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Beyond St Petersburg

3 Hour Dolphin Snorkeling and Shell Key Adventure St. Pete Beach

Badge of Excellence
St Petersburg, USA
High interest
Booked 5+ times today.
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7
·
· Michaela_M ·
Jul 2026
Great dolphin tour experience! The boat is spacious, wonderful for large families. Beautiful scenery and shell finding! It was awesome to see the dolphins. Bring towels and maybe an extra set of clothes if you plan to stay around the town and eat or browse! Very good experience for our family! Highly recommend!
· Julie_M ·
Jul 2026
Aaron and Avery were awesome. They were kind, attentive and gave the kiddos on board special care. Just the right amount of time, saw dolphins, went shelling and snorkeling got to spend a good amount of time on the island. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.

Overview

    What's Included

    • Bathroom
    • Water
    • Shade
    • Alcoholic beverages for purchase
    • No outside alcohol
    • TAX 7%

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • 4630 29th Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33711, USA

      when entering parking lot from the street the boat is located to the left, blue sign out front that says "salty Pelican Boat tours".

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Itinerary

    1

    Shell Island

    2 hours Admission Ticket Free

    Boca Ciega Bay (Pass By)

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    • Most travelers can participate
    • bathroom
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 17 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.7
    based on 24 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
    Sort by: Most recent

    Had a great time! Saw a...

    Caitlin_C, Jul 2026
    Had a great time! Saw a pod of dolphins on the way and loved having time to go explore on our own on Shell Island!

    Great Family Excursion

    cole_b, Jul 2026
    good vibes, good time…chill dudes, chill shell spot…just…chill Will do this everytime were in town!!

    Super fun!! We got to see...

    Brinlie_J, Jul 2026
    Super fun!! We got to see dolphins on the way back, and we found some beautiful shells at the island! Totally worth it! Avery gave a great tour.

    Great dolphin tour...

    Michaela_M, Jul 2026
    Great dolphin tour experience! The boat is spacious, wonderful for large families. Beautiful scenery and shell finding! It was awesome to see the dolphins. Bring towels and maybe an extra set of clothes if you plan to stay around the town and eat or browse! Very good experience for our family! Highly recommend!

    Exciting

    Juli_A, Jul 2026
    Although it was rainy they made the experience great by the time we got to the island there was no rain. Both Captains were amazing and we all made the best of the experience.

    Fun ride

    Crystal_E, Jul 2026
    The boat ride was awesome! We saw dolphins and collected some sea shells on shell island. A storm came in and we got a little wet, but it kinda made it an even better experience. The captains were really nice, and made sure we had all we needed.

    They took their time to...

    Renee_B, Jul 2026
    They took their time to find and let us watch dolphins. The guides were knowledgeable about different things along the way to the sand bar. All in all we would do it again.

    Must do activity with the pelican crew

    Kristin_M, Jul 2026
    This was a great experience with captain Bob and Aiden. They were super cool and funny as well as knowledgeable. I was intrigued by the fact dolphins can get high. 😂 This was one of the best experiences where I saw so many dolphins and the shells were amazing finds

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled Captain Bob and Aiden made your trip so much fun while sharing some interesting dolphin facts along the way. We’re so glad you enjoyed all the dolphin sightings and found some amazing shells to take home. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure!

    Book it!

    Julie_M, Jul 2026
    Aaron and Avery were awesome. They were kind, attentive and gave the kiddos on board special care. Just the right amount of time, saw dolphins, went shelling and snorkeling got to spend a good amount of time on the island. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that Aaron and Avery helped make your adventure such a memorable one. They truly enjoy making every guest feel welcome, and it means a lot to hear that the kiddos received such special attention. We're glad you enjoyed seeing dolphins, shelling, snorkeling, and spending time exploring the island. It's great to know the pace of the trip felt just right! Thank you for your recommendation—we truly appreciate it and hope to welcome your family back aboard for another adventure the next time you're in the area.

    Disappointing

    Richard_M, Jul 2026
    Very disappointed. I had 4 teenagers with me. The boat ride was quick. Saw a few dolphins but we left so quick we did not have much time to look for more. Docked on an island. Water was dirty. Could not scuba dive. Collected a few shells. Definitely not as expected. Children should be ok but definitely not for teenagers. Definitely not worth $60 a person.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it can be when conditions aren't ideal. Water clarity around the island is entirely dependent on recent weather, tides, and wind, and unfortunately those are factors we can't control. While our shelling stop does offer opportunities to explore and collect shells, snorkeling visibility can vary greatly from day to day. Our tours are designed as relaxed sightseeing adventures featuring dolphins, local wildlife, and time to enjoy one of our beautiful barrier islands. While many families and guests of all ages enjoy the experience, we understand that every group has different expectations. We appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind as we continue improving our guest experience. We hope you'll consider joining us again on a day with calmer conditions so we can provide you with the experience you were hoping for.

    We had such a fantastic...

    Dianne_N, Jul 2026
    We had such a fantastic time on our boat tour to Shell Key. Captain and Avery were wonderful; so friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the area. They made the whole experience feel relaxed, fun, and memorable. The sights along the way were beautiful, and the little island itself was absolutely lovely. We got to see so many dolphins up close, which was a magical bonus, and we picked up tons of cool shells while exploring the shoreline. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for a perfect mix of adventure, nature, and great people. It was truly a highlight of our trip!

