Menu

Explore The Ocean: Dolphin Tours in Myrtle Beach

If you’re looking for a way to get an up-close look at the world beneath the waves in North Myrtle Beach, a dolphin tour is a great way to see some of the beautiful wildlife in an unforgettable way! Dolphin cruises and tours are specifically designed to seek out whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals in their natural habitat, so that you’re sure to have a vacation experience that you’ll never forget. Not only are you able to go to dolphin sightings, but you can also often combine them with fishing trips too. The tours are something the whole family will enjoy and never forget.

Photo: Thomas Water Sports

With such a rich environment to explore, there are plenty of options for you to choose between, so we’ve picked four of the best North Myrtle Beach dolphin tours to help you make your choice.

1. Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tour

Photo Credit: bluewaveadventures via Instagram

Touring up and down the South Carolina coast, with the promise of discovering dolphins, turtles, jellyfish, sharks, or rays, the Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tour is the original dolphin tour in South Carolina! The company boasts more than 40 individual dolphins that have been named and recognized by experienced tour guides, with 360-degree viewing so that you can be sure not to miss a single moment of your cruise. Each cruise captain is guaranteed to have at least 26 years of experience, so the company’s added familiarity with the waters makes sure you get the best glimpse of all the natural beauty South Carolina has to offer.

Just the Facts:

Kids from ages 3 to 12 can ride the Blue Wave tour for $25 dollars, while adults and children ages 12 and up ride for $31 dollars.

For safety reasons, families with children under the age of 3 are encouraged to find a different activity, as are pregnant mothers.

For the best viewing times, Blue Wave Adventures recommends tours that are earlier in the morning, as they pose the best chance of seeing the most marine life!

2. Voyager Deep Sea Fishing and Dolphin Cruises

With afternoon cruises running daily and morning and sunset cruises running daily until, Voyager Dolphin Cruises boasts the largest fleet in either North or South Carolina, with each chartered boat carrying up to 130 passengers, which makes this cruise perfect for large family vacations, as well as work retreats or company bonding tours! Tickets can be booked online or reservations can be made over the phone so that you can make sure you have all the travel arrangements taken care of long before you even arrive!

Just the Facts:

Children ages 3-12 are $22 dollars, while adults are $28 dollars. Again, children under three and expectant mothers are encouraged to sit this one out.

Each cruise is about two and a half hours long, with the morning cruise running from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, the afternoon cruise running from 2:30 PM to 5 PM, and the sunset cruise running from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

The above times are approximate start times, and the exact time of departure may vary just a little bit based on weather conditions.

3. Express Watersports Dolphin Watch Cruise

At an hour and a half in length, the Express Watersports Dolphin Watch Cruise is a great option for a vacation that’s already scheduled to make every second count! The cruise also includes a narrated tour of the area’s history, as well as aquatic facts related to the marine life in the region. Snacks