Answer
Jul 28, 2026 - 09:13 PM
The exact distance changes with each sighting, but tour boats do not drive directly up to wild dolphins. NOAA guidance gives 50yd as the minimum viewing distance, even though dolphins sometimes swim closer on their own. On the Shell Island Excursion and Dolphin Cruise aboard the Grand Mére, some sightings feel close while others happen farther across St. Andrews Bay. If you book a swim trip, the dolphins might come within a few feet at times, but that's up to the dolphins and you need to exercise caution as they are wild animals and unpredictable.
