15 St Petersburg Dolphin Tours That Fill Up First

1.Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75Our pick

Cruise Boca Ciega Bay in a 25-foot pontoon with a captain such as Megan, Noel, or Dave, then visit Shell Key for beach snorkeling and shell collecting. The six-person limit keeps the trip personal, but wildlife and underwater conditions can vary.

“Beautiful boat ride. Meghan our captain & guide was great. Snorkeling was a dud. I was expecting to jump in off the boat to snorkel but you had to walk in off Shell key- nothing to see. We did see a glimpse of a manatee and some dolphins while heading out and back. Again being out on the water in a comfortable boat was great.”

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2.Dolphin Watching/Eco Cruise, John’s Pass, Madeira Bch, FL

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 529 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $31

Cruise from John's Pass with Dolphin Quest for about 90 minutes of dolphin watching and local sightseeing. Captains Steve or Jim and guides Kirsten, Grace, or Colin may point out bottlenose dolphins, manatees, waterfront homes, and Gulf views. The boat carries up to 35 people and has a restroom.

“We had a great time on the tour. We had our friends from South Korea with us and they enjoyed the experience.”

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3.Dolphin Watching Nature Cruise and Eco Tour from Hubbard’s Marina in John’s Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 402 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Board Hubbard’s Marina’s Big Blue Boat at John’s Pass for a 90-minute, fully narrated wildlife cruise. Look for dolphins, manatees, pelicans, ospreys, and stingrays while cruising Madeira Beach and the Intracoastal Waterway. Restrooms and snacks are onboard, but parking costs extra.

“We had a 6 year old, 5 year old and 2 year old with us and they loved it. The amount of time out on the water was perfect. We were super thankful there were bathrooms on board. Our captain and first mate were kind and knowledgeable. We saw a bunch of dolphins toward the end of our cruise and they were so fun to watch. Very playful with us. Even if we hadn’t seen dolphins I think we would have enjoyed the ride.”

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4.St. Pete Beach Dolphin Racer Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 344 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Join Starlite Cruises at Corey Causeway for a 90-minute ride through the Gulf of Mexico and nearby waterways. Your captain and deckhand share local information while the boat searches for dolphins, with a free-return promise if dolphins do not surf the wake. Bring sunscreen, water, and a camera.

“We absolutely loved this great boat ride and seen so many dolphins jumping and racing w the boat great experience 10 out of 10 recommend”

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5.Dolphin Shelling Snorkeling Cruise in Tampa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 329 reviews · 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

Cruise from Madeira Beach to Shell Key Preserve with a captain such as John, Tim, Hunter, Troy, or Elijah. In about three hours, you may spot dolphins, collect shells and sand dollars, see coastal wildlife, and snorkel when water conditions allow. Equipment, cooler, and ice are provided.

“Troy was a great. We saw beautiful views, about a dozen dolphins and got some good seashells. It was exactly the day we wanted to have. I’d recommend this a thousand times. When we come back to Tampa, we will definitely be doing this again. Thank you Troy!”

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6.St. Pete Dolphin Watching and Shelling Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 197 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $42

Spend about three hours cruising St. Petersburg’s waterways, watching for wild dolphins, passing waterfront estates and bridges, then stopping at Shell Key or Sand Dollar Island for swimming and shelling. Captains such as Paul, Chase, Barry, and Dillon share local insight while the onboard bar and restroom add comfort.

“The respectful crew and of course seeing the dolphins. The crew was informative and courteous. So many dolphin encounters and the shelling was great too!”

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7.Dolphin Tour in St. Pete Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 119 reviews · from $30

Join Emily and the Salty Pelican crew aboard the 40-foot Dolphin Quest at 2 p.m. in Gulfport. This 90-minute cruise follows the St. Pete coast near Pass-a-Grille Beach, with chances to see wild dolphins, manatees, rays, and seabirds. The shaded pontoon has a restroom and holds up to 17 people.

“The dolphin tour crew were very friendly and knowledgeable. We did get to see dolphins which is always nice.”

