Many of our Ocean Reef Resorts guests enjoy the thrill of watching pods of dolphins frolicking in the emerald green waters near the sparkling sugar sand beach. Usually, dolphins may be seen just beyond the interior sand bar since that's where they may feed on the abundance of fish that gather there. Such sightings can be an almost daily occurrence for those guests who are fortunate enough to stay in one of our fine beachfront homes or luxurious condo rentals on the Gulf. However, anytime you go to the beach you may spot some in the distance since dolphins always travel together in groups. You may see them up close anytime you leave the beach and get out on a boat into the open gulf, Choctawhatchee Bay, and often at East Pass where they travel from one point of water to the other. Quite a few opportunities are available in Destin to travel by boat on cruises that are specifically designed for the adventure of searching for dolphins.

One of the best in Destin is aboard The Sea Blaster which was the first to begin doing dolphin cruises aboard this kind of boat. The Sea Blaster has been in operation since 1995 with experienced Captain Larry at the helm. This amazing vessel is seventy-three feet in length and is U.S. Coast Guard approved to carry up to 132 passengers on its open deck. It also happens to be one of the largest and fastest speedboats on the Gulf in Destin. Due to their popular success, they also have another boat called "Sea Blaster II" which carries up to 119 passengers. They are docked at the marina in Harborwalk Village. If you are a regular visitor to the Emerald Coast you have probably spotted this big boat packed with happy passengers zipping by some of the beaches along Holiday Isle and Scenic Gulf Drive. Often times they blast their horn as a "hello" to beachgoers as they pass by. TripAdvisor reviewers give their numerous dolphin cruises a 4.5 Star Rating and it was also ranked on the list of the Top Ten Things to do in Destin.

The schedule during the Summer season runs from June thru September. On Monday thru Saturday, they start with a three-hour Snorkeling & Dolphin Cruise which goes from 9 am to 12 pm. This combination trip starts with ninety minutes of snorkeling followed by ninety minutes of cruising for dolphins. After departure from Destin Harbor, they take passengers close to an isolated beach for inshore snorkeling. All snorkeling equipment and life jackets are provided for this watery adventure with water depths ranging from six to twenty-five feet in depth.  Afterward, the captain and crew take everyone off to see the dolphins where they feed and frolic. Dolphins happen to love to race big boats and often you may see them leaping in front of the bow of the boat just for the fun or racing along the sides! On Mondays thru Fridays, there is a ninety-minute Beach Dolphin Cruise from 1:00 to 2:30 pm and from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. They start with a fifteen-minute sightseeing tour around the harbor and then speed out into the gorgeous gulf in search of dolphins. During the hot Summer months they call this a "Wet Cruise" because besides the occasional sea spray created when in fast pursuit of dolphins, the deckhands also fire water cannons to cool off guests. They even let kids have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to steer the big boat under the watchful eye of the experienced captain. During the Summer they also have a daily special Destin Sunset Dolphin Cruise which usually departs around 6:00 pm but the time can vary due to the changing time of sunset. This is a two-hour cruise that provides passengers with the fun thrill of seeing dolphins while often experiencing a heavenly spectacular sunset over the water. The very reasonable ticket price for these cruises happens to include complimentary water, soda, beer, or wine served by the friendly crew. Clean restroom facilities are also available. Ocean Reef Resorts guests also receive one free ticket daily aboard the Sea Blaster so it's a great deal and a lot of fun. You may get these by calling 850.837.9155.

Another highly rated adventure may be had on the Southern Star Destin Dolphin Cruise which is also docked at Harborwalk Village. They also receive a 4.5 Star rating from passengers on TripAdvisor. Out of 165 total reviews, 116 guests rated their cruise as "Excellent" and another twenty-four rated them as "Very Good." The Southern Star is an amazing glass bottom boat with two decks that is eighty feet in length and provides a leisurely two-hour tour in search of dolphins. They boast a 98% success rate in finding them. They have been in total operation for over eighteen years with a slogan to passengers that says: "Expect a miracle" and the crew strives to ensure that every guest aboard is treated to the highest standard of service possible. The Southern Star has the acclaim of being featured on CNN's "Earth Matters" as well as being shown on National Geographic's "Earth Watch." This vessel is climate controlled with the provision of snacks, sodas, gifts, and restrooms. Island music is piped in on multiple speaker systems as the boat sets off. The first part of the cruise includes a narrated brief tour of Destin Harbor as the captain shares a quick history of the area, points of interest, and some very interesting facts about the town's special locale. Once upon leaving the harbor the boat proceeds out of East Pass into the emerald-hued gulf where it cruises past Holiday Isle. If the seas are rough they chug out under the Destin Bridge into the bay where there is also an abundance of the Atlantic Coastal Bottlenose Dolphin. The passengers are provided food to feed a variety of seabirds which is a lot of fun, especially for the kids. Children are also allowed to take turns steering the boat and after accomplishing this feat are awarded certificates they will cherish which name them "Junior Captains". The captain and crew spot the pods of dolphins and cruise nearby so that everyone may see them, even as they swim underneath the special glass bottom boat. Besides the thrill of seeing the dolphin, the captain makes it very informative and entertaining by sharing stories about them. The Southern Star provides Dolphin and Sunset Cruises year round Monday thru Saturday unless there is inclement weather. During the parts of the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons there are up to four cruises scheduled each day. Private charters are also available. Each regular cruise is two hours long but since schedules change would-be dolphin adventurers are encouraged to contact them for times and reservations. Ocean Reef Resorts guests receive special discounts so be sure to mention this when you make contact. Their local number is 850.837.7741.

Perhaps you may want to be the captain of your own boat and set out on a private dolphin excursion adventure in Destin. If so you may want to check out pontoon boat rentals that are offered by La Dolce Vita Water Sports. They offer Ocean Reef Resort guests a 10% discount on their regular rental price. You don't have to have a captain's license to operate one and they are fairly easy to maneuver. If you can drive a car, you can steer a pontoon boat and they usually run at leisurely speeds anyway. This is the perfect choice if you have a big group of family and friends since pontoon boats can easily accommodate up to twelve passengers (or opt for a double-decker pontoon). These vessels have state-of-the-art amenities like comfortable seating, built-in coolers, and speakers for radio, CDs, or hookups for iPod connections. They are available for half or full-day rentals. Pontoon boats set off from the marina next to Harborwalk Village which is a wonderful centralized location to cruise around the harbor to dockside restaurants and bars or join "the party" at Crab Island. The best way to do this is to load up with plenty of provisions which should include your favorite snacks, picnic food, ice, and a cooler full of sodas or your favorite frosty adult libations. Be sure to bring a lot of sun tan lotion along as well because besides "the wheelhouse", most of the rest of the pontoon boat is an uncovered sun deck deliberately designed for lounging. You will almost always spot dolphins too since the opening at East Pass is a main route for them between the gulf and the bay. On a pontoon boat, you and your group may enjoy having as much fun as the dolphin you see playing in the distance. It is a fantastic experience you will surely want to turn into an annual tradition.

You may also enjoy checking out our website to find a distinctive beachfront vacation rental where you may watch the distant dolphin from your own balcony or private beach.