Water Planet

(230 reviews)

0.3 mi

Family-owned & operated

Locally owned & operated

The daytime cruise is a great time for both adults and kids! The crew was entertaining and…read moreaccommodating, and although the dolphins were being shy the day we cruised, the captain stayed in contact with other boats and managed to find where the dolphins were hiding out. For the kids, they were allowed to drive the boat a bit (under supervision), had squirt gun fights, temporary tattoos, and pulled up a crab trap to let the kids (safely) handle a live crab. My 6 year old grandson loved it! We will likely return next year.

My husband and I booked our Sea Screamer Dolphin Cruise for 12:15pm( it was raining earlier, but…read morehad finally cleared up). We liked that there were plenty of seats on the dock to sit in wait ( first come first serve for your group). When it was time to load, we got our picture taken (pictures are $10), and loaded on to the boat. We sat behind the food/ drinks area in the front row. Unfortunately, because of the weather we only saw 1 pod of dolphins and everyone ran to the side of the boat and we were not able to get a photo. We did enjoy the boat ride and learning the history of the area. The staff, captains, and everyone working on board had excellent customer service, they were entertaining and made the experience enjoyable. All of the food and drinks on board are under $5! So loved how affordable it was. I would say that this cruise was definitely for kids and families. They had a lot of kids activities and we were in the middle of all of it, which is fine- but I think that families should be aware of where most of the entertainment is or what sections to sit in and people who don't have kids can sit or elderly so they don't get run into. For the kids, each child gets a turn to steer the boat in the bay, we got to go to bird island ( and we're swarmed by birds- so if you don't like birds I would not do this cruise), they sell food for you to buy and the birds will eat it out of your hand. Then, the other boat pulled up next to ours and the kids hand a huge water gun fight and got soaked. We had to move out of the way. There are no towels on board so bring your own- but they drive fast after so you can dry off! Last, they caught a crab trap from the ocean they had put out and brought on 2 blue crabs and 1 spider crab, and all of the kids got to hold them. We also enjoyed the mix of music and that it wasn't too loud. If you go on the sea screamer and have kids sit by the snack and drink area under the covering behind the captain for the best experience. If you don't have kids or don't want to do the interactive stuff sit in the front or back.

Twins! Sea Screamer 1 and Sea Screamer 2 are ready to take you on a cruise to see the Dolphins.

You can get a dolphin tattoo

See all

The Scream Machine

4.3

(13 reviews)

0.0 mi

Super fun- did have a location issue but the captain was amazing and had a great personality for…read morethe ride!

So fun, I would love to do it again. Literally the SCREAM machine for a reason lol but it's…read morecompletely safe

Heading out for the sunset cruise

Spring Break has sprung!

See all

Grand Prix, complete all three and receive a free T!

Paradise Adventures

(130 reviews)

0.4 mi

Amazing service from the paradise adventure crew Lamar, Mike…read more, and Trey were amazing!!!! Beautiful experience definitely will come back again soon!!!!

Had the BEST time!!! Definitely will be doing it again when we go back next summer. Snorkeling was…read moremy absolute favorite part. I loved getting to see the dolphins too. The drinks were so good! PSA: you were able to upgrade your free drink to a punch and it was DELICIOUS!

The captain thanking us for joining him!

Privateer Sunset Sail

See all

Under sail at 10 degrees

Cruisin Tikis Panama City Beach

Here for a girls weekend and Cruisin Tikis was a highlight for our trip!…read more 20 passengers boarded and went out for a fun "booze cruise" evening. From the start, our captain and first mate were professional and welcoming. Our birthday girl connected her Spotify playlist and we sang and danced while taking in the beautiful beaches. Despite the cloudy weather conditions, everyone had a ball! I would highly recommend this outfitter for any of the boats they take out. Easy to work with and very professional!

This is such a fun tour! We showed up for the sunset tour and at first our cruise had been changed…read moredue to reservation numbers etc. Eventually the manager offered us a private tour in compensation. What a lovely experience. This was better than what we originally had planned. Hats off to captain John! Such a warm welcoming and friendly captain. The sunset was beautiful! We brought our own snacks and drinks, what more can we ask for. Watching the birds fish and seeing some wildlife while it was so calm out and not many boats on the water made it feel so intimate and special, I'd do it all again.

