All of our snorkeling tours include snorkeling gear. We regularly visit many different snorkeling locations. Each day we make changes to our snorkeling locations. Our local snorkeling spots are constantly changing. We make every effort to get you to the best snorkeling spots on the day of your Dolphin and Snorkeling trip. We frequently snorkel in artificial reefs, sandbars and seagrass beds. We will do everything possible to take you to the best spots.
Another great aspect of jet ski tours are the dolphins that get curious about the jet ski wake. This is a bonus!
What should we bring? You will find almost everything you need onboard, but you are free to bring whatever you want. If it's below 80 degrees, we recommend that you bring a towel, polarized glasses, and a jacket or sweater. Open air boats are always cooler because of the breeze. Any snacks and drinks are welcome! You are permitted to bring alcohol!
We offer the opportunity to step off the boat and explore Shell Island. Shell Island offers many opportunities for snorkeling, exploration, collecting sea shells and more. Shell Island is a nature reserve that can only be reached by watercraft. It measures 7 miles long. Shell Island has one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches Florida has to offer. Shell Island is an absolute paradise for nature lovers.
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Shell Island is an attractive destination for travelers visiting Panama City Beach. This small island is undeveloped which makes it an ideal spot for tourists to experience the beauty of Florida in its natural state.
Because we are exploring the dolphins’ natural habitat, it’s always possible that we won’t be able to find where the dolphins are playing today. However, our guides have been doing this for years, and know all the places the dolphins love to be. Virtually all of our tours encounter at least a few of the dolphins that make up the largest population of wild dolphins in the world.
To start off your tour, our guides will show you the beauty of Shell Island. This 7 mile stretch of undeveloped paradise is a barrier island that runs east to west between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. This is Florida at its most natural, far away from the theme parks and resorts. Shell Island is a home for endangered species like loggerhead sea turtles and piping plovers, and is known for the abundance of beautiful shells that are found on the beaches.
It is possible to have seen dolphins captive in a marine sanctuary, but it is more exciting to watch them in their natural habitat. Although wild dolphin behavior is unpredictable and not possible to predict, the tour captains have many years of experience operating on the waters around St. Andrew Bay almost every single day. They know where dolphins are most common and do everything they can to ensure that guests have an amazing time. Dolphins can often be seen jumping, playing and searching for food on many tours.
We cruise along the waters surrounding Shell Island and Grand Lagoon, St. Andrews State Parks, St. Andrews Bay and Panama City Beach, looking for all types of wildlife and marine life. Every day, we have the opportunity to see different species of wildlife on our boat tours. Each day is different, depending on what the environment and wildlife are in the area. We adjust our boat rides daily to provide you with the best possible dolphin tour and snorkeling tour. Each day is different. Shell Island's marine life, snorkeling spots, as well as the stops we make, change daily. This is great because you'll see something new every time you go on a tour with us. Your captain will be happy to accommodate any special requests you might have for your boat tour.
Tours depart every 2 hours, giving you plenty of options for time slots. Sunset tours can also be arranged!
St. Andrew Bay dolphins are wild animals. It is not possible to predict when the best time to view them. Dolphin behavior can be affected by weather conditions, tide cycles, water temperatures, tides, and availability. Dolphins can be seen whenever the sun shines and the water clear. Feeding activities are usually seen on an outgoing tide. The best option is to go with a dolphin tour operator, such as Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours. They are usually on the water almost every day.
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These private tours can be booked for up six people and cost $400. That is less that $70/person. This tour is only 3 hours long, so it's a steal! This tour is open to infants and children, making it a wonderful option for those who want to share some memories with their child.
Between January and mid April is the best time to travel to Panama. This is the hottest time of year, and it shows Panama at its best. It's worth visiting Panama in the other months of the year to enjoy local festivals and events.
A: It is possible to travel by boat or on a jet ski to Shell Island. The St. Andrews Shuttle from Shell Island costs $24.95 for 13-year-olds, $17.95 per child 2-12 years, and infants 0-1 year old are free. You can also rent a pontoon or jet ski at many locations.
Only accessible by boat Shell Island can only be reached by boat or by other watercraft. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete the trip and you will pass through St.