Your Shell Island Dolphin Tour is Panama City Beach’s only partially guided jet ski tour. After check-in and a quick safety briefing, you’ll head out for a fast-paced ride across the emerald waters of St. Andrews Bay. Weather permitting, we’ll enter the Gulf in search of dolphins and other wildlife like sea turtles, rays, and more. Next, we’ll stop on the bay side of Shell Island for a short break. Then, enjoy around 1 hour of free ride time to explore—whether cruising, swimming, or relaxing on the beach. With 15 minutes remaining, the group follows the guide back across the bay. Must understand English safety instructions without translation Must be able to swim Operators born in or after 1988 must have a Florida Boater Safety Card (before arrival. Link provided) Arrive 30 minutes early Late arrivals will not ride or receive a refund $250 refundable deposit required to be paid on site 350 lb. max combined weight 1 jet ski for up to 2 riders Drivers must have a valid driver's license
Out at sunset: the 4:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:07 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 99 of the next 120 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
After some safety and ride instruction, we will embark on a high-paced adventure exploring St. Andrews Bay. Weather permitting, we will enter the Gulf of Mexico on a hunt for wild animals. Dolphins are the main attraction, but sea turtles, manatees, rays, fish, crabs, and more can often be seen on tour. Circling back into the bay, we typically take a break on Shell Island. This pristine barrier island is the perfect resting place for a few minutes to catch your breath and then take off on your own adventure. If you prefer a slower pace, you are welcome to spend this time walking the sugary white sands or swimming in the emerald waters. We will gather the group once more as the tour winds to an end, take one more ride across the bay, and end up back at the meeting point in Panama City.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 102 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $159 per person for this Panama City Beach experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:30 PM.
It can: 99 of the next 120 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Located at Papa Joes Bayside. All participants must arrive 30 minutes prior to tour time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 24 participants.
Kids Must be at least 6 years old to participate
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 197 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by AAA Jet Ski Rental.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Great experience for beginners, but not balanced for riders who want to go fast. The single file line also creates an opportunity for inexperienced drivers to cause some unsafe moments getting too close or jumping in front of you. Overall, it was a fun onetime tour with great guides and some awesome sights.
Most of the experience was fantastic. The ride out and back was extremely rough. Felt like you were going to be launched off.
I would do this every time I visit the area, good price, the jet ski was in great condition, the personal was amazing, and the price was great compared to other places in Florida
Amazing time! The ride out was great then we had some free time and that was awesome to just ride around and explore then we met up and rode back together! Seen a group of Dolphins and got to video and take pictures it was a really fun time! We have now been two times and will continue every year to add it to the itinerary!!!
So much fun! We did see a couple of dolphin pods and strolled alone side of them for pics! Part of the trip you get about 40 minutes to either explore Shell Island or ride the jet skis on your own (no guide). Kaleb did a great job getting us there and back in one piece!
The tour guide was nice . Though I would call this more of a thrill ride than a dolphin tour. Never stopped or saw a dolphin. Though the experience was nice riding to the Island. We had time to explore there. Not one dolphin and extremely fast paced. If you are looking more for a dolphin tour I’d say book something else if you love going 80+ on jet skis in the ocean this is the tour for you! Also, to be fair. It wasn’t great weather so maybe that was the reason on no dolphins. This is a thrill seeking ride so know there is nothing slow about it.
don't be late. check your booking to make sure you have the address where you are supposed to be going. we went to the wrong address and lost time. check your receipt to make sure the correct number of skis you rented. allow enough time to get lost if you are not familiar with the area. bring only essentials. you don't need a lot to ride. again, don't be late.
This was cooler than sky diving! Seriously, my new favorite PCB activity! Camden was awesome, too! He showed me all the cool spots and made sure I felt safe! Parked and swam, did some shelling and went right back to hunting for dolphins. I was the only one that showed up & frankly, it was the most free I’ve ever felt! Don’t over think this one - RENT THE JET SKI’S! 🙌🏼 Best excursion in PCB (with absolutely the best guides!)
The tour was nice and the operators and guide were great. That being said, having been on a jet ski many times prior, this is not a family excursion. Maybe the mornings are different, but my 67 y/o Mom and I struggled to keep up with the group. You have to be able to drive 45-50 mph in 6-10 foot waves to keep up or they will leave you behind. It was all we could do to stay on the damn thing. Choppy, dangerous water and heavy boat traffic in the bay and gulf. Tons of shallow spots you could crash on if not careful. If you can’t follow the direct path and keep up with the group, you risk tearing up the ski that you are responsible for the damages on. We didn’t even get to the dolphin watching as the guide had to leave us and another slower jet ski couple behind at shell island for not keeping up. It was definitely high adrenaline but I’d say this is geared more towards young crazy people lol. If you’re like us and want something more enjoyable, stick with a pontoon or sunset cruise. At 43, this is much more my speed 😂
Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area and the speed of the jetski's was an amazing thrill. Managed to see dolphins within about 15 mins as well.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour | 2 hours | 4.7 (197) | $159 | |
 2 Hour Jet Ski Dolphin Tour to Shell Island | 2 hours | 5.0 (4) | $149 | View |
 2 Hours Shell Island Jet Ski Tour | 2 hours | 4.8 (20) | $190 | View |
 Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time | 3 hours | 4.9 (5,049) | $52 | View |
 Shell Island Inflatable Adventure Park & Dolphin Sightseeing Tour | 3 hours | 4.7 (581) | $71 | View |
 Dolphin Sightseeing Tour near Shell Island in Panama City Beach | 1h 30min | 4.9 (302) | $35 | View |
 3 Hour Panama City Beach Dolphin Cruise and Shell Island Tour | 3 hours | 5.0 (252) | $52 | View |