The 8 Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours People Actually Book

1.Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,362 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $57Our pick

Sail from Panama City Beach aboard Island Time’s spacious catamaran, watching for wild dolphins before reaching Shell Island. You can snorkel in St. Andrews Bay, paddleboard, use the waterslide, collect shells, or simply relax. Crew members such as Emma, Sarah, Heath, and Clayton are often praised for friendly service.

“We had the perfect time on Island Time! The two captains and bartender took the time to get to know us, were so helpful in spotting dolphins (easily over 100)! They slowed down and stopped so we could take videos/photos. Then spending time walking the beach on shell island was more beautiful than expected. My husband snorkeled and we found sand dollars and gorgeous shells. The music was relaxed but fun, the drink offerings were spot-on (go for the rum punch) and the 3 hours on the trip were some of the best spent on our entire trip!”

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2.Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,867 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $57

Set sail from 5201 N Lagoon Dr with Island Time Sailing for a two-hour sunset cruise through Grand Lagoon. Look for dolphins near St. Andrews State Park, enjoy music and drinks from the onboard bar, and finish with dockside games and dancing. Captains Clay and Christo are among the crew praised for finding good dolphin views.

“Everything about this dolphin watch boat tour is phenomenal, the Captain and crew are amazing! Me and my girlfriend have done this twice within a year and it’s been amazing and worth every penny.”

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3.Snorkel & Dolphin Sightseeing Tour Aboard the Footloose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 441 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $50

Spend about three hours aboard the Footloose catamaran from Panama City Beach. Snorkel with provided gear at Shell Island, walk its white-sand beach, then search for dolphins in the Gulf. The crew, including captains such as Gordon, Marcy, Ryan, and first mate Lamar, serves one complimentary drink before opening the bar.

“It was a great time! My 16 and 18 year old boys who never want to participate in anything- actually did and said it was a lot of fun! It was really chill and easy going. We were able to do our own thing and by the time the excitement started to die down, it was time to go. Timing was perfect from our ages down to our 2 year old!”

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4.2 Hours Swim with the Dolphins in Panama City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 302 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $71

Join Bay Point Water Sports for a two-hour Gulf boat trip with a maximum of six people. Captains Dale, Dan, Rob, or Robert look for wild dolphins, stingrays, manatees, turtles, and sharks, then offer time to swim, snorkel, and visit Shell Island.

“Just amazing. The captain was awesome!!! 100% recommend it. We saw a lot of dolphins. The shell islands is beautiful.😉😃😃”

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5.2-Hour Private Sightseeing Dolphin Tour in Panama City Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 235 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Captain Zach leads a private two-hour cruise for up to six people through St. Andrews Bay and toward Shell Island. Look for wild bottlenose dolphins, turtles, rays, and other sea life, then snorkel or walk the white-sand beach. Water, ice, a cooler, and gear are included.

“Great experience! Private trip to see dolphins UP CLOSE. Much better experience than larger boats packed with strangers. The visit to Shell Island was great where we (Captain Zach) found a shark tooth and witnessed a stunning sunset.”

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6.Shell Island Dolphin Sightseeing Boat Tour in Panama City Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 221 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Cruise St. Andrews Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Shell Island for about 90 minutes on a boat limited to 18 people. Captains such as Justine and Drea, with first mate Sophia, look for wild bottlenose dolphins and other wildlife while sharing local facts. Water is included, but there is no restroom onboard.

“Very nice captain drea and 1st mate sophia. Had a great ride out and saw a ton of dolphins! great way to see PCB.”

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7.Panama City: Sunset Dolphin Cruise in St. Andrews Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 218 reviews · 1h 30m · from $28Best value

Board a double-deck catamaran at St. Andrews State Park for a 90-minute sunset cruise. Guides such as Ryan, Brian, Kent, and Roy keep an eye out for wild dolphins, deer, and good photo angles while beer, wine, and cold drinks are available onboard.

“Ryan, Bryan and Dennis were awesome. They only had 5 of us but they still went through with the entire tour. They took awesome pictures and they gave us lots of information about the islands. They even played a happy birthday song for my boyfriend’s birthday.”

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8.Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on the Footloose Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 198 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Join the 40-foot Footloose catamaran for a 90-minute dolphin search off Panama City Beach, with Shell Island views, tropical music, a complimentary drink, and snacks for sale. Captains such as Paul, Mike, and Ryan have earned praise for finding dolphins and keeping the trip friendly and smooth.

“Nico and Ryan were excellent hosts and were able to bring us to over 50 dolphin sightings! I still can’t believe how amazing it was!”

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