Daily Cruisin to Shell Island.

Float time

See all

On Cruisin Tiki, it's always a party!

Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise

If you've got little kids and want something actually fun for them (not just tolerated), this is…read moreit. The Sea Dragon absolutely leans into the kid experience and the crew does ALL the heavy lifting. Like...full-on entertaining for 2 straight hours while parents can just sit back, breathe, and grab a drink or two. They kick things off with a water gun fight, which the kids loved--but heads up, they will get wet! I wish I had brought a dry sweatshirt to throw on after. But it was ok. Also, wear grippy shoes because that deck gets slick fast...kids were slipping everywhere lol. This isn't a quiet, scenic sunset cruise--if that's what you're after, this ain't it. Half the time I forgot we were even on a boat because it's nonstop pirate chaos (in a good way). We did spot dolphins in the distance which was a nice bonus.

We really enjoyed this activity! We took a 4.5 yr old, two 3.5 yr olds and my infant and it was the…read moreperfect amount of time and activity for them. I felt totally comfortable with my infant on the top deck the whole time. The crew was fun, the concessions were affordable, and the kids walked away with some "treasures" (and totally worn out!) Would recommend!

The crews is here waiting for you!

Smooth sailing

See all

Great cruise for your little ones

Emerald Coast Water Tours

(2 reviews)

0.5 mi

Fun day of dolphin watching, seashell searching & boating! Thank you @emeraldcoastwatertours for a…read moregreat day!

This was hands down one of my families favorite trips! The Captain was amazing and went out of his…read moreway to ensure our trip was perfect!

Sunset on Panama City Beach, FL

Sunset on Shell Island

See all

Island Time Sailing

4.9

(163 reviews)

0.3 mi

Great staff, very friendly, great with the kids! I felt like family! we will definitely be back!read more

First time taking this charter and it was an absolute blast! The captain and crew were amazing!…read moreSnorkeling at shell island was such an amazing experience! Will definitely do again!

See all

Taking down the sails!

Visit Shell Island

(12 reviews)

2.8 mi

All of the employees were very polite and helpful. My only complaint was from the website. I…read morepurchased my tickets online. As I was traveling abroad, I did not have any beach chairs or an umbrella. Also needed a cooler as the temps were at 90+. I called the number provided numerous times. Each call ended with "sorry the mailbox is full". So my only option was to drive (which was 40 min). When I went to booth for the snorkel gear, was told they no longer had rentals there. They directed me to drive across the bridge. Only option was to buy everything which totaled over $125.00. Needless to say...a very expensive snorkel trip!

This dolphins tour was awesome. Our captain was Alex and he was very informative and cool! Got to…read moresee plenty of dolphins and took sweet videos and pictures, went to shell island and found some cool shells. The views were amazing and definitely recommend anyone and their families to go. Would definitely go again to try the jet skis next!

The water! The sand! Beautiful!

See all

Good Jibez Only Boat Tours

(3 reviews)

0.2 mi

Locally owned & operated

Women-owned & operated

Communication was great but due to weather we couldn't go out on water. Looking forward to booking…read morenext year. Justine was very communicative on plans.

What an awesome experience! We were able to see several groups of dolphins swimming right around…read morethe boat as we arrived near Shell Island. When we arrived at the snorkeling spot, we saw lots of fish, sea urchins, hermit crabs and other marine life. The crew was absolutely outstanding! They took the time to talk with us about the biology of the creatures we encountered, and explained the natural features and how the waterways in the area are connected. They were knowledgeable, friendly, caring, and because they are such excellent navigators we felt very safe in their capable hands. On the way back they took the time to stop in a spot frequented by sea turtles and one of the turtle popped its head up right near the boat several times! I would highly recommend going on any of the Good Jibez tours ... we plan to come back to them again for the sunset and dolphin tours! (Sorry for posting twice ... my fault for logging in to Yelp incorrectly )

Snorkel Success! All the critters.

Kids love our trips!

See all

Green Sea Turtle.

Blue Dolphin Tours

(60 reviews)

0.2 mi

Captain Mike was amazing and we had a blast. Got to see dolphins and was loved going to Shell…read moreisland for snorkeling.

