Tours and Tickets
Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key
5

Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key

By Island Ferry St. Pete Beach
Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Spot dolphins and manatees in their natural habitat in Boca Ciega Bay on this cruise. After exploring the bay, head to the Gulf of Mexico and visit Shell Key island, a preserve located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, where you are able to snorkel, swim, and stroll the beach. There, you might spot manatees and rays during the warmer seasons.
from
HK$520.69
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Make the most out of your time in the Tampa Bay area on this tour
  • This tour is a good option for families
  • Choose from multiple departure times to fit your schedule
  • Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are provided

  • Bottled water
  • Use of Snorkelling equipment
  • Parking at the marina
  • Cooler with ice on board
  • FREE parking at the Tierra Verde Marina Resort
  • BYOB welcome
What's not included
  • Food, unless specified
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • Tierra Verde Marina Resort, 200 Madonna Blvd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA
    We depart from the Tierra Verde Marina Resort, located at 198 Madonna Blvd next to the Island Grille Restaurant, and the Residence Inn Marriot. Please report to the Check-In area at the Island Ferry sign.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30627P2

    • You must check in 30 minutes prior to your departure time. All trips leave promptly at their departure time
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.
    Can I bring an infant on the boat during the Shared 2 Hours Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key?
    Yes! Children of all ages are welcome on board! Due to capacity on the boat, all guests pay the same rate, regardless of age.
    Answered Mar 2021
    What type of boat is used for the Shared 2 Hours Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key?
    We use 25-foot luxury pontoon boats with cushioned seating, cup holders, and lounge tables. These boats are fitted with the most advanced hull designs available for a safe, stable & comfortable ride in a wide variety of surf conditions.
    Answered Mar 2021
    Are there restrooms on board the boat during the Shared 2 Hours Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key?
    There are no restrooms onboard, however, there are facilities at the Marina for use before and after the tour.
    Answered Mar 2021
    Can I bring my own food/drinks on the Shared 2 Hours Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key?
    Yes - We provide bottled water, however, you may bring your own food and or drinks. Alcoholic beverages are welcome on board as well. We also have a cooler with ice onboard that you may use.
    Answered Mar 2021

