Dolphin Tours in Sanibel, Florida
- Adventures in Paradise is a company that offers afternoon and evening cruises of the waters around Sanibel Island to watch the dolphins. The afternoon cruises leave port at 3:30 p.m. and return at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The evening cruises' departure times depend on the season, and last for 90 minutes. The tour provider offers passengers complimentary soft drinks and water. The cruises leave from the Port Sanibel Marina, one mile east of the causeway entrance.
- The Sanibel Thriller is a 55-foot watercraft piloted by a licensed merchant marine driver that tours the waters around Sanibel and Captiva Island. The cruise provides a narration while the operators and passengers are on the lookout for dolphins and other aquatic animals. The operators of the Sanibel Thriller also provide chartered tours of the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound, and require reservations, even for daily tours of these waters.
- The Captiva Sanibel is a small tour provider that provides dolphin and manatee viewing in the Pine Island Sound. The boat is 25 feet long and has a covered roof, creating shade when the weather is hot. The beam, the widest part of the ship, is 9 feet. The operator offers lunch tours to Cabbage Key, a resort located on an island whose access is just by boats, helicopters or other watercraft.
- The Port Sanibel Marina offers canoe and kayak rentals for people who want to cruise through the waters surrounding Sanibel Island to look for dolphins. These self-guided tours can be a quieter and more leisurely alternative to touring on larger boats. The port also has motorized vehicles for rent for larger groups. These boats seat eight or nine passengers. The marina has a one mile nature walk for people who want to observe marine life from land.
