A 4-hour Dolphin Swim Tour to
Shell Island off Panama City Beach.
Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with wild dolphins in Panama City Beach (near Destin and 30A). Spend the morning or afternoon with a professional team of instructors who will educate you on the proper way to interact with the dolphins. The tour is capped off with several live swim-ins at Shell Island for potential encounters with a success rate of about 99%. Our dolphin tour is very fluid and it unfolds differently every day based on the weather conditions, visibility in the water, dolphins behavior and their whereabouts. We will occasionally encounter and swim with other marine animals like manatees, manta rays, spotted eagle rays, etc. Visibility allowing, you will snorkel and observe tropical fish, starfish, sand dollars and other seashells. The last part of your wild dolphin swim tour will take you to various snorkeling spots at the jetties and/or in the Bay of St. Andrews depending on visibility in the water. You will also have the opportunity to wade the shallows to look for hermit crabs, sand dollars, sea urchins, occasional starfish and seahorses and to walk on Shell Island, which is a pristine State Nature Preserve.
Water Planet Dolphin Tours is the best-rated dolphin experience in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Here are some of the highlights you may be experiencing during a Water Planet dolphin tours to Shell Island.
- The price of the dolphin tour includes the dolphin swim, dolphin educational package, snorkeling equipment (a $5 value), and bottled water.
- You may also bring your own cooler and snacks; or, you can store your drinks in our cooler.
- Six passengers maximum per boat. Exclusive private tour option available. You book the whole boat.
- Children are welcome to participate in our dolphin tours. Our staff has years of experience with helping children in the water during their dolphin swim and on board the boat. Help available by request and based on availability May through August only. Your children will love the close proximity of dolphins and will probably remember their dolphin tour for the rest of their life.
- Pregnant women should consult their OBGYN before signing up for this tour if they have any concerns about their ability to engage in boating and snorkeling activities.
- We have deep ladders to make it easier for you to get back up on board from the water after each dolphin swim. All our boats are equipped with double shades.
- Wetsuits are strongly recommended in March.
Duration: 4 Hours
- Prices [booked by the seat] start at $119(US)+ tax and fees (7.5% sales tax + 4% electronic booking fee + 3% credit card processing fee) per person including snorkeling gear rental. The price does not include gratuities (15 to 20%). Our captains work hard to facilitate this experience for you!
- Price for the Private Boat (whole boat up to 6 passengers) $690(US)+ tax and fees (7.5% sales tax + 4% electronic booking fee + 3% credit card processing fee) per person including snorkeling gear rental. The price does not include gratuities (15 to 20%). Just like you would tip a waiter in a restaurant. Our captains work hard to facilitate this experience for you!
- Visit our online booking page for current schedule and pricing. You can also book by calling 850-230-6030.
- We accept all major credit cards.
- Should you prefer to book by phone and pay cash for a 5% discount the day of the tour, we will refund your card when you check in.
- Before arrival, please confirm departure date and time at least 48 hours prior to the trip. Reservations booked less than 48 hours prior to arrival are not guaranteed until confirmed by us.
- There is a 3 passenger minimum per boat policy in effect. We reserve the right to reschedule a party of 2 if we do not have at least 1 more person booked for that time. Call 850-230-6030 for updates after you book a party of 2.
- Please be ready for your check-in at least 30 minutes ahead time. Traffic can be heavy especially from Destin and 30A.
- We are located inside the Adventures at Sea Marina. You do not have to stand in the Adventures at Sea line. Walk down the boardwalk between the AAS office and Off The Hook restaurant. We are in the 4th kiosk to your right.
9 AM and 1:30 PM departures daily
- Check-in 30 minutes before scheduled time. Fill out the waiver and sign off on the snorkeling gear.
- Boarding. Orientation by Water Planet staff. Education about dolphin behavior, physiology, and social life. How to swim with wild dolphins. Proper etiquette for interaction. Safety guidelines before you swim with the dolphins.
- Dolphin swim tour. Dolphin swims and (optional) walk on Shell Island, marine ecology wet lab in option and by request. Water Planet staff and clients snorkel for different forms of marine life: sand dollars, starfish, hermit crabs, seashells, fish, etc. and bring it back on board for viewing and identification before release.
Our Dolphin Swim Tour is very fluid and unfolds differently every day based on the weather conditions, visibility in the water, dolphin behavior, and their whereabouts. Travel time to the Shell Island area is about 15 minutes.