Captain Todd was amazing. He took us to see dolphins and sea turtles. He showed all our littles sea…read moreurchins, how to snorkel and how to find sand dollars. Even showed us a star fish! Ask for Captain Todd for a terrific experience.

A deserted beach all to ourselves!

Dolphin

See all

Blue Crab

Just Chute Me Parasail

(150 reviews)

47.9 mi

Locally owned & operated

Large group friendly

What an amazing experience thanks to Bo and Dave! We are here on vacation from Chicago and loved…read moreevery minute. Flying over crystal clear blue water, seeing dolphins, jelly fish and a bull shark made the experience great! We will be back and appreciate all the tips on local places to visit, eat and sightsee. Thank you again!!!!

No information on strict policy as a tourist and traveling out of town paid almost 400 bucks was…read moreone minute late and now can't get a refund even though we got no service at all. Terrible way to run a business even taking a 200 dollar late fee would have been nice but no and no help at all to help us. Don't recommend if traveling from out of town or touring Florida

Older boys.

See all

Shipwreck Island Waterpark

3.9

(63 reviews)

5.6 mi

Our family of seven rented a regular cabana so we would have shade. Larry our cabana attendant took…read moregreat care of us, checking regularly to see if we needed anything. We had children ages 2, 5, and 7. There were many areas of the park that had activities for all ages. They loved the area with the castle and pirate slides. The lazy river was also a good size with no waterfalls to force you under. We had lunch in the cabana: chicken tenders, hot dogs, and a pulled pork sandwich. Everything was good. We saw many shaded areas outside of the cabanas as well. Overall we had a very enjoyable day.

I waited 45 minutes in line the workers they wouldn't speak up when thay were talkingread more

See all

Frank Brown Park

(25 reviews)

9.5 mi

Cute playground in a huge park area! We're from out of town so not using the basketball courts or…read morebaseball fields of aquatic center. But - the playground area is really awesome. There's a building section (gated & covered), 2 younger kid playground structure areas (also gated & covered), and then a massive big kid area - uncovered unfortunately (so I'd go early because by 10am it's blazing hot already). Definitely worth a visit!

This park is huge & perfect for kids and adults. There are tennis courts, basket ball court, a…read morewalking trail, a dog park is on the other side other the parking lot, an entire swim area is next door to the park, there are bathrooms and a small area that sells snacks. The playground is equip with all sorts of awesome apparatuses! It appears to be divided into three separate parks based on age. The toddler park was perfect for my little one, she didn't get bored in this park like other parks we have been to. Our favorite was the different merry go rounds, music area, pretend lemonade stand and the building blocks area, and endless areas for kids to run free and get all their energy out. We will definitely be back!

See all

Panama City Parasail

(4 reviews)

2.7 mi

Fun experience with Captain Jimbo. We took our young adult kids out to parasail with Panama City…read moreParasail. They had a great time. We were lucky enough to have the boat to ourselves so the crew took their time and made sure kids had plenty of time"Air Time". We got a ton of pics and really was the highlight of our trip to PCB. Would recommend Capt Jimbo. He's a really nice guy.

Our family had a blast parasailing with Captian Jimbo and Makena. They took great care of us,…read moreespecially with it being our first time. 100% recommend!

See all

Palm Pilates Studio

4.7

(3 reviews)

5.0 mi

Came to the studio while on vacation in the area. The studio itself is intimate and very clean…read morewhich I did enjoy. The instructor, Misty, was great and led a very smooth class. You can tell she's passionate about Pilates and very knowledgeable. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of how difficult the sign up process was. You can't book online if it's your first class without calling/texting them to get approval to sign up. They ask if you have taken a reformer class before and if you have, then they allow you to sign up for the class of your choice. If not, I think you have to do the 1 on 1 classes with them. Then once I had approval I had to download an app to pay for the class. It was just a mission for one drop in class so beware of that when trying to book when visiting the area.

