Staff Answer
Jun 22, 2026 - 09:14 PM
Yes, you actually can, but it is pretty rare, and it is not something I would book a snorkeling trip expecting to experience. Dolphins make all kinds of clicks, whistles, and squeaking sounds when they communicate and use echolocation, and those sounds travel very well underwater. If a pod happens to swim nearby while you are snorkeling, there is a chance you could hear them before you ever see them. It is a really cool experience, but it is one of those lucky moments that only happens once in a while because dolphins are wild animals and they are constantly moving. I have talked to guests who came back excited because they heard strange clicking noises underwater and then looked up to see dolphins swimming not far from the boat. Other people snorkel for years and never hear a thing. The good news is that even if you do not hear dolphins, there is still plenty to see below the surface. Around the jetties and other popular snorkeling spots, you are much more likely to spend your time watching schools of fish, crabs, sand dollars, and other marine life. My advice is to enjoy whatever the water gives you that day instead of focusing on finding one specific animal. If dolphins happen to show up while you are in the water, it becomes one of those stories you will tell for years. If they do not, you will probably still come back talking about everything else you discovered beneath the surface. That is what makes snorkeling in Destin fun because every trip is a little different, and you never know what you are going to find.
