“Captain Jack positioned us precisely at the moment to see the dolphins swam right underneath out feet, it was a very unique experience.“
Local captains are friendly and have decades of experience in these waters. They also have a wealth knowledge about manatees and dolphins. They will customize your trip to suit your needs and are happy to show you the beauty of this beautiful area.
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.
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.
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.
Your captain can show you how to best enter the water, and get close up and personal with the dolphins. It is forbidden to swim or reach out towards dolphins. We use the most ethical approach to interaction with them by swimming parallel to them, as well as allowing them freely to approach us.
Your captain will guide you in the most efficient way to get into the water and view the dolphins close up. You are not permitted to touch or swim towards dolphins. They can only interact ethically by swimming parallel to them and allowing them to come toward us.
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.
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.
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.