6 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 $29Best value

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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