We are proud to be among the operators who DO NOT FEED OR PET WILD DOLPHINS. Click here to read why.
The dolphins usually do not stay around the boat for long. Clients can stay in the water as long as the dolphins are present and as long as the dolphins tolerate human presence. (Wild dolphins are not pets and touching them or chasing them is not tolerated on our dolphin tour. It is also illegal.)
Swimmers get back on board and we continue our dolphin tour either to catch up with the animals and get back in the water or to look for other dolphins depending on the dolphins tolerance. If the visibility is good, we may travel at low speed along the beach to look for stingrays, baby sharks or other sand dwelling fish and occasional manatees.
If the surf conditions allow it, we anchor the boat at Shell Island on the Gulf side, explore and look for shells. Visibility permitting, we also stop to snorkel by the jetties, which are habitat for allot of different fish species including Angel Fish, Blue Tang, Spade Fish, Grouper, Snapper, Red-Fish, Look-downs, wrasses, Jacks, Needle fish, Mullet, etc. Back inside the bay for shallow water seagrass wading or snorkeling (wet lab) and snorkeling on a 24-foot boat wreck sunk in 8 feet of water during Hurricane Ivan. Cruising inside the bay if time allows it and back to the dock.
By request, our Shell Island Eco-tour will take you to the nature preserve and bird sanctuary ideal for bird watching. The order of activities will depend on water conditions, visibility and guests preferences. Since the dolphins are wild and in their natural environment, we cannot predict or dictate their behavior and we will not force them to come close. If they do, it will be their choice. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more.
Our dolphin swim programs are near 30A and Destin
If you are looking for things to do in the Destin 30A area in Florida, it is worth the short drive to Panama City Beach to participate in our Shell Island dolphin tours and dolphin swim cruise. We are located 30 minutes away from 30A and 45 minutes from Destin. Please allow more time during traffic hours. Click here to view driving directions from the Destin Fort Walton area.
All cancellations and changes for the dolphin swims must be received in writing (e-mail or post) or by telephone. We will not accept any cancellations or changes by voice-mail.
- Customers may cancel, make changes or reschedule up to 48 hours prior to their arrival date and time to receive a refund minus a 10% service fee per reservation. Customers who cancel after the 48-hour period will not be eligible for a refund. Exceptions could be made on a case-by-case basis if an official certificate signed by a local walk-in clinic, local ER or local doctor’s office is received by us the same day as the cancellation.
- You have one opportunity only to reschedule. Once you have used it up, you cannot reschedule a second time.
- We reserve the right to reschedule your tour if you book for 3 or less based on availability.
- Should you arrive more than 15 minutes after the departure time your card will be charged for the full amount, and the boat must leave without you. You will have to pay the full price over again if you want to re-book.
- Should you not notify us (no voicemail) 48 hours ahead of time of a downward change in the number of participants in your party, you will be charged for the number of passengers you have signed up originally.
- Should the National Weather Service issue a “Small Craft Advisory” for the time of your tour, we will reschedule the tour and you will have the choice of cancelling for a refund if you cannot extend your stay and reschedule. Should you choose to reschedule, you cannot reschedule a second time or cancel the tour for whatever reason after that except if a National Weather Service Hazard to Navigation Advisory is published for the time of your rescheduled tour.
- If you have any complaints about your tour or questions about a reschedule or about payments, your captain will NOT be able to discuss these with you. Please call our office.
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about our Dolphin Swim Tours and Sunset Cruises and Swims to Shell Island. If you still have questions after going through the list, please contact us.
The bottlenose dolphin population of the Panama City area are found mostly in shallow water. They feed along the beaches of Shell Island and inside the Bay of St. Andrews.
We encourage parents to bring their children because respectfully experiencing wild dolphins in their own environment can influence your children’s future attitude and choices toward wildlife and natural resources. They will certainly be able to make the difference between this incredible adventure and a petting pool or a dolphin show in a captive environment. For most, it is also a once-in-a-life-time experience.
We have no age restriction but we suggest that you set your priorities first. If you want to take small children with you, either take someone along that will look after them while you are in the water or take them in the water with you, which as you probably know, will restrict your own experience.
By request and based on availability, we also have specially trained staff to help with your kids’ in-water experience May through August. (Fee required).
