Introduction
Dolphins are marine mammals, and can be found in oceans around the world. There are also dolphins that live in rivers, but in this article we will concentrate on the most common type of ocean-dwelling dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin.
Dolphins are mammals. Their babies are born live. They don’t have gills and although they can spend time underwater to catch their food, they must come back up at intervals to take in air. They can remain underwater for as long as 15 minutes.
Dolphins are very intelligent creatures, live mostly in shallow seas around the coasts of all the continents. They live on squid and fish. They have teeth and are related to toothed whales like orcas.
Rising ocean temperatures as a consequence of global warming are threatening dolphins around the world. They are already seeking colder waters away from their traditional home areas. The fish that dolphins depend on for their food are also moving to colder waters, and heading deeper. Dolphins cannot follow them, and will have to rely on other food sources.
It is not unusual for a dolphin to live to 50! They hunt for fish in pods, which are family groups. A dolphin will navigate and hunt using echolocation. This works in the same way as sonar.
Dolphins can be found in large numbers in the waters around Florida, and thousands of people travel every year to see them and to marvel at their antics. St Petersburg is an excellent base for dolphin-watching.
Where can I see dolphins in St Petersburg?
St Petersburg sits at the entrance to Tampa Bay, Florida. The waters of Tampa Bay empty into the Gulf of Mexico on the western coast of Florida. These waters are home to many dolphins, and it is possible to take tours out into the bay where dolphin sightings are almost guaranteed.
There are a few places in St Petersburg where you are most likely to see dolphins.
· John’s Pass and Madeira Beach. The dolphins are attracted to this area by the strong currents which bring fish into the inlet. The dolphins can be sure of a good meal by hunting here.
· Weedon Island Preserve. Just off St Petersburg’s Gandy Bridge is the Weedon Island Preserve. You will need to get into a kayak to meet the dolphins around here, but you can be sure they will swim alongside you as you paddle around.
· Anna Maria Island. Laze on one of the amazing white sandy beaches and watch as dolphins do acrobatic jumping in the sea just yards in front of you.
· Shell Key Preserve. The mangrove islands that are found in this area attract scores of schools of fish. The dolphins will follow the fish, and so you get the chance to see them from the beaches here, from a boat and when you are in a kayak. Several local companies offer trips to Shell Key.
Just north of St Petersburg in Clearwater you can find the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The star of the show here is Winter the Dolphin who appeared in movies called Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2. Winter is a real character, and you will certainly enjoy being entertained by him. There is plenty else to do at the Aquarium including animal care sessions.
Can you swim with dolphins in St Petersburg?
Some of the dolphin-spotting trips listed below allow their passengers time to go for a swim and do some snorkeling. Often, when taking a swim, dolphins will come alongside and approach the swimmer. In some places where dolphins tend to congregate, swimming with them is not just possible, it is a joy.
Dolphins are known for their playful nature and their inquisitive habits. They are also incredibly smart, so treat them with respect. They may come up to you and touch you, but it is best not to touch wild dolphins yourself.
If you are swimming with dolphins from a boat on a trip, listen to the captain. The tour boats have experienced captains who will advise you if you are doing something wrong. They might suggest you get out of the water or stop snorkeling in some circumstances.
Swimming with dolphins is an amazing experience. If you are keen to swim with them, choose a boat tour that stops during the trip to let you have a swim. Enjoy the time you spend in the water, as you will remember it for the rest of your life.
What are the best companies for dolphin excursions?
· Salt & Mist Sea Tours. Originally operating in Maine, Salt & Mist opened up an operation in St Petersburg in 2017. Their popular Bottlenose Dolphin and Architecture Tour allows you the chance to both see dolphins and have a look at some of the waterside mansions in the area. The tour takes 80 minutes and costs $65 per person.
The second tour is a Sunset Cruise on the Gulf of Mexico. This leaves the Maximo Park Boat Ramp in St Petersburg (as does the Dolphin Tour) 45 minutes before sunset. The route gives you the best views of the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. The cost is also $65 for 80 minutes.
· Dolphin Racer. If you fancy a high-speed trip that will get the adrenaline pumping in your body, with the wind blowing through your hair and curtains of spray in your wake, then this is the trip for you. Dolphin Racer Speedboat Adventure offer high-speed narrated cruise around the islands and beaches on this stretch of Florida coastline. Dolphin surfing is guaranteed, where the friendly local dolphins will surf and play in the wake of the boat. (So sure is Dolphin Racer that the dolphins will oblige, that they will give you a free trip if they don’t!)
The trip lasts between 1 and 2 hours. The cost is $24.95 for an adult and $14.95 for a child. Children aged 2 and under go free. The trip leaves Corey Causeway in St Pete Beach at 1.30 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
· Island Ferry. Island Ferry offer three different opportunities to see dolphins in the St Petersburg and St Pete Beach area. Firstly, you can take a Dolphin-Snorkeling Cruise to Shell Key. It is almost certain that you will see dolphins, and you can swim and snorkel too. The boat will stay with you while you enjoy yourself at Shell Key. You can bring your own picnic and drinks. All this for $45 per person. The trip last 2 hours and runs every day. Departure times will change depending on the season.
Sunset tours are also provided by Island Ferry for those who fancy a leisurely cruise to see the incredible Florida sunset from the water. These, too, last 2 hours and cost $54 per person.
