Anyone done a day cruise?

[BeachDreamer]

Has anyone been on any of the area day cruises for shelling, snorkeling or dolphin watching? This seems to be the best way to get out on the ocean without hauling our boat along for the 12 hour trip. Any thoughts, suggestions, or reviews? We're thinking about Island Time, in PCB.

 

[alic65]

My family and I have gone to the PCB area two years in a row, Destin once. Our first year there, we went on waverunners for a dolphin tour. It was great. We were taken to an area where there were no waves, it was only about 4 or 5 feet deep, we picked up sand dollars. We then went a little further out where dolphins swam very near. In fact, the tour guide gave us the okay to jump in with them if we wanted, my son and i did, but they quickly swam away. I'm a big dolphin lover and would LOVE to swim with the dolphins some day, it's SOOO expensive. We also took a tour on a pontoon type boat to "shell island" . It was very remote, nothing but a walkway and beach and some shells, not even a restroom, but GORGEOUS. We didn't find many shells though. Last year in Destin, we went on a boat to tour the area for dolphins, they came very close to the boat, I got it on video, they were beautiful, so serene. We had no complaints at all about any of the tours we went on, I can't remember the names of the companies we used, but i'm sure they all do about the same thing. We were even given a family type waverunner that held our family of four. Great time! :clap_1:

 

[UofL]

We have rented pontoon boats in PCB (at the bridge, near the Treasure Ship). Great fun to take yourself out to Shell Island, slow down where you want to watch dolphins. We did the 4 hour/half day thing in the morning each time. Plenty of time.

 

[BeachDreamer]

Thanks for the information! This all sounds wonderful. Are there more available shells when you are snorkeling off of the shore? I have seen some cruises advertise snorkeling around sunken ships, does anyone know anything about this?

Renting a pontoon or jet ski may be better for us since we could take our time and do our own thing privately. Then again, one member of our party is extremely interesting in sailing, and I think he would enjoy the catamaran cruise. We'll have to see if sharing the vessel with 77 other people would ruin the effect for him.

 

[melodiagrand]

have done several.
Island time is great for beginners a fun 3 hour trip very inexpensive i thing 25 $ each or something close. Dolphins all over the place in the water with them, the whole family
More fun was blue dolphin tour, same kind of trip but much more private on a small boat w a captain, i think they also rent boats to do your own thing
850-234-7245 www.bluedolphintour.com

 

[melodiagrand]

Day cruise, Dolphin Tour, wave runner tour

Same company at the Treasure Ship restaurant across the water from capt andersons does several trips. we have done them all over the last 3 years. Its only 15 miles east from Rosemary 30A intersection to pcb much closer and less traffic ethan destin believe it or not.
1) Island wave runner tour
2) Blue dolphin tour. private swim snokel
3) Shell island boat rentals, boston whalers and pontoon boats
4) Island time (55'catamaran snorkel swim)
there was a brochure in the house we rented i think they know the owners
850-234-SAIL

 

[Lady D]

The Island Waverunner Tours by the Treasure Ship Restaurant are where we go and take a guided waverunner tour. Great ride! There is a brochure in the beach townhouse that we rent for that tour. The first year we went the water was the clear emerald green way out there. About 8 to 10 feet deep but very clear. The dolphins swam under our waverunners. Year before last we went again on the same tour and some of us got off the waverunners and the dolphins came right up to a couple of children and took a fish from them. And believe it or not, when we were heading out on the waverunners two years ago, out of all of us heading out, me and the guide were the only two that actually saw a whale. It was a young one, dark with white spots. It was going the opposite way of us heading out. Couldn't believe it. We like that ride the best of all we have tried. Shell Island is nice, you find all kinds of pieces of big shells but no sanddollars or spiral shells or anything. The prices for two on a waverunner the last time we rode them was $99.00. Do not know what they are now but we are going to ride them this year. Worth the money. We have tried several different places over the years, bayside and gulfside.

 

[aquaticbiology]

if you bring your own or rent a u-drive-it boat, jet ski or whatever, in PCB ST Andrews Bay please be aware that the navy is conducting underwater operations with a submersible and divers in both the bay and gulf daily, and that the pass is the entrance to a real seaport - large cargo ships, navy warships and coast guard ships regularly go through the bay, pass and gulf

keep 1000 ft away from all navy vessels unless you want to be shot by Port Security

do not enter Alligator Bayou where the navy boats are, without getting clearance from NSA Port Control (yes, National Security Administration) unless you want to be shot by Port Security

when you see a large cargo ship going by, get well away - the waves put off by large ships are about 10-15 feet high and can capsize almost any boat if not handled properly

and (duh!) make sure the number of people on your vessel is equal to or less than the suggested number on the vessel's sticker and you have at least the minimum number of life jackets, one for each person aboard, and for heavens sake don't have a drink if you're driving the thing

there were 18 boardings with over $10,000 worth of fines and seizures just yesterday alone

otherwise, enjoy!

 

[Lady D]

All the years we have gone on those guided waverunner tours, we have never once seen any navy or cargo ships. I do not think they would come into a tourist area for underwater operations. Where, by the way, is Alligator Bayou? I am sure these guides that take you on these guided tours avoid those areas. We went gulfside the very first year down there and we went out right in front of all of these huge boats. Couldn't believe the guide took us right across in front of them. But they were not any navy vessels.

 

[John]

I've been told that there are hefty fines for feeding dolphins.