We depart the docks at Off the Hook Bar & Grill on the Thomas Drive bridge. 1101 Bayview Avenue Panama City FL 32401.
A wide range of birds can be found out on the water. This includes raptors such bald eagles, ospreys and shorebirds such great blue herons, egrets and seabirds such stunning frigatebirds and even terns. You may also see deer at the island.
"This was a highlight in our Florida trip. We felt safe, had fun, and learned a lot. Captain Jack was very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating.
This Dolphin Tour boat can carry six people, which is a lot less than larger boats with a capacity for up to 175 tourists. Larger groups can create a lot of noise which disrupts the dolphins and drives them away. It is important to note that we can quickly and expertly get you into the water without scaring away the dolphins.
The second leg of your St Andrews Bay wildlife excursion will take you to the best. These include pelicans, herons and ospreys as well as underwater marine life such as hermit crabs and sea horses. Shell Island is a great place to find sand dollars or shells. You can also snorkel on grass flats or explore St. Andrews Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.
Your captain will accompany you on your journey to the snorkeling site. They will help you identify and find seashells. You will have the option to arrange your own private tour so you can make it as enjoyable as possible.
Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB is a private charter and boat tour company offering guided snorkeling and swimming with wild dolphins in gorgeous Panama City Beach, Florida. We cater to families, individuals, and groups of all sizes so everyone can have a chance at this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
MAXIMUM 6 guests (includes all children) on each boat according to Coast Guard regulations, except for the larger Family Cruiser which has 13 passengers
Online bookings close 12 hours before tours begin. For same day reservations please call (850) 392-7717
You can swim with Panama City's wild bottle-nose dolphins on your trip in super-fast boats that are specially built for visiting and finding them. Blue Dolphin Tours is smaller than larger boats, which can carry as many as 150 people. We only take 6 passengers on certain boats and 7-15 on others boats. Children of all ages are welcome to join us. You can be in the water quickly with your snorkel gear on without any splashing or disruptions, which can often scare the dolphins away. Your Captain will teach you how to interact with dolphins. For example, it is better to swim parallel to them than to reach out and touch them. Swim with Dolphins – We will put you in the water prior to the dolphins arrive. This will make it more likely that the dolphins swim to us rather than to us. You can see wildlife such as birds of prey and pelicans as well as underwater creatures, herons, and other bird species. Shells and sand dollars can be found in the Shell Island area. Explore St. Andrews Bay or the Gulf of Mexico by snorkeling grass flats.
You will arrive at your snorkeling destination where your captain will get in the water with you and show you how to find seashells and other sea life. By choosing this private tour, you will be able to choose how to pass your tour time so that it can be as exactly as you had envisioned it.
You will be able to swim with dolphins in their natural habitat while on a comfortable boat trip. The boats are actually dive boats, so children will enjoy seeing dolphins in their natural habitat and snorkeling in the ocean just like SCUBA divers.
Would you like to reserve a private tour? Our private charter options let customers add additional time to their dolphin tour (which starts at 2 or 3 hour) and add activities (ex. additional snorkeling area, more island time etc.). 6 people can each boat. Your captain will help you get in the water to view dolphins in their natural habitat. You can then take a guided snorkel tour around Shell Island to observe other sealife.
Gabby's Dolphin Tours PCB's captains have years of experience in spotting and interpreting the behavior and movements of dolphins. We will keep the boat in a safe place and tell you when to enter the water so that you can get closer to the dolphins and mix with them.
It's all worth it once you get there because the water is the most beautiful I've ever seen. The water is so clear that it feels like you're swimming in a pool. We had no idea what to expect, so we went with the intention of spending a few hours on the island. Come prepared to spend the entire day!
Dolphins, loggerhead turtles, green sea turtles, ghost crabs, beach mice, nine-banded armadillos, alligators that live in the island's lake, marsh rabbits, racoons, and other wildlife can be found on Shell Island.
Wear nothing but a swimsuit. Dolphins have extremely sensitive skin, and because you will be able to touch them during your interaction, we recommend that you refrain from wearing sunscreen, oils, or perfumes.