Island Ferry also run kayak tours using kayaks with transparent bottoms, so you can see the fish swimming below you. These tours are run only within the Shell Key Preserve, so you will only have calm waters to paddle through. There is so much wildlife to see, both in the water and in the sky above you, that you will never be bored. You will need to be fit, as you will have to paddle for 4 miles. Be warned, there will be bugs! This tour costs $54 per person and lasts for 2 to 3 hours.
· St Pete Boat Tours Dolphin Landings. This company operates from St Pete’s Beach and was founded in 1972. They have an impressive array of boats available and promise to be able to satisfy your particular needs easily. The company have both sailing boats and power boats for charter and offer trips out to both Shell Key and Egmont Key.
Trips to Egmont Key take 4 hours, with time to explore the island and see both dolphins and manatees on your way there and back. These are morning excursions and cost $50 per adult and $40 per child. Trips to Shell Key are slightly shorter and cost the same. Shell Key is nearer to St Pete’s than Egmont Key.
Dolphin Watch sailing excursions cost $40 per adult and $30 per child. They last for 2 hours and are available every day.
· St Pete Dolphin Snorkeling Tour. With boat trips leaving St Petersburg daily for Egmont Key, this company promises dolphin action for most of your trip. Each trip lasts about half-a-day, and gives time for you to explore Egmont Key and to enjoy some snorkelling while you are there.
Trips cost $40 for adults, $28 for children between 4 and 12 years of age. Children of 3 and under go free. Snorkeling equipment is included.
· Salty Water Tours. Salty Water Tours run a range of boating trips around the Tampa Bay area of Florida. In addition to Dolphin tours, they offer island tours, paddle boarding, and even yoga classes on a boat!
The dolphin tours take place in Boca Ciega Bay, where the calm waters offer an ideal environment for dolphins. You will be able to see dolphins hunting, playing and one or two of them may even by sleeping. If you just want to see dolphins without any gimmicks, then this is the tour for you.
The Dolphin Fun tour lasts an hour and costs $45 per person. There are discounts available for families and group bookings. The Island Explorer trip lasts 4 hours and costs $75 per person, and again discounts apply. The company’s most popular trip is their Sea Hare Adventure which includes some dolphin fun, a visit to Shell Key, snorkelling and shelling and swimming. This costs $55 per person, and those discounts apply to this trip too.
· A Boat Day. With this company, you will charter one of their boats for an entire day. Your party will have a boat all to itself. The captain and crew are included in the price, so you will have nothing to do except enjoy yourselves. They have three boats available. The Funship Boat, which costs $650 for 4 hours, $850 for 6 hours and $1050 for 8 hours, hosts 8 people, and is the most popular choice. It is great for parties of all kinds. The Hurricane Deck Boat again costs $550 to $950 depending on trip length, hosts 6 people, while the Platinum Funship Boat costs $750 – $1,150 depending on the length of your trip. You can book for a 4 hour, 6 hour or 8 hour trip and the boat can accommodate 8 people.
Chartering your own boat for a trip is a great way to see dolphins in the St Petersburg area. If you all share the cost, then the price compares favourably with other more public trips. For a little extra you get privacy and space.
What kinds of dolphins can you find in St Petersburg?
Most of the dolphins that live in the waters around St Petersburg are the most common type – bottlenose dolphins. These intelligent, playful animals just love interacting with humans. They will swim alongside your boat or kayak, they will play in the wake of any boat and they love to jump and twist in the air before splashing back into the water.
It is also possible to see two other dolphin species – the common dolphin and the Atlantic spotted dolphin.
What is the best time of year to see dolphins?
It is estimated that some 40,000 dolphins live in the Gulf of Mexico. The waters are warm enough that they do not need to migrate, so they are year-round residents. They can be seen just as well in summer, winter, spring or fall.
Dolphin watching tours run all the year round, giving out-of-season visitors a good chance to take a trip out into the Gulf of Mexico to see the wildlife.
During the mating season, female dolphins congregate at Destin in the north of Florida. The mating season can last from the end of May to August.
What is the best time of day to see dolphins?
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida suggest around sunset as the best time of day to be sure of seeing dolphins. Other people, speaking from experience, suggest morning as the best time of day. It does seem that the middle of the day and early afternoon are the times when you might be disappointed.
Some other questions.
Q. If a dolphin comes near me, can I touch it?
A. Generally, touching dolphins is not advised in the wild. It is acceptable in the controlled environment of an aquarium or marine park. Remember that dolphins are wild animals, and can be unpredictable.
If you are kayaking dolphins might decide to come and swim alongside you. They enjoy being in the company of humans. They are not your friends, though, so don’t touch them or try to outsmart them.
Q. Are dolphins dangerous?
Usually dolphins are quite safe creatures to be around. However, captive dolphins have shown aggressive tendencies, which is perhaps understandable. Swimming with dolphins in aquariums and marine parks is a popular activity, but you need to be wary. Dolphins in these places have attacked humans in the recent past.
In the wild, dolphins can be aggressive towards other dolphins and other animals. Rarely will they show aggression to humans. Sometimes they will jump out of the water and on to a boat, which can be really scary – they are bigger than you might think. Also they can upturn a kayak or paddle board.
Conclusion
There are all kinds of opportunities to see dolphins in St. Petersburg Florida and it’s certainly an experience you won’t soon forget. When staying at the Eiko’s Beach House in Treasure Island, Florida, you will sometimes get to see dolphins up close near the beach, just another reason to visit.
