Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours, Encounters, Snorkeling, and Shelling

Panama City dolphin tours and Shell Island trips with St. Andrews Bay Charters are small, private charters, for a maximum of 12 guests (no more than 6 per boat). This not only allows for a much more intimate and interactive experience but also a safer trip since you won’t be sharing the boat with anyone outside your party.

Our friendly, local captains have decades of experience on these waters and a wealth of knowledge about the area’s dolphins, manatees, and other marine life. They are always happy to customize your trip and love showing you the natural beauty of this unique place.

We’ll get you as close to dolphins as we possibly can while also guaranteeing your safety and theirs. Ultimately, it’s up to the dolphins how close they want to get and how much they want to interact. We practice what we call “passive observation,” which means — in simple terms — that we let the dolphins come to us. Our dolphins in St. Andrews Bay are extraordinarily playful and interactive, though, and our guests frequently have amazing encounters they’ll remember the rest of their lives.

If conditions allow, guests are welcome to get in the water when dolphins are nearby. Safety is always our first priority, and your captain will instruct you how to safely snorkel around marine mammals.

In addition to observing dolphins, our dolphin and island tours visit beautiful Shell Island. Here we can explore the beach, hunt for shells, wade, swim, and, if conditions allow, snorkel in the crystal clear protected waters and observe a wide variety of marine life.

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.

Additionally, we often see manatees. If conditions allow, you may enter the water near manatees, but we practice passive observation and never approach them.

Out of the water, you’ll see a huge variety of birds, ranging from raptors like bald eagles and ospreys, to shorebirds like great blue herons and egrets, to seabirds like magnificent frigatebirds and terns. We also sometimes see deer on the island.

Our Dolphin and Island Tour Boats

Our dolphin and island tour boats are comfortable, stable 21-foot and 23-foot Carolina Skiffs. These boat features a center console design to maximize open space and allow for easy movement around the boat, a fully cushioned forward deck for observation (and lounging), comfortable cushioned seats for your whole group, large bimini tops for shade, plenty of ice chest space, and quiet, clean four-stroke engines.

Pricing, Trip Details, and What to Bring

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.

We can accommodate a maximum group size of 6 per boat, for a maximum of 12. If you have a larger party, though, we can make arrangements with our local partners.

We leave from the docks at Off the Hook Bar & Grill at the foot of the foot of the Thomas Drive bridge, 5711 N. Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408.

Dolphin & Island Tours are $300 for up to 4 guests, $350 for 5 guests, and $400 for 6 guests.

For complete information about pricing, policies, what to expect and what to bring, please visit our Pricing & Information page.