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for this incredible review! We're honored to hear that your trip to Shell Key was a highlight of your vacation. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Captain Aaron and Avery—they truly love sharing the beauty of our local waters, and it means so much to know their passion helped make your experience so memorable. We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring Shell Key, finding plenty of unique shells, and, of course, getting to see so many dolphins up close. Those magical moments are exactly what we hope every guest gets to experience. Thank you for recommending us, and we can't wait to welcome you back aboard the next time you're in the area!

    Easy/Beautiful Adventure on the water

    Tiffany_L, Jul 2026
    All together it was a beautiful adventure on the water. We saw a pod of dolphins, and found a lot of pretty shells. It was 0% hard work, which makes for a very relaxing experience.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed a relaxing day on the water, spotted a pod of dolphins, and found plenty of beautiful shells. Hearing that you found the experience easy and stress-free is exactly what we hope for. We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back aboard again soon! 🐬🐚🌊💙

    They are wonderful and...

    Laura_M, Jul 2026
    They are wonderful and very friendly and informative! My fiancé and I and our kids really enjoyed it as well! I would definitely recommend and when we come back to Florida I’ll be booking with them again!

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for your kind review! We're so glad you, your fiancé, and the kids had such a great time with us. We truly appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome your family back the next time you're in Florida! 🐬🌅💙

    Had so much fun on this...

    Mia_V, Jul 2026
    Had so much fun on this boat experience! Avery was amazing and so helpful with giving recommendations on places to go and see during our time here in St Petes! Such a cute and fun time seeing the dolphins and collecting such beautiful shells! Would recommend to anyone who’s looking for something fun and relaxing to do! Thank you Avery and Bob. Also congrats to Avery for getting her Captains license, so cool. (:

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for the amazing review! We're thrilled you had such a fun time on the water and got to enjoy dolphins, beautiful shells, and everything our area has to offer. Avery and Captain Bob will be so happy to hear your kind words—it means a lot to know Avery's local recommendations helped make your visit to St. Pete even more enjoyable. And thank you for the congratulations! We're incredibly proud of Avery for earning her captain's license, and we're excited for all that's ahead. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back aboard the next time you're in town! 🐬🐚⛵😊

    Fun day for all!

    Katie_F, Jun 2026
    Friendly Captain and First Mate! Great time and enjoyable for kids and adults! Good music, saw dolphins, found shells, easy snorkeling!

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great time with our captain and first mate. It's great to know everyone—from the kids to the adults—enjoyed the music, dolphin sightings, shelling, and snorkeling. Creating fun, relaxing adventures for families is what we love to do! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back aboard for another unforgettable day on the water. 🐬🐚🤿☀️

    It was a fun experience...

    kelly_d, Jun 2026
    It was a fun experience all three captains with us today were personable and entertaining. My youngest loved getting new shells and seeing manatees.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for your kind review! We're so glad your family had a fun experience with us. It's wonderful to hear our crew helped make the trip entertaining, and we're especially happy your youngest enjoyed collecting new shells and spotting manatees! Those are the moments that make a day on the water so special. We truly appreciate you cruising with us and hope to welcome your family back aboard for another memorable adventure soon! 🐚🩵🐬🌊

    It was just ok.

    Ann_T, Jun 2026
    The boat ride was nice, the guys were great. The shells we found we could have found on any beach everyday, nothing special or very big. Very disappointing.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Here's a warm, professional response that acknowledges their feedback without being defensive: > Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the boat ride and that our crew helped make your time on the water enjoyable. We're sorry the shelling portion of the trip didn't meet your expectations. Every outing is a little different, as shell availability depends on tides, weather, currents, and what nature provides that day. While we can't guarantee the size or variety of shells, we always do our best to visit the best locations and create a fun, memorable experience for our guests. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope we'll have the opportunity to welcome you back aboard in the future. 🐚🌊

    Unfortunately I did not...

    Ashlee_W, Jun 2026
    Unfortunately I did not get to go on this excursion because I was the only person who booked the time slot for that day. However, they were kind enough to call me ahead of time and offer me a full refund or an upgraded to the sunset cruise for the same night. I will leave a seperate review for the sunset cruise. Im a huge shelling and shark tooth person so im sad I didn't get to go. But when I experienced the sunset cruise it was still with the trip.

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you for your understanding and for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry we weren't able to run the shelling trip that day, but we're glad we could offer an alternative and that you still enjoyed the sunset cruise. We hope we'll have the chance to welcome you back for the shelling adventure you were looking forward to—especially with your love of shells and shark teeth! Thanks again for your kind words and support. 🐚🌅🐬

    Great experience !

    Ciara_Q, May 2026
    Me and my boyfriend loved this experience!! We weren’t really hopeful on seeing any dolphins but we got super lucky and spotted a few! The crew was super nice and informative! They offer water, snorkeling gear and a zip lock bag to collect sea shells from Shell island! I really loved that and we found so many cool shells! Definitely worth 60$ and would definitely do this again!

    Response from Host, Jul 2026

    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're so glad you and your boyfriend had such a great time and were pleasantly surprised by the dolphin sightings! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the shelling adventure and found some amazing treasures to take home. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you both back for another adventure soon! 🐬🐚💙

    From $60.00

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 6 days in advance.

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