Palm Pilates is not my home studio but I wish it was!…read more My husband and I came from out of town for a marriage retreat. I always want to try new studios, and he wanted to try out reformer pilates for the first time. So, we scheduled a 1-on-1 lesson with Andrea at the PCB location. The studio is in a business park but the inside is so stinkin cute. I wish I got a picture. It has a sleek, minimalist vibe and the room floods with light. The light and the music just make you feel energized. I've been doing Pilates 3-4x a week for 3-4 months. So, still new to it, but I was looking for a challenge. However, my husband had never been on a reformer. Andrea was able to teach me new and exciting moves while making my husband feel comfortable at the same time. I loved the class. Loved the studio. Loved the instructor. I only wish I was closer so I could make the trip more often for Pilates! 10 out of 10 recommend!!

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

20 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Sally C.

1 year ago

I recently had the most exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime experience swimming with the dolphins, hosted by Water Planet--and I can't stop raving about it! From the moment we set out, every moment was filled with excitement and awe. Dennis, our expert guide, was phenomenal--his keen eye for spotting these incredible creatures and his well-practiced routine for safely getting up close and personal made the entire experience unforgettable. We were in a small, intimate group that allowed us to truly connect with the dolphins in their natural habitat. The dolphins were playful and curious, coming so close that we could almost touch them as they swam in the crystal clear water. I jumped in multiple times, each plunge revealing more of their grace and energy. It was simply magical to witness these magnificent animals swimming freely in the wild, and the opportunity to interact with them so directly left me speechless. Water Planet's unique approach to these experiences shines through in every detail--from the knowledgeable guidance of Dennis to the thoughtful organization that ensures every participant feels safe and engaged. This isn't just an excursion; it's a celebration of nature, an immersive encounter that sparks wonder and deep appreciation for our marine friends. In short, if you're seeking an extraordinary adventure that combines thrill, education, and the breathtaking beauty of crystal clear water, this experience is an absolute must. Swimming with the dolphins with Water Planet was a heartwarming and exhilarating journey--one that I will cherish forever. read more

Jenae S.

6 years ago

Our trip was absolutely incredible! My friend and I went with my 9 year old daughter. She isn't a strong swimmer, but still handled swimming with the dolphins like a champ! I'd recommend this trip for kids maybe 7 and older. On our trip we pretty much stayed with the same dolphins. We started with about 4 dolphins and soon we had about 4 more join us!! They were playing around in the surf so it was so fun to watch even if you didn't get in the water with them! Jumping in with them... they were so close we felt like we could touch them! We were about to jump in with them at least 6 or 7 times. We had Coach as our captain. He was so knowledgeable about all of our treasures we found while snorkeling in the bay. My daughter was in awe! We also had a lot of fun swimming and snorkeling in the bay. Im a local and I will be bringing my friends and family here when they come to visit! It was wonderful!! read more

Jessica M.

101

7 years ago

Our entire 4 hour experience with Water Planet was phenomenal! Our Captain, Amelia was friendly, knowledgeable and hard-working. I loved how excited she was for us to interact with the dolphins. It's very apparent she loves what she does. The dolphins were playing a game of tag with us but Amelia was persistent and was able to get us near the dolphins several times. Swimming along with the pod was absolutely amazing! There was even a precious baby dolphin hanging with its mom. We were also able to see an osprey nest and observe the babies and parents hunting. Shell Island was fun as well. A nice break after swimming before heading back into the docks. 10 out of 10 for sure and I hope to be able to come back and do it again one day. read more

MacKenzie G.

7 years ago

I was an intern for the month of June 2019, the experience was incredible. I never felt unsafe in the water with these captains. The staff is very educated on what they're doing and are extremely helpful in the water. This month held many of my firsts. Swimming with wild dolphins the first day, was the craziest adrenaline rush that I've ever had, and it was the same with every other day I went out. The captains are very helpful for the snorkeling part and found starfish, sand dollars, sea urchins, sting rays, and even sea horses that passengers were able to hold. I highly recommend going on a tour with water planet if you're in the area, you're never forced to get in if you're uncomfortable. You'll never forget it if you do! read more

Brent D E.

3 years ago

I cannot say enough good things about the people at Water Planet. We have used them 3 times in the past 2 years and will not go anywhere else. Our guide, Coach, was a former high school science teacher and is so knowledgeable about the area aquatic life. This trip we got on a pair of dolphins that Coach said in his years doing this interacted more than he had ever seen. Our girls had to back up to keep from touching them they swam in so close. We stayed with these two dolphins for maybe 2 hours with them coming in to within a few inches. Then we went into the bay for some shallow snorkeling and sand dollar hunting. A wonderful experience we could not recommend more. We always use WP and always ask for Coach! read more

Heather M.