From the time they are born, children are considered as “passengers” by the US Coast Guard. Therefore, they must be included in the count of 6 passengers per boat. They cannot be on board in addition to 6 other passengers. Unless we have previously discussed a group discount with you, we have to charge all passengers regardless of age.
There is no “better time”. Both dolphin swim tours are great to observe and to swim with the wild dolphins of Panama City. So many factors can influence wild dolphin’s behavior and whereabouts that it is practically impossible to predict in advance. Wild dolphins are influenced by meteorological conditions, seasonal changes, moon phases, tide cycles, air and water temperature, wind speed and direction, availability of prey, etc.
Typically (and this is not a rule), the seas can be calmer in the morning and the visibility may be better at high tide. You may see more feeding activities during your dolphin tour at the end of the afternoon on an outgoing tide. But as with any other wildlife experience, patience and flexibility will pay off. Start with low expectations; the sky is the limit. If you are traveling from Ft. Walton, the Destin Santa Rosa Beach area or 30A, and you have teenagers, you might want to do the afternoon Dolphin and Snorkeling Tour to avoid having to get up early.
Due to limited space on our dolphin tour boats (6 passengers), priority is given to those, who pay full price to swim with the dolphins. You do not have to get in the water if you do not want to. Watching from the boat is often as much fun as to swim. You will also most likely enjoy walking on Shell Island to collect seashells.
All wild animals can be dangerous if, by ignorance, people put themselves in situations where they can become a victim. We have been with the wild dolphins of Panama City since 1995. We have taken out thousand of guests and none of our guests or staff have ever been attacked and/or hurt by a wild dolphin. It is because we make sure that you understand what you can and what you cannot do during our dolphin tours.
We will make sure that you understand and follow our guidelines because they are there for your own safety and enjoyment.
Even though you probably will be within arm reach of the animals during your dolphin tour, you will be asked not to touch them. If petting dolphins is what you need to do, you should visit a captive facility where you will be lead to believe that dolphins have chosen to be there to please you, that dolphins like you, that they enjoy being petted and where they are fed dead fish as a reward for performing all kinds of neat tricks for your pleasure.
It is also illegal to feed dolphins in the wild. Feeding is at the core of most of the problems and accidents occurring during recreational human/wild dolphin interactions. It is a very complex issue and enforcement of the law is difficult because of the variety of sources and locations the dolphins are used to getting their handouts from (commercial and sports fishing, tourism).
If you are looking for the opportunity to get to know a wild dolphin in its own environment, we would be more then pleased to help you realize that plan on your dolphin tour. But you need to understand that wild dolphins are not there to entertain you or to please you. They do not necessarily like to be touched unless they feel like it. They have an agenda with certain needs just like us humans.
You will need to adapt to their schedule and needs since you are the ones, who want to meet them. There is no place in the US where you may touch wild dolphins. It is illegal and considered as harassment. Not only is it illegal, but also totally inappropriate and presumptuous.
Dolphins are known for their curiosity and playfulness. They will approach boats and swimmers. You will never be able to swim like a dolphin no matter how hard you try or how good a swimmer you are. Occasionally some of the dolphins will swim around you, behind you or ahead of you. They may even be interested in swimming with you, but as far as the statement “I swam with a wild dolphin”, it is a very subjective one.
Dolphins are tremendously powerful and fast in the water. When you see them around you, it means that THEY want to be there. They are interested in you or they tolerate your presence until they decide to swim on. Typical encounter time on our dolphin tours is usually short (under one minute) and depends on the level of interest and on the mood of the animals. Though we have had many encounters that lasted over 30 minutes.
Typically, there will be repeated opportunities of in-water encounters on your dolphin tour throughout the morning/afternoon. Of course we cannot guarantee that the dolphins will be there or that they will be interested in approaching you but our success rate is excellent (99%). We feel confident enough to replace your dolphin tour if the dolphins don’t show.
We will not chase the dolphins or interrupt their activities (feeding, courtship, nursing, etc.) because you want to swim with them. We understand that you have invested resources to encounter wild dolphins, but even if the dolphin’s reputation is to be friendly, we are not going to assume that we are always welcome to approach them. The encounter has to take place on the dolphins own terms.
