Your captain will meet you at the snorkeling spot and take you into the water. He will show you how to identify seashells and other marine life. You can choose how you want to spend your tour time, so it will be exactly what you envisioned.
These friendly local captains have decades experience in the waters of this area and are knowledgeable about dolphins, manatees, as well as other marine life. They love to customize your trip and show you the natural beauty of this special place.
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.
Manatees are also often seen in the water. You may be allowed to swim near manatees if the conditions are right, but we always observe them passively and avoid getting close.
On your trip with Blue Dolphin Tours, you will be able to swim with Panama City’s resident pods of wild bottlenosed dolphins. These boats are super fast and specifically designed for meeting with the dolphins. Blue Dolphin Tours does not carry more than 150 people. Instead, we can take six passengers on some boats and seven to fifteen on other boats. This includes children of all ages. Your snorkel gear and you can be in the water within minutes. We don't need to cause any disturbances or splashing, which can sometimes scare the dolphins. Your Captain is Your Guide - Your captain will help you learn how to interact well with dolphins. Swim with Dolphins. - You'll be able to swim in the ocean before the dolphins arrive. Dolphins are more likely not to swim away from us if we do this. See wildlife such as birds, pelicans, aquatic creatures and herons. Shells, sand dollars, and other treasures can be found on Shell Island. Snorkel the flats of grass and discover St. Andrews Bay.
All snorkeling is waiting for you on the boat AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. For your refreshments, the onboard cooler will have Capri Suns and/or complimentary bottled water. You are also welcome to bring your own beverages, snacks and BYOB.
We will reserve the boat for your group or family, and the captain, during our private dolphin tour. Coast Guard regulations stipulate that 6 passengers are allowed, including children and infants.
Want to book a private tour for your group? Our private charter options allow customers to add additional time to their private dolphin tour (starting at 2 or 3 hours) to add additional activities (ex: additional snorkeling location, more island time, etc.). Boats can accommodate 6 passengers per boat. Your designated captain will instruct you on how to get in the water and see the dolphins in their natural habitat. Next, experience a guided snorkel tour to observe other sea life around Shell Island!
Gabby’s Dolphin Tours PCB: Looking for the ultimate dolphin adventure? Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB has the best in guided and private dolphin tours. As your guide, we will show you the best places to explore in Panama City Beach or Shell Island. We look forwards to meeting you.
Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB, a private charter company and boat tour operator offering guided snorkeling and swimming alongside wild dolphins in beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida. This once-in-a lifetime experience is available to all ages, including families and individuals.
You will enter the water before the dolphins arrive. In this manner, the dolphins will get curious and instead of swimming away, they’ll be drawn towards us. The dolphins can be finicky and the more we "pretend" they are not there, the more curious they become.
We had a wonderful time. The captain was awesome. Even showed us a type of jelly fish that doesn't sting. We stopped at an area of shell island that had lots of shells. Great time was had by all and will definitely go back again.
You can be your own guide by renting a pontoon boat! Rentable pontoon boats are also available for those visitors who prefer to take control of their own boat. We will send you a Map that shows where we recommend snorkeling, sandbars or common areas for dolphin sightings.
All snorkeling gear is provided onboard at no additional charge. Capri Suns, bottled water and complimentary refreshments will be available in the cooler. You are encouraged to bring your own beverages, snacks, and BYOB.
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.