7 years ago

I was an intern with WaterPlanet in July of 2019 with their Harmony Programs and Eco Tours . Swimming with Dolphins and the variety of marine life in PCB (in the wild!) was absolutely magical! The opportunity to help families who had individuals with diverse abilities to experience this magic was a dream come true! The captains are great at what they do and they really understand the Dolphin's behaviors so they can provide incredible encounters for each family. I loved the efforts staff made to adapt their tours to meet each individual's needs. Any family seeking an inclusive vacation to create life long memories should definitely go to Water Planet!! read more

Lindsey M.

7 years ago

I completed the Water Planet internship in July 2019. This was such a unique, completely surreal experience. Not everyone has the chance to have such close daily encounters with dolphins and other marine life. I feel so fortunate to have experienced this while helping guests and therapy participants. As a therapy student, I believe this program excels at inclusion. No matter his/her ability level, Water Planet accommodates to meet the needs of the individual and ensure each encounter is special. I recommend this internship to anyone who has a love for marine life and for helping others. read more

Jessica R.

3 years ago

Went out on a dolphin excursion to swim with the dolphins & we got so much more! Gene, our captain went above & beyond to make sure we found the dolphins & got perfect spots for swimming with them. He also educated us about the species & told us about the research the company & interns do to learn more about them. Definitely the best captain out there & made us feel like locals instead of tourists. 10 out of 10 recommend this trip & make sure to bring cash for a tip because he will definitely earn it! Thank you for making my birthday great and giving me memories I will cherish forever! read more

Alexis S.

7 years ago

Amelia was an awesome guide!! She got us right up by the dolphins without invading their space. I got in a few times but couldn't get past my fear of sharks (even though she reassured us numerous times that the sharks don't stay around the dolphins)! However, my boyfriend saw some dolphins up close in the water, they swam right underneath him! He was so excited. I enjoyed just watching them in their natural habitat. We also got some awesome shells and a sand dollar from shell island. Overall, a great experience. Would definitely do it again. read more

Timothy R.

3 years ago

Awesome! For the price of $115 a person, it's BEYOND WORTH IT. Searching for dolphins and getting to swim with them up close happens more than often while you're out there for four hours. Other choices snorkeling off the beach for wildlife and an old shipwreck are options time permitting. Captain Gene was amazing, he's so knowledgable about the area and wildlife you'll see. One of the nicest guys there. All in all, I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. I can't recommend this enough, children or just adults. Must try while in the area. read more

Susan B.

9 years ago

My cousin and I went on a dolphin cruise and it was amazing. We were with Captain Jay and couldn't have had a better Captain. Not only was he knowledgeable about the dolphins were were able to swim with them more times that I can count. I loved how he was able to place us just in the right place every time and yet he was very mindful of not pressuring the dolphins. Thanks Captain Jay. The "Show Me State" boat was the best part of our vacation. read more

Grace L.

7 years ago

I was an intern for water planet for the month of June and I can honestly say it was the best experience of my life! Not only did we take people on dolphin tours but we worked with special needs children, doing therapy programs and allowing them to be in the water to see the dolphins and other marine life. I highly recommend water planet for your dolphin tours, it's amazing! read more

Michelle B.

2 years ago

Swimming with dolphins is thrilling!! Our captain, Gene, safely maneuvered the boat with purpose to ensure we enjoyed several dolphin interactions. I am in awe of these creatures that occasionally looked up at us to peek. Wonderful experience at a reasonable cost. We also traveled to the peaceful Shell Island. Super way to spend four hours in Panama City Beach, FL. read more

Jeni C.

7 years ago

Dale and Natalie made this one of the greatest days of my life! Educational, professional and so skilled with placing us in front of the dolphins without disturbing them, yet giving us an opportunity to interact! Will never forget this day and will go back to Water Planet again every year! read more

Kendall K.

