully, and photographed. We bring large containers so that even non-snorkelers can observe them up close before they’re released back into the bay. Shells found without living creatures can be taken home.
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Cancellations made within 24 hours of tour start/end time will not be eligible for a refund and you will be charged full price.
What a great day! For 1/2 day, I took my son (22 years old) and his friends. The pontoon boat and day were amazing. Rob was fantastic and everyone had a great time.
It was a great way for a day to be spent! I took my 22-year old son and two of his friends on a half-day trip. The day was great and the pontoon boat was great. Rob was great! Everyone had the best time.
St. Andrews Bay Charters organizes private charters that can accommodate 12 guests. This will allow for a more intimate, interactive experience and safer trip as you won’t be sharing the boat.
We will bring you as close to dolphins and as safe as possible. The dolphins will decide how close or far they want to be able to interact with them. We practice passive observation, which simply means we let the dolphins approach us. Our dolphins in St. Andrews Bay can be extremely playful and interactive. Many of our guests have memorable encounters with them.
St. Andrews Bay Charters offers private charters for up to 12 people (maximum 13 guests per boat) on Panama City dolphin tours or Shell Island trips. This allows for a more intimate and interactive experience, as well as a safer trip because you won't share the boat with anyone else.
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.