Updates for the 2024 dolphin swim season at Shell Island in Panama City Beach, Florida

Spring Break marks the start of our 2024 dolphin tour season.

Since March 1 st , we have already started to run dolphin swim tours for several families on Spring Break. They had a fabulous time getting in the water with the wild dolphins on the sandbars of Shell Island and by the jetties of St. Andrews State Park.

Like every early spring, the water is on the cool side, and we strongly recommend renting wet suits for your dolphin and snorkeling tour. They are available across the street at the Divers Den. Ask for the special discount for Water Planet Dolphin Swim customers.

Baby dolphins!

This time of year is a great time to see large numbers of dolphins. Every Spring Break, dolphins have their mating season. This is also the time when they give birth to these adorably cute baby dolphins (calves). We have already spotted 2 brand new babies during our dolphin and snorkel tours.

Swim with wild dolphin tours

Our Dolphin Tours are ideal for children and families vacationing on the Emerald Coast. Water Planet is the closest place to swim with wild dolphins from Pensacola, Fort Walton, the Destin Santa Rosa Beach area to 30A, Blue Mountain Beach, Watercolor, Seaside and Rosemary Beach.

For this new season, we will be running 3 boats for our 4-Hour Dolphin Swim Tour from now until November 15. This dolphin and snorkeling tour starts daily at 9 AM or 1:30 PM.

Our 2-Hour Sunset Cruise & Dolphin Tour is a good option for those who prefer a shorter relaxing experience, May through September. Daily at 5:45 PM.

As always, we welcome families with children with disabilities and we will also have several weeks of our 1-Week Dolphin Therapy Camp.

In addition to our famous Captain Glenn, we have Captain Josh, Captain Gene, and Captain Denis. Check them out on our Staff page.

Dolphin etiquette and safety

A friendly reminder that in Florida it is illegal to touch wild dolphins, to feed them, and otherwise harass them. The Water Planet Captains will brief you on dolphin etiquette and safety procedures before each dolphin tour.

By looking at their large number, we think that the wild dolphin population of the Shell Island and Bay of St. Andrews area is thriving. And we are doing our best to keep it that way with your cooperation. The best way for each of us to protect our oceans and our dolphins is to be a good citizen and steward of this delicate water planet.