Wouldn’t you want to know as much as possible about wild animal behavior before venturing out into their territory? Of course you would. You will then be able to safely experience their presence because you know the limits of their comfort zone. It is kind of sad to realize that a real and genuine interest in a wild animal is rare and that very often, humans seek interaction with wildlife for their own pleasure, looking for instant gratification without introduction or preparation. This behavior may lead to accidents and injuries.
We will give you the information you need about wild dolphins to allow for a respectful and safe encounter. We have been introducing people to wild dolphins since 1995. We have taken thousands guests out on our dolphin tours. We have never had a single person hurt by a dolphin or hurt a dolphin and we are planning on keeping that excellent record the way it is. Even if you do not get in the situation where one or more of the animals show interest in you in particular or if dolphins do not try to approach you, you will still be close to them. Give them the space they need.
Our encounter success rate is about 98%. In our opinion, we have the rare opportunity to approach and to be approached by these fabulous marine mammals. Let us enjoy and keep this privilege while it is still there by showing interest and concern for their communities and for their environment. Do not feed, touch or harass wild dolphins.
We will get you as close to the dolphins as possible (without harassing them) and you will have the opportunity to get in the water. Since the dolphins are always in movement, it is not easy to predict how long they will stay around you. This will depend on their mood, the nature of their activities at the time and the level of interest (if any) they have for you.
The dolphin tour program is very fluid. Once we leave the dock after the briefing, we may find dolphins practically anywhere. even in the no-wake zone in the marina. In general, unless boat traffic does not allow it, we will let you get in the water and swim with the dolphins if the captain feels that it is a good opportunity. It may happen in the lagoon, in the bay or in the pass leading out to the sandbars on the Gulf side in front of Shell Island. It is usually there that we start being serious about letting you swim with the dolphins because, most of the time, the visibility in the water is better and the dolphins will mostly follow the coastline in search of food. When we get to the sandbars, we are usually about 30 minutes into the dolphin tour. But if the visibility in the water is great for snorkeling by the time we come out of the pass, we may let you in the water by the jetties to observe all kinds of tropical fish like angelfish, spadefish, colorful wrasses, sheepheads, groupers, snappers, etc. We then proceed to cruise along Shell Island, looking for groups of dolphins. The time you will spend in the water with them will depend on their mood and level of interest in staying around you and the boat. It may vary between a few seconds to a few minutes with unusual dolphin encounters of up to 15-20 minutes. The sequence of our activities is based on opportunities. There are some days when we will spend more time observing other marine species like manatees, rays, turtles and fish, just because they are more visible that day than dolphins. We typically dedicate the last hour, hour and a half to snorkeling in the Bay of St. Andrews on the shallow seagrass beds, which provide shelter and food to hundreds of marine species..
Did you drive to the dock? Do you drive to go to work? Do you know what the odds are of you getting injured in a car crash versus getting injured in a shark attack? In average, there are in excess of 30,000 fatalities on the road in the US yearly. But you are not overly concerned about driving!
Since we have started our dolphin tours in 1994, no one was ever hurt by a shark off the beaches of Bay County and we have roughly one million swimmers yearly in our area.
The bottlenose dolphin population of the Panama City area is found mostly in shallow water. They feed along the beaches and inside the bay. During our dolphin tours, we are almost always within 100 to 200 yards of the beach in 3 to 30 feet of water.
There is a big difference between 3 and 7 feet because most people can stand in 3 feet of water but not in 7 feet. As soon as the water is over your head, be it 7 or 700 feet, you are in deep water.
Should the National Weather Service issue a “Small Craft Advisory” for the time of your tour, we will cancel your dolphin tour and you will have the choice to reschedule or cancel for a refund.
If the dolphin tour departs and we must return within the first half of the tour due to hazardous weather, we will issue a refund prorated up to 50% of the tour value (by written request only — email or post).
When you swim off of a boat, as a swimmer, you will not be affected by currents since the boat is drifting as fast as you are. We do go out even when there is one red flag unless a small craft advisory is issued by the National Weather Service or unless we decide that the experience will not be satisfactory. In which case, we cancel the dolphin tour and you have the option to reschedule. To check the current conditions in Panama City Beach today, click here.
It is rare that customers get seasick in normal conditions. We use wide pontoon boats, which are very stable. Eat light before your tour or if you know you are prone to motion sickness, use medicine before your tour.