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30627P2

    Reserve your spot

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Island Ferry St. Pete Beach
      2,582
      United States
      Joined in May 2014
    • U1560JTchaseb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun day trip
      We had such a fun time! Got to see some wildlife & beautiful Mangrove tunnels. Taylor was a great guide, very personable and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend taking this tour.
      Written 18 March 2024
    • paolaandrealenis
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great value for the experience
      This tour is great! The length/duration of the tour really allows you to enjoy the experience. The weather and the timing of our tour was also great, sunny but not too hot. Our guide Taylor was really informative and pleasant during the whole ride, she really knew her facts and was able to give us all kinds of information on the environment and it's wild life inhabitants. Taylor made sure we were all safe and was very accommodating so everyone had the best experience possible. From beginning to end, everything was really organized and all ran smoothly and on a timely manner. I highly recommend this tour and look forward to doing it again some time.
      Written 18 March 2024
    • emilymD7103BW
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing
      This tour was beautiful and well worth it! Great for a big or small group. Taylor was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable.
      Written 17 March 2024
    • Excursion31361094106
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      And a great time was had by all
      The youngest being 73, and we had a great experience. Don't be put off by the meeting place Google Maps brings you to, because there's no building there, they just set up on the beach. The staff is really great - friendly, funny and informative. The guide was very patient as some people in our group of 10 were slower than others. But, there was still plenty of time to explore and have a great time. I do recommend that you try to stay up with the guide as their voice may not carry well when the wind is blowing. They have great info to give on the geography and the wildlife.
      Written 16 March 2024
    • Z966FGelizabethm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Justice & Taylor are great tour guides
      Went with friends on a day trip around Tierra Verde and the coast. Justice and Taylor offered snorkeling, a walk on an island, and wake-boarding. They were very knowledgeable about the area, easy to talk with, and helpful with the water sports. They even knew how to get the dolphins to jump in the wake of the boat. Highly recommend!
      Written 15 March 2024
    • adrianabG4153YW
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great opportunity to explore shell island!
      It was peaceful and fun! I would highly recommend it! I had a kayak with my teenage son, it was a perfect balance of workout and relaxation.
      Written 14 March 2024
    • Camper32020977458
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful trip out!
      Beautiful trip out! We got to see the sunset.. the dolphins playing like toddlers, drink our wine we brought & it was a great evening tour! Thank you so much!!!
      Written 13 March 2024
    • R2243YBkaylaw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun relaxing trip!
      This was so much fun and Captain Justice was awesome! Seeing the dolphins playing and jumping behind the boat was so much fun to watch! Highly suggest doing this trip!
      Written 13 March 2024
    • lizhJ617LH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun spring break activity!
      I had researched a few different kayak tours in the area and this one had the best location and experiences. Our tour guides were Raina and Tracy. Super helpful and communicated the entire time. Our group had some interesting characters that had difficulty listening/following directions but they made it super easy to stay together and pass through all the water ways and tunnels. Definitely physically demanding, I would not recommend if you are looking for a leisurely activity with your family but definitely worth it!
      Written 13 March 2024
    • mckinleys2019
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dolphins, Bridge Tour, Expensive Home Tour
      Noel, our guide, was incredible. Very knowledgable about the area and took the time to answer all of our (many) questions about the city. He took every effort to make my family comfortable on a chilly spring day. 5 star, would recommend.
      Written 11 March 2024
    • AdventuresofSHHE
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Shells, Dolphins and Starfish, Oh My!
      We took our 5 year old twins on a dolphin/shelling tour with Captain Roger. Roger was so warm and funny and answered all of our questions. He treated our kids with so much kindness and patience and made them feel so comfortable. We saw dolphins, snorkelled to find starfish and shells and then hung out at Shell Key and collected two full bags of shells. I highly recommend this tour; we will 100% be booking again next time we are in the area.
      Written 11 March 2024
    • maggiea583
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing snorkeling tour
      Amazing and learned so much!!!! Justice and Nole were great and super helpful. The boat was clean and we were brought to cool locations.
      Written 9 March 2024
    • F6594UDseanm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Cool way to experience Florida nature!
      We had a wonderful time with our guide Dalton. He had lots of fun facts about the surrounding nature and wildlife and did a great job keeping the group together throughout the long journey. We were lucky enough to see a few dolphins. 10/10 would recommend!
      Written 4 March 2024
    • jeannied611
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dalton is Amazing!
      Our dolphin cruise to Shell Island was unforgettable. Dalton endeavored to locate a pod of dolphins for us to observe & provided extensive knowledge of dolphins. Shell Island’s Crystal clear turquoise waters was breathtaking. We loved every minute
      Written 2 March 2024
    • ftroopa
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      So relaxing & fun
      We always love our sunset cruise . So relaxing. Nice touches like blankets in case you get cold . Always see dolphins . Love the info given about the area . This was our 3rd time with this wonderful company .
      Written 29 February 2024
    See all 2 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles852 reviews
    Excellent
    805
    Very good
    27
    Average
    11
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    9

