The Dolphin Study Eco-Tour and Cruise

Join the survey team of the Dolphin Explorer and discover our underwater neighbors, the bottlenose dolphins of Southwest Florida.

We cruise the waters off the Gulf of Mexico in search of dolphins and explore the subtropical estuaries of the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

You’ll learn to know these marine animals on a first name basis! All of our dolphins have been photo ID'd, named by passengers and cataloged. Our survey work is shared globally.

Photograph them playing, feeding and socializing in the wild. We'll also stop to do some shelling on a barrier beach!

On our expedition, you'll:

• Meet a variety of dolphins that may include moms, babies, large adult males and more, named by families from around the world.
• Name a dolphin if we sight a new one while on your cruise!
• Take the Dolphin Challenge!
• See many other marine mammals including manatees (May - September).
• Watch birds of prey and wading birds including eagles, osprey, egrets, ibis, great blue heron, pelicans, and more.
• Search for exotic shells on a Barrier Beach.
  -Learn about our important Mangrove Forest!!!

These adventures are part of a long term study to document the lives of coastal bottlenose dolphin. Over 170 dolphins have been "photo ID'd", named, coded and cataloged to date. Our important data is shared around the world!