Wild dolphin encounter off of Shell Island during a Water Planet tour

I found this beautiful Horse Conch in the Bay of St. Andrews. Of course, I let him go free.

We even have babies in the water with dolphins when the conditions allow it.

Families with children love this. We give each customer a life vest and snorkeling goggles to watch the dolphins underwater.

You do not have to be a strong swimmer. The dolphins are right there below you.

Occasionally, we see manatees and we swim with them.

Sometimes, we also get to see sea turtles. This is a Kemp Ridley

This is one of the greatest treats. To swim with a giant manta ray on a Water Planet tour.

We swam with this large group of dolphins off of Shell Island.

Dolphins are very curious and they look right at you. These 2 are swiping us with their sonar.

Go, go, go! Jump in and swim with the dolphins.

At the back end of the tour, we snorkel and look for shells and other marine species. Chloe just found a sea star.

We try to make our tours interesting and educational.

We even teach you about jellyfish. Once you know them, you are not afraid any longer

Swim With Dolphins and Shell Island Snorkeling Adventure — photo 15

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Swim With Dolphins and Shell Island Snorkeling Adventure — photo 17

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On the Water
Weather Dependent - Moderate
Snorkeling
Whale Watching

Swim With Dolphins and Shell Island Snorkeling Adventure

5.0(4 reviews)Panama City Beach, USAOperated by Water Planet

Duration4 hours
GroupPrivate tour
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, English, French

About this activity

Engage in a unique opportunity to swim with dolphins and occasionally manatees, manta rays, in their natural habitat during this 4-hour activity in Panama City Beach. This adventure includes exploring Shell Island, known for its stunning scenery and diverse marine life. With a professional guide, learn about bottlenose dolphins and participate in your famous "wet lab" where you and your staff collect hermit crabs, sea urchins, starfish, sand dollars, occasional seahorses, and learn about their life and role in the ecosystem. Perfect for families and individuals of all ages, this focuses on marine conservation while offering plenty of fun to those looking to create lasting memories on Florida's Emerald Coast.

- Explore the beautiful Shell Island and its marine life - Family-friendly, suitable for all ages and interests - Guided by experienced professionals for a safe experience

What you will do

4 hoursPrivate tour

You will be cruising from the boat dock to Shell Island, which is about a 15-minute ride. We may find dolphins just about anywhere along the way, and we will put you in the water with them whenever it is safe to do so. Once the dolphins leave, we either move with them and swim again, or we look for another group of dolphins to swim with, or just watch. It may happen in the Bay, in the pass, or most of the time along Shell Island. Every time we find dolphins, you will be able to observe behaviors such as socializing, playing, mating, jumping, feeding, or just traveling. We usually stop to snorkel at the jetties to observe the tropical fish, occasional sea turtles and sting rays before going into the bay on the shallow seagrass beds where we collect samples of interesting marine species like sand dollars, tulip shells, sea urchins, scallops, Florida Fighting Conchs, moon snails, hermit crabs, blue crabs, occasional seahorses and all kinds of Florida seashells, all depending on the season and the water conditions. You will learn how to handle these species. You can also get off the boat and explore Shell Island, home to great blue herons, snowy egrets, ospreys, and pelicans.

Pickup & meeting point

There is no pickup — all travellers meet at the start point.

Start

We are located at 5709 North Lagoon Drive. Check-in is 30 minutes before your departure time. You do not need to wait in the Adventures at Sea ticket office line. Walk down the boardwalk. We are in the 4th. Hut to your right.

End / drop-off

Redemption

Customers need to be on site at least 30 minutes before departure time to fill out the waiver and to be fitted with the snorkeling equipment. The boat will leave without you if you are late.

What's included

Included

Bottled water
We will lend each customer a snorkeling goggle and a life vest. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
Government Fees

Not included

Just like waitresses and waiters, our captains work hard to make your experience as smooth and memorable as possible. You would not leave your table without leaving a tip. Would you?

Good to know

Accessibility & suitability

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Traveller requirements

Minimum 1 traveller per booking
Maximum 15 travellers per booking
At least one adult must be included in the booking
Age bands: Infant (0–3), Child (4–12), Youth (13–17), Adult (18–64), Senior (65–100)

Additional information

The marina is wheelchair accessible. People on wheelchairs will be allowed in the water only if they can swim by themselves and get back up the dive ladder with minimum help.
No age restriction, but infants and small children have to be attended by family members at all times.
Overweight individuals will only be allowed in the water if they can get back up the dive ladder by themselves.

Languages

Guide: German, English, French, Spanish

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

0+ days before0% refund

This experience requires good weather. If it's cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Important booking information

Confirmation: Manual
Tickets: One per booking
Local time zone: America/Chicago
Product code: 125529P2

What you'll be asked when booking

Age of each traveller
Date of birth
First name of each traveller
Last name of each traveller
Any special requirements
Traveller weight

Traveller reviews

5.0/ 54 reviews

Ratings aggregated from Tripadvisor (4).

From

USD 145.75per person

Travel date

Choose your option

2 Hour Private Sunset BoatDuration: 2 hours Free bottled water To Shell Island Boat: Three 6-passenger boatsDE · ES · FR · EN4-Hour Dolphin Swim TourSnorkeling at Shell Island : Snorkel the seagrass beds behind Shell Island to observe sand dollars, hermit crabs, starfish, scallops, etc. (seasonal) Duration: 4 hours Free bottled water Bay and Gulf by Shell Island: Boat ride from the dock to the Bay of St. Andrews to Shell Island where the dolphin swims take place in shallow water. Boat: The Water Planet fleet is composed of three 6-passenger boatsDE · ES · FR · EN4 Hour Private BoatDuration: 4 hours Free bottled water To Shell Island: Swimming with dolphins may happen anywhere between the dock and Shell Island. Boat: The Water Planet Fleet is composed of three 6-passenger boatsDE · ES · FR · EN

Travellers

InfantAge 0–3

ChildAge 4–12

YouthAge 13–17

AdultAge 18–64

SeniorAge 65–100

Minimum 1 traveller · maximum 15 per booking

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