    Danielle T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019 • Family
    We had a great time both looking for dolphins, and finding about 8 of them as well as the beautiful houses and birds. The shell key was nice too. My only complaint is I wish they offered a 4 hour tour instead of 2. We could definitely used more time to explore. The way back to the canal was very rough as the weather picked up 3-5'vwaves, and they expertly navigated us back to the canal. So if they say they are unable to take you out It's really the case, and it's for your safety. Enjoyed so much.
    Written 1 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    ksdRichlands_Va
    richlands, va7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2020
    We booked the tour and were very pleased. It was very relaxing & in a pontoon. My grandchildren, ages 1 & 4, loved the ride, seeing dolphins & collecting shells. Capt. Tony was very courteous, informative, operated the boat very effectively & ensured absolute safety with the children. We did not snorkel due to the age of the children, but loved the entire tour. We would recommend this tour for families, especially with younger children. Thank you for a great morning that day.
    Written 13 September 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Maria Correa
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My boyfriend and I had a great time. Captain Larry was very informative and had a lot of knowledgeable about St. Pete and surroundings. This trip was definitely worth the money, we saw dolphins in two different spots, stingray, local birds.
    Written 24 June 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    TheBees
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We cannot recommend this dolphin watch cruise more! The directions provided to us were clear and adequately prepared us for the adventure. There were 6 passengers total on board the covered boat and Captain Dalton was extremely knowledgeable and skilled. Shortly after describing to our group how dolphins will occasionally “wake-surf” behind a boat, he spotted 3 dolphins and got them to do it - they rode the wake immediately behind our boat for over a mile, each taking turns jumping out of the water while we cheered and filmed. Truly a unique experience. We had plenty of time at Shell Key to snorkel and relax on the beach before heading back to the marina. Huge shout out again to Captain Dalton and everyone at Island Ferry in St. Pete. This was the highlight of our stay here!
    Written 28 November 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Joe C
    Saratoga Springs, NY2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    We went on the Dolphin Watch Cruise with Captain Dalton and had a great day. He was engaging and went above and beyond to give us a chance to see Dolphins and the local sites. I would highly recommend the tour and Dalton. (I'm sure the other captains are ok too.)
    Written 19 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    BlondeandOpinionated
    Atlanta, GA205 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020
    This was a major highlight of the vacation! I wish I could remember the name of our tour guide, as he was wonderful! We didn't see any wildlife up close (saw some dolphins out in the distance) it was still a wonderful time being out on the water and seeing things you just can't see from land. Our tour guide shared a lot of knowledge about the area with us, he was friendly and he played great tunes. This was pre-COVID so there were about 2 other groups aside from us. They provided water and snorkel gear, they had a community cooler so we could keep our beverages cold. Be sure to bring cash and tip your guide, they certainly deserve it!
    Written 21 October 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Anne M
    Milwaukee, WI8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2023
    We went with our two kids (ages 9 and 7) and we all had an amazing time snorkeling n the crystal clear waters around Shell Key! We found tons of large shells, a few sand dollars and two sea urchins. Captain Dalton was fantastic and spotted a dolphin, manatee, and several large fish for us. I love that they limit their boats to groups of six. I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone—it was the highlight of our trip to Florida and very reasonably priced for the experience you get!
    Written 17 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jen R
    Moorhead, MN7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020
    I highly recommend these guys.

    We decided at the last minute to book this. Captain Dalton was so friendly and knowledgeable. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to find out that we had the entire pontoon to ourselves. We found dolphins and actually got them to follow the pontoon and jump in the wake, we saw lots of other wild life - my husband and Captain Dalton saw a shark jump - sadly I did not. There was plenty of time to snorkel and find shells at Shell Key - my daughter found her first sand dollar that was not broken as well.

    It was an amazing and relaxing time spend and we will definitely do this again when we return.

    Thank you Captain Dalton for the awesome afternoon!
    Written 20 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Tina B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2022 • Couples
    Captain Tim was great! We enjoyed our time out on the water very much. Shell key was a nice little island to look for shells. Snorkeling on Shell Key is for shell searching not to see fish, etc. I knew this going in so I was ok with that, but some may think otherwise. You will see some crabs and I did see one little lobster that was cool. The water is clear BUT can be cloudy from the current and boats going by. The best part was on the way back we saw 3 dolphins and captain Tim got them to swim along side the boat. The pontoon was nice and well kept. They only allow 6 passengers at a time which makes it nice and more personable. It was a great morning. We chose the 9am charter.
    Written 6 March 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Hannah V
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2020 • Family
    Overall, the trip was amazing. Our captain, Dalton, was experienced and showed us pods of dolphins who even surfed the waves behind our boat. The shell beach was great and even though it rained and the water was rougher, we still had a wonderful time hunting for shells, snorkeling and spotting wildlife.
    Written 27 August 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key provided by Island Ferry St. Pete Beach