The Best Time To Take a Dolphin Cruise in Panama City Beach

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is when the best time to watch dolphins is. I may not be an expert on dolphins, but I have been on several dolphin tours in Panama City Beach. Fortunately enough, I have never been on a tour that has not yielded a dolphin or two. These tours are a must do and they are great for families looking for some inexpensive entertainment in Panama City Beach. If you're trying to figure out what time is best for the best dolphin interaction, maybe I can help bring a little insight for you.

First off, I learned on one of my most recent tours that dolphins do not sleep like most animals do. They have the ability to shut down parts of their brain, while other parts are still active (to protect from predators and such). This means that dolphins really don't have a concrete schedule, but they are generally most active during the day as the sunlight is necessary for hunting and other social activities. 

When it comes down to it, I always recommend to tourists to go when the boats are less crowded and the water is the most calm - Morning or Noon. When the afternoon rolls around, the temperature rises and the wind kicks up. Having calm water allows for better visibility. Some tour boats also don't have A/C so it can be uncomfortable on a 2 hour cruise in very hot and humid conditions. Going for a late afternoon sunset cruise sounds like a great idea since the humidity and temperature has cooled down, but this is prime time. Expect higher ticket prices and maxed out capacity (In the peak season anyway). It's never fun being on a crowded boat when you want the perfect dolphin photo.

During the Fall and Winter, most tour companies will shut down or cut back their schedules due to the limited demand for tours. This by no means has any impact on the dolphin sightings as they can be seen all year round.  You'll not only find great rates on tours, but smaller trips gives you plenty of room to move about the boat. 

There are many dolphin cruise companies in Panama City Beach to choose from. They all offer different variations of tours that combine activities such as snorkeling and shelling. I would highly suggest booking online for the best dolphin cruise discounts and coupons. 

Check out this video from the Sea Screamer taken on one of the day trips. These are really amazing creatures and people can't get enough of them!