Dolphin Safari Charters
Dolphin Safari Charters
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Key West’s # 1 Dolphin Watching Tour & Snorkeling – Dolphin Safari Charters. There is a maximum of 6 guests per trip. Indulge your senses as you pass over natural sands through the blue waters of Key West into the playgrounds of wild dolphins. Your trip includes: Snorkel equipment Noodles & flotation devices Fresh water shower available after snorkeling Rice Krispies & crackers Soft drinks & water BYOB (ice & coolers available) *Check-in time 30 minutes prior to departure time.
Key West, Florida
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Dolphin Safari Charters
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,023 reviews
Excellent
905
Very good
57
Average
26
Poor
17
Terrible
18
Michele M
Bartlett, TN23 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
Every time we come to Key West we make sure to book a private trip with Capt Gary! He has a wonderful sense of humor, is passionate about dolphins and thoroughly enjoys what he does. He gets you smiling and laughing during the trip and he not only finds dolphins every time he also teaches you about the dolphins. While snorkeling he will find urchins and point out other marine life and give you information about them.
Our trip on 6-8-2020 was our 6th trip with Capt Gary and it was amazing as always!!! We saw several pods of dolphins and while snorkeling saw huge stingrays, tarpon, urchin, lobster and multitudes of fish. The stop at the sandbar topped off the trip!
Our trip on 6-8-2020 was our 6th trip with Capt Gary and it was amazing as always!!! We saw several pods of dolphins and while snorkeling saw huge stingrays, tarpon, urchin, lobster and multitudes of fish. The stop at the sandbar topped off the trip!
Written June 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara M
4 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Highly recommend a cruise with Dolphin Safari. My husband and I stayed at the Perry Hotel and took an evening dolphin watching cruise that left right from the marina at our hotel while we were there; easily our favorite part of our Key West trip. There’s a max of six people on the boat so super low key. Our captain was very knowledgeable, having grown up in Key West and boated his whole life. Took us to the ‘dolphin playground’ a few miles off the KW coast, where we saw six dolphins including a few that came right up to the boat. Snorkled, saw the sunset, and got some snacks (Rice Krispies treats, cheese), along with being allowed to bring our own alcohol and snacks. The whole tour took 3.5 hours and was super smooth. Definitely recommend!
Written June 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Great experience. Captain Gary was personable, entertaining, thorough and made every for us to view the dolphins catching fish,, coaching young, playing - even saw them tossing sand dollar in air to each other multiple times. Several dolphins swimming along boat with their young.
Thank you, Captain Gary!
Jim and Deborah
Thank you, Captain Gary!
Jim and Deborah
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patty O
8 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
We booked ONE excursion during our stay in KW. We choose this one because of the sunset bonus with snorkeling. We purposely watched the marine and weather forecast closely all week and day of. (15% rain All day and night) Captain Gary sent a text at 2:00pm day of - saying the rain was a nuisance and canceled our booked sunset tour! There was not a drop of rain KW inland and waterways all night- as forecasted! Dude if you made other plans besides taking us out just be honest. We are boaters and looked at the marine forecast. Did you not have enough customers for this time slot?? So disappointed in the lack of service and transparency.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LMehta
New York City, NY1 contribution
Nov 2021 • Couples
Extremely unorganized company and captain. They have no ideas how many people they have booked and how many boats are available. They wasted our day. We have booked 2:30 pm and got a call at 1:30 pm that we were actually booked for 12:30 pm (email confirmation says 2:30 pm). Their response was ‘it was a mix up’ - Stay away from this company and your !!