You do not need to be a good swimmer to participate to our dolphin tours. As a matter of fact, we have taken out numerous children with very restricted motor skills to swim with the dolphins. Several of them did not know how to swim. The life vest you are wearing will keep you afloat no matter what.
Of course you can book the dolphin tour even if you just want to stay on board and watch. You will get the opportunity to step onto Shell Island to look for shells when the boat stops there towards the end of the tour.
We have flotation that you can wear on the boat and in the water. Dolphin swims are not done in scuba gear, just snorkeling gear. If you are not comfortable with a mask, you can wear goggles. Your experience will be so much more interesting if you can see underwater.
You do not need to know how to snorkel to swim with the dolphins. We will lend you a snorkeling goggle and a life vest. As a matter of fact, you do not even have to know how to swim to participate in our dolphin and snorkel tour.
We will lend you a snorkeling mask and a life vest. Our policy requires everyone to wear a floatation device while swimming with the dolphins. If you have your own equipment, you may use it. But if you do not want to use the life vest we provide, you will need to wear at least an inflatable/deflatable snorkeling jacket to satisfy our policy. Most unexperienced customers will need the life vest and will find the snorkel tube distracting. If you are an experienced snorkeler, you most likely have your own equipment.
Of course you can book the dolphin tour even if you just want to stay on board and watch. You will get the opportunity to step onto Shell Island to look for shells when the boat stops there towards the end of the tour.
Wear a bathing suit. Bring a towel. It is a good idea to have a light raingear (type Walmart pocketsize poncho) in case of rain. You may want to take some dry clothes with you or a sweatshirt to wear if you get chilled after you swim with the dolphins.
We do not have specific restrictions for pregnant women. We offer a boating and snorkeling experience and you should be physically fit. You do not need to be a strong swimmer. You will be wearing a life jacket. Common sense and caution should dictate your decision.
Consult with your OB/GYN provider to see if you can snorkel and swim off of a boat at your stage of pregnancy. Our ladders are deep for easy exit from the water. We do not allow our customers to have any physical interaction with the dolphins.
No, menstrual blood does not attract sharks. While sharks can detect blood in the water, there is no scientific evidence that menstrual blood increases the risk of shark attacks.
A “wet lab” is an activity taking place in shallow water where by request, Water Planet staff and guests alike (conditions allowing) snorkel the sea-grass flats to collect various forms of marine life: crustaceans, mollusks, fish, etc., which are brought back on board for viewing and identification. All live marine species are then released to their environment before your dolphin tour leaves the area.
Yes, there is time for snorkeling. Depending on the conditions and visibility in the water, we snorkel different locations:
- The “jetties” where you will see an abundance of different fish species (only done when the water is clear).
- A shallow water (10 feet) shipwreck.
- The shallow water seagrass beds (between 2 and 6 feet) for hermit crabs, blue crabs, sandollars and other bay-water species.
We use three 6-passenger boats: two 26-foot pontoon boat with 150 horsepower outboards, and one 26-footer with a 250 hp outboard.
All have double shades. Since they are wide, spacious and stable on the water, pontoon boats are the most practical vessels for this type of activity. The deep dive ladders, make it so much easier to get back on board from the water. We can carry a maximum of 18 passengers at a time on 3 boats. We will send several boats side by side for large parties.
Check it out here
Check here and if you don’t like it, we recommend you wear a wetsuit. It will make your experience so much more enjoyable. They are available for rent across the street from us at the Divers Den, 3120 Navy Drive. Ask for the discount for Water Planet customers. Should you opt for the wetsuits, please get them before our check-in, which is 30 minutes before departure time.
You may of course bring your own camera equipment and take pictures or video top side and underwater during all dolphin tours.
Weekends only, we have on board a professional underwater photographer (based on availability) to shoot photos and videos of your experience topside topside, underwater and areal drone footage, leaving you with the freedom to enjoy swimming with the dolphins rather than stressing out with trying to capture the beauty of your surrounding through the lens of your camera for the sole purpose of impressing your followers on Instagram. Leave the stress to the professionals and enjoy the moment. Click here to learn more about our photo/video package
By request and based on availability, we can also implement our dolphin tours in Spanish, French, German and Italian.
Click here to learn more.
We have many articles about dolphins in the education section of our Blog.
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Water Planet cannot guarantee interaction with wild dolphins nor ideal weather conditions. You will get the chance to reschedule if we cancel your tour due to an official small crafts advisory.