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8.Egmont Key Snorkeling Dolphin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Spend about four hours on a small boat from Madeira Beach, snorkeling Egmont Key, looking for dolphins, and exploring beaches, birds, turtles, and old ruins. Captains such as Brian, Chris, John, Mike, and Troy tailor the day for groups of up to six.

“Itinerary was changed midtrip due to weather, which they likely knew. Dropped us off at a busy beach. Hardly any equipment on board. Took intercoastal waterway back, which we could have taken to the proper destination.”

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9.4 Hour Egmont Key Island Tour With Dolphins & Snorkeling Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $79

Join Island Boat Adventures for a four-hour outing from Gulfport with captains John and Tanner. Expect dolphin and manatee sightings, snorkeling with equipment provided, and time to explore an island beach for shells and wildlife. The published details sometimes name Egmont Key and Shell Key, so confirm the exact stop before booking.

“Friendly staffs. Easy to find the boat. There is a bathroom on the boat in case. Bring picnic food so you can enjoy more.”

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10.Private Boat: Island Cruise and Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Captain Tyler or Captain Justin takes your private group of up to six from downtown St. Petersburg into Tampa Bay. Expect dolphins, Coffee Pot Bayou, a bird sanctuary, waterfront homes, snorkeling, tubing, and a quiet stop offshore. Upgrade to reach Shell Key, Bunces Pass, or Egmont Key.

“The Captain was awesome! He even got in the water with us to find shells and sand dollars. My family had the best time including my mom and 3 yr old granddaughter. Very nice boat. We loved every minute of it!!”

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11.Barrier Island, Shelling and Dolphin Tour in St Petersburg, Fl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $420

Captain Joe leads a private three-hour cruise from O’Neill’s Marina to St. Pete Beach and nearby barrier islands. Expect Gulf views, wildlife spotting, shell hunting, mansion views, bottled water, and time to swim or stop for lunch.

“Another great experience! Return customer if Captain Joe and his boating adventures. The boat is very well kept up, Captain Joe is very friendly, communicative and safe. My friends had a great time”

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12.Dolphin /Shelling/Snorkeling tours Private Charters

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 59 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Join Adventure Cruises Inc. at 9610 Gulf Blvd. for a 2-hour-15-minute cruise aboard Adventure 1. You’ll search for dolphins, spend about 45 minutes shelling near Shell Key, and use provided snorkeling gear when conditions allow. The boat has a bathroom, shaded seating, and room for up to 42 people.

“We had a great time with our family, we saw few Dauphins. The island is not okay. The captain and her daughter that was helping was very friendly”

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13.St. Pete Dolphin Watching and Island Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $56

Cruise from Gulfport toward Sand Dollar Island with guide Justice, watching for dolphins and passing sailboats, bridges, Pass-a-Grille Beach, and Shell Key Preserve. You’ll have about 45 minutes ashore for shell hunting and a sunset walk, plus a bar and restroom on board.

“What a fantastic experience! Justice is very knowledgeable about the surrounding area. We saw tons of dolphins and we had a great time! 💕”

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14.1-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Adventure Cruise from Madeira Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $28Best value

Set out from 140 Boardwalk Pl W for a 60-minute Shark Boat ride through Boca Ciega Bay. The captain and mate search for dolphins and use the boat’s wake to encourage playful jumps. Crews have included Captain Jim, Chris, Dustin, Grace, Tracy, and others.

“We had a great time. Saw lots of dolphins. The captain and first mate were fabulous. They took lots of pictures of everyone and went above and beyond to help us see dolphins and have fun. I recommend this to all who want a fun adventure.”

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15.2.5 Hour Shell Key Island Adventure Including Dolphins And Shells

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Join Island Boat Adventures in Gulfport for a 2.5-hour ride through Dolphin Bay and nearby mangroves to Shell Key. Captains such as Mike, John, Tom, Sierra, Betty, and others may guide you while you search for conchs, whelks, sand dollars, and perhaps a Junonia shell. BYOB is welcome.

“Even though a mini storm came through, the captain ensured we had a great time! We found a lot of beautiful shells and saw plenty of dolphins! Highly recommend!”

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