3 years ago

This experience was super fun. We hot too swim with dolphins and we're brought into super cool parts of the water and got to see fish and find sand dollars!! Our captains name was Eujine and we couldn't have had a better experience he made sure everyone had fun and got to see dolphins!! read more

Buddy G.

5 years ago

It is against federal law to feed or harass wild dolphins. Swimming with or feeding dolphins can be dangerous for both human and dolphin and should not be attempted. The NOAA Fisheries Service warns that disruption of normal behavior and activities can ultimately harm these mammals. read more

Brian T.

6 years ago

This was an amazing experience for me and my family. The staff was courteous and our tour guide Glen was professional and knowledgeable and he went above and beyond to provide us with the most amazing and exciting experience. I highly recommend this tour read more

Kristen K.

7 years ago

I was an intern at Water Planet this past month and it's by far the best decision I've ever made. I was able to work with amazing people, learn new things, and make wonderful friendships. I recommend this internship to everyone. You won't regret it! read more

Chloe Y.

2 years ago

Our captian Glen was great! He knew all about the area . My friend and I had a fun time and saw sooo many dolphins. They were beautiful! Denis was very responsive and helpful! read more

John L.

3 years ago

gene was our captain on the boat. he did a very good job finding the dolphins and making sure we all we happy . we will definitely do this again read more

Water Planet - boattours - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Water Planet also viewed

Blue Dolphin Tours

(60 reviews)

Captain Mike was amazing and we had a blast. Got to see dolphins and was loved going to Shell…read moreisland for snorkeling.

Sea Screamer

(230 reviews)

Paradise Adventures

(130 reviews)

Amazing service from the paradise adventure crew Lamar, Mike…read more, and Trey were amazing!!!! Beautiful experience definitely will come back again soon!!!!

Flippers Dolphin Tours

4.7

(45 reviews)

Captain Stan was great. We had lots of opportunities to interact with the wild dolphins. Stopped in…read morea cove so the kids could see the aquatic life neat the break waters.

100% come here if you want to have a fun vacation! Our captain, Stan, was amazing and we saw a ton…read moreof dolphins! Beautiful spot and overall just a great time!

Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours & More

3.8

(21 reviews)

We've been to PCB for three years now and each year we've done a snorkeling and dolphin watching…read moreexcursion. The first year we did the Captain Anderson's tour and while it was enjoyable, we wanted something more intimate. Last year we tried Flippers, and we really enjoyed it. We had planned to use Flippers again but no one answered the phone when we were calling to set it up. We called PCB Dolphin Tours by chance and it was the most memorable, enjoyable, and fun trip so far. Our tour guide was Paul and he was so amazing. He was so kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. We were able to see dolphins right in the bay after boarding the boat! From there we saw countless pods. The most exceptional thing about using this company was that they let you get into the water WITH the dolphins!! Our day was just over the top and we won't look for another company next year!!! Definitely request Paul to take you out!!

Captain Keaton was awesome! He made sure that we were going to have a great experience. He was very…read morehonest about the water not being very clear in July but we were still able to see the dolphins! We attempted to jump in with them but the dolphins were very shy and fast. They did not to be messed with. It was a fun adventure. After we saw the dolphins, he took us to see the sunken ship (which was really cool) There was seashells down there which was about a 10ft. Overall it was a great trip!

Emerald Coast Water Tours

(2 reviews)

Fun day of dolphin watching, seashell searching & boating! Thank you @emeraldcoastwatertours for a…read moregreat day!

This was hands down one of my families favorite trips! The Captain was amazing and went out of his…read moreway to ensure our trip was perfect!

Jubilee Deep Sea Fishing

4.7

(86 reviews)

I took my 2 boys age 7 & 10 out the treasure island 8 hour and they had a blast , caught a nice…read morebunch of fish some vermillion snapper. Lady fish and a big red snapper. The deck hands were all great Logan and Brandon were the back of the boat with us and they were on it man every tangle , helping out my boys they worked their asses off and if you've been on these boats enough you know good deck hands can make or break a trip.

The crew and captain were fantastic and so helpful. They wanted everyone to have a good time. We…read moreonly caught about 10 fish in our party on the four hour trip but the prior run caught larger amounts. I'd still recommend for those wanting to try deep sea fishing.

Into The Blue Excursions