Written November 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luke M
41 contributions
Jan 2020
We had an amazing time with Captain Mel during our dolphin safari and snorkeling adventure. I enjoyed that it was a smaller more intimate outing with only one other couple. Mel provided great information and insight into Key West and the dolphins we were watching. She brought us to a great spot to snorkel in which we saw many coral fish, a sting ray, barracuda, etc. On the way back we stopped and watched the sunset and just relaxed. The pop/water and snacks on the boat were great to have after snorkeling. I highly recommend Dolphin Safari tours and will look forward to doing it again during our next visit.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cristina B
9 contributions
Apr 2021
We had the most amazing experience with Melanie on Dolphin Safari Charters! She is an amazing Captain who really, truly cares about her passengers and what their goals are for the trip. I told her I wanted to see Dolphins and she did everything she could to make that happen (sometimes they're sleeping and it's not that easy to find them.) We loved her so much we went and booked a second trip with her the next day! Our first trip was amazing, the sandbar was beautiful and breathtaking but our second trip was beyond amazing, we saw dolphins swimming, mating and playing right before our eyes. Was a true dream come true for us and Melanie made it all happen. Thank you Melanie for being amazing and making our trip so memorable! I am telling everyone to book you if they go! You are the best! Thank you!
Written April 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelagent007
oklahoma7 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
This charter was the highlight of our family vacation. Captain Gary was awesome, and made sure one unsure snorkeler in our group got past her fear to enjoy the experience with the rest of us. Highly recommend this excursion, be sure to request Captain Gary! Dolphins, lots of dolphins, snorkel and sand bar for swimming all packed into just a few hours. Great day!
Written July 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist133585
10 contributions
Feb 2020
Once a week each year our extended family travels together and this year we headed to Key West, we had all been here together 11 years ago so it was fun to recreate some of the memories we had together the last time! Our family group age range is 12-74 years! As the kids are older they really wanted to try a snorkeling adventure. After looking over several recommendations we booked a trip with Captain Gary at Dolphin Safari and set off for a once in a lifetime adventure on the sea. It was one of the most amazing days we had together as a family. The day was gorgeous and we took off for about an hour until we hit our snorkeling spot. Even though most of the adults including myself don't like to snorkel we ALL got in the water and snorkeled! Captain Gary was patient and gave great instructions and made us all feel comfortable in the water! After exploring under the sea we got back in the boat and spent time watching dolphins swim all around the boat. It was an amazing experience just watching and listening to the them swim right around us in a very calm environment not to mention the photos and videos we got! We then headed to a sand bar. the kids quickly jumped off the boat and headed to the sand bar where a beautiful Conch Shell was found. We took amazing pictures and watched this creature before putting him back in the ocean! Captain Gary was very knowledgable, fun and made the experience for everyone. We are all still talking about it! It could not have been more perfect!
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler625149
Valrico, FL3 contributions
Mar 2020
Just Disappointing - Booked our trip on the phone with Captain Gary (great reviews) and then when we arrive we get placed with Captain Tricia. Captain Gary was in the boat in front of us which Captain Tricia could not keep up with in her boat. On the 'Dolphin Trip', we got soaked in the boat by waves, had mediocre snorkeling and didn't even see one dolphin. We spent $400 on an experience that wasn't even worth half that.
To finish off the excursion, we go 15 minutes out of our way to stop at another dock so Captain Tricia could put gas in the boat. In all the years, all the countries we have been, NEVER has a boat captain stopped on my time to get gas. It was ridiculous, unprofessional and a safety issue for my kids sitting in the boat!
To finish off the excursion, we go 15 minutes out of our way to stop at another dock so Captain Tricia could put gas in the boat. In all the years, all the countries we have been, NEVER has a boat captain stopped on my time to get gas. It was ridiculous, unprofessional and a safety issue for my kids sitting in the boat!
Written March 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How often do you go out?
Looking to snorkel one day this week and saw you guys leave at 8:30 this morn.
Let me know
Written May 15, 2018
rashmi y
Dublin, Ohio
Do you have a restroom and a place to change the swim suite?
Written April 10, 2018
While you have access to a small bathroom in the office of the hotel, you would want to show up in your suit. You basically hang out on the small dock until you depart.
Written February 12, 2019
Danielle M
Long Beach, New York
I have a 3 and 1 year old, can they go on this tour?
Written February 5, 2016
Most definitely the little guys will see the dolphins and then they can sit on the swim platform and feed the fish pineapple
Written March 9, 2019
Hi, how long is the tour? We have a 4&6 years old, can they go on this tour? How much do you charge for 1?
Best regards
Keshet
Written March 21, 2015
They are too young for the open water snorkeling. Also it’s a small boat and no toilet.
Written March 31, 2018
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