Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise

Included and Not Included

The inclusion list is short and clear: use of snorkeling equipment, use of life jackets, use of paddle boards, the captain and deckhands, and all taxes, fees and handling charges. Excluded are gratuities, alcoholic drinks and snacks and drinks, all of which can be bought on board. Only bottled water may come from outside, no outside alcohol and no coolers.

One note on conflicting wording: the operator's own website describes a bar with rum punch, beer and wine, while the Viator listing simply says alcoholic drinks are available for purchase. The listing is the terms you book under, so confirm the drink line-up with Island Time Sailing before you count on a particular drink.

The listing states no mandatory extras on top of the fare. Gratuity is the main add-on to budget for, and it is added automatically at 18% for parties of 15 or more. Check the final booking screen for the total.

From Check-in to Return

Check-in is 30 minutes before departure at the dock, and there is no rescheduling or refund if you arrive late. After boarding, the catamaran sails through St. Andrews Bay toward Shell Island. The boat anchors in calm shallow water about 5 feet deep for the snorkel stop, which lasts about 1 hour, and you can swim, hunt for seashells and look for starfish and tropical fish.

The remaining 2 hours go to dolphin watching and scenic sailing through St. Andrews Bay and out toward the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphins are wild, so the crew looks for the resident bottlenose dolphins rather than promising them. No clock departure times, return times or the exact dolphin search location are stated on the listing.

Honest Limits, with the Alternatives

Crowds are the first thing to weigh. A sailing catamaran taking up to 65 guests means you share the rail, the snorkel stop and the paddle boards with a lot of people. If you want quiet water and a captain who answers questions, the Small Group Shell Island Dolphin and Snorkel Tour caps the boat at 6 guests.

Ages are open: none are stated, infants 0 to 2 sit on an adult's lap, and the minimum drinking age is 21. There is no restroom question answered on the listing and no wheelchair access stated, so call Island Time Sailing on (850) 234-7377 before booking if either matters to you. The listing also warns against the trip for people with heart complaints or other serious medical conditions in hot summer weather.

No swimming ability is required and the difficulty is listed as suitable for all fitness levels, but the island stop is a beach and water stop, so non-swimmers should stay near the boat with a life jacket. If you would rather skip the island and the water entirely, the Panama City Beach Dolphin Watching Cruise is a 1.5-hour boat-only ride at $34. And if a smaller catamaran at a lower fare appeals, the Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Tour takes up to 38 guests from a different dock.

Finding the Dock

Turn onto North Lagoon as if you were headed to Captain Anderson's. Continue past the Captain Anderson's parking lot and past the Lighthouse Marina, then take the paved road on the right. Tall signs with the company name mark the dock.

The operator's own site gives the address as 5201 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32408. No parking arrangements are stated on the listing, so arrive with the 30-minute check-in window in mind.

What Shell Island Lacks

Shell Island is about seven miles of undeveloped barrier island between the Gulf and the bay. There are no concession stands, restrooms, picnic pavilions or trash cans, and no running water. Whatever you carry off the boat, you carry back.

Sun protection matters because shade is whatever you bring. For the wider island picture, read the Shell Island Florida guide and the Shell Island shuttle page if you want more time on the sand than 1 hour.

The Rules on Wild Dolphins

The animals here are bottlenose dolphins, and a pod lives around Shell Island. NOAA Fisheries recommends staying at least 50 yards (150 feet) from wild dolphins and limiting observation to 30 minutes or less. Feeding or harassing them is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with penalties that can reach $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail.

NOAA also asks people not to swim with wild dolphins, including touching, petting or trying to get a reaction, even if an animal approaches you. This cruise watches dolphins from the boat, which is the compliant way to do it.

Weather, Season and What to Pack

Summer is the best season for snorkeling here, when the water is clear enough to see the bottom on most days, and Gulf water averages 80 to 84°F from June through September. Summer showers are usually short, often passing in 15 to 20 minutes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10. Inclement weather may cancel a cruise, but the operator decides, usually at the last minute, so plan to arrive as scheduled unless told otherwise.

Pack light and right: wear your swimsuit under your clothes and bring a beach bag with towels, sunscreen (no aerosol sprays), sunglasses, a hat, a camera and water shoes. Bottled water is the only outside drink allowed, and no coolers or food may come aboard. More detail is in the Panama City Beach snorkeling guide.