Staff Answer
Jun 26, 2026 - 07:13 AM
No, there are not any tours in Destin that legally let you swim with wild dolphins, and frankly, I would be very cautious of any company that suggests otherwise. The dolphins here are protected, so captains have to keep a respectful distance and cannot encourage people to get in the water with them. That said, you can absolutely book a dolphin cruise where you have a great chance of seeing them up close from the boat. Every now and then dolphins will swim right alongside the boat or even surf in the wake, and those are usually the moments people remember the most. I have even seen them show up while people were snorkeling, but that is completely on the dolphins. They are wild animals and decide where they want to go. If your goal is simply to see dolphins in their natural habitat, Destin is one of the best places to do it. If you want to experience an up and close encounter, I suggest looking into the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island. Not only do they offer the dolphin show, but they have experience where you can help trainers feed the dolphins.
