Myrtle Beach Dolphin Tours
One of the great parts about Myrtle Beach is that among the local marine life are quite a few dolphins, and you can frequently find them in the ocean playing and swimming around. They're very friendly and will come right up to tour boats, which makes dolphin watching cruises very popular. You aren't always guaranteed to see them - the boat operators will have to try frequent "hangouts" for the dolphins and may not find any, but usually they run across them.
Several outfitters in the area offer dolphin tours for those who are interested in seeing the animals and learning more about them as well. These companies, for the most part, are concerned with the health and safety of the dolphins and with sustainable tourism, which includes having as little impact as possible on the dolphins and their habitat. Many of the outfitters have been conducting these tours for more than a decade and know exactly where to go for the best chance of spotting these majestic creatures. The sighting rate for the best dolphin tour companies averages around 85 percent, but most do not guarantee sightings nor do they do anything to entice the dolphins and, thereby, endanger them in any way.
Most dolphin tours involve group excursions on a small vessel that will not disturb the animals. However, in
There are several good companies to choose from:
Dolphin Watch - This is a tour sponsored by Captain Dick's, a watersport company in Myrtle Beach. They have a special boat called the Osprey, which is designed to search for dolphins. They take you out, looking for dolphins and explaining how they search. You can also usually see eagles and various other native birds. It's $25 for an adult, $17 for children. You can get more information on their web site here.
Captain Dick's Marina
4123 Highway 17 S
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Phone: 843- 651-3676
Dolphin Adventure Cruises - These are a dolphin watching cruise run by Hurricane Fleet. You aren't guaranteed to see a dolphin, but they take you by local shrimping boats, which are where dolphins congregate (to eat the stuff that escapes the nets). The tours are hosted by a marine biologist who will explain the details of the various sea creatures you encounter. It's $21 for adults, $18 for children under 11. You can get more information here, and directions to Hurricane Fleet here. It's in North Carolina, but just barely, and it's still pretty close to North Myrtle Beach.
Sea Thunder Dolphin Watching Tour - This is another boating company that will take you out trying to find dolphins. The Sea Thunder is the name of the boat, and they take you out on a 2 hour tour. They have a couple different kinds of cruises, and one of them is a dolphin watch / ocean cruise that takes you along the coast to see both dolphins and the various coastal landmarks such as celebrity houses and old plantation estates. It costs $20 for an adult, $15 for a kid. They're located out of North Myrtle Beach - you can get specific information on the cruise and scheduled times here, and directions on how to get out to the boat here. It's another one that is just inside North Carolina.
Blue Wave Adventures – This outfitter is especially environmentally savvy and does everything possible not to disturb the dolphins. Rather, they allow them to come to their boats in a natural manner without feeding them. Tours depart 3 or 4 times a day (depending on the season) aboard the Osprey, a 30-foot rigid hull inflatable boat that holds 24 passengers. It is a quiet boat with low noise levels that do not disturb the dolphins.
Thomas Outdoors – This tour is by jet
ski. Guides lead participants out to a local shrimp boat, which is often
followed by dolphins in search of a free meal. Jet skiers will be led one by
one into the dolphin pod and will be allowed to quietly observe the animals,
which will be close enough to splash tour participants. In the meantime,
crews will educate guests about the dolphins and their relationship to the
Getaway Adventures – Departing from
Little River, these cruises take place on a 43-foot catamaran that travels
up the
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