Dolphin Tour
Dolphin Tours allow you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of our waterways! Enjoy a relaxing cruise through pristine waters while keeping an eye out for dolphins and other incredible wildlife. Our friendly guides share fascinating stories and insights about the area’s marine life and ecosystem, making every trip both fun and unforgettable. Most of the time we’ll encounter dolphin while they are feeding. They may be found in the river or the Gulf corralling the baitfish into shallower water. We also frequently encounter dolphin in the Gulf when we are driving faster and they are surfing along our bow wake and using the waves created by the boat as a playground. We may find dolphin in pairs, individually or hunting as a group in which case you’ll see their intelligence on display as they work together to make sure each of them gets a meal. Our dolphin tour’s goal is to find dolphin but you’ll be exposed to much more than porpoises and really, you might see anything that lives in the River and Gulf of Mexico.
Dolphin Tour Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see dolphins?
Dolphins are wild animals and we’ll cover lots of water trying to find them. They will usually be found just outside the mouth of the river in the Gulf of Mexico while they are feeding or in the mood to play in the wakes of our boat. It’s not a guarantee we’ll find them and they may only come to the surface for a quick gulp of air but we find them on a pretty regular basis. On a great day we’ll find 2-5 of them playing just at the surface of the water and they’ll follow along with our boat for several hundred yards and you’ll have ample opportunities to film them or enjoy seeing them directly with your eyes vs through a view finder.
What boat will I be on?
We run guided tours on 3 types of boats: Airboats, pontoon boats and a custom skiff. The airboats and skiff are open to the weather and run faster than the pontoon boats. The pontoon boats are the most comfortable and have bimini tops and are more convenient for bringing coolers and other gear. The skiff and pontoon boats create more wake and the dolphin often enjoy playing in larger wakes cretaed by these boats – don’t worry, they won’t get near the propellers.
Do I need to book a guided tour to see dolphin?
No, you don’t need a guided tour if you are a competent captain and can follow our directions of staying in the channel. Most times the dolphin are just inside the channel herding the baitfish against the ledges at the edge of the channel so they are swimming in the safe place for you to drive the boat. As noted above, you’ll most likely find them at the mouth of the river (though we see them almost to the Springs and everywhere in between while they’re searching for their next meal). Rent one of our boats for more time on the water to increase your chances of finding dolphin.
Can we feed the dolphin?
No, you cannot and should not feed wild dolphins. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States and other countries, carrying penalties of large fines and even jail time. Feeding dolphins is harmful to them, as it can lead to dependency, aggression, entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes, ingestion of hooks and plastic, and decreased maternal success
Can I swim with dolphin?
You can swim in the Gulf of Mexico and a dolphin may be curious enough about you to swim up to you. If that happens, remember that RESPECT is the key to any interaction. Dolphins must initiate any interaction and they have the right to terminate it. Most dolphin encounters last less than 1 minute. Do not pursue a dolphin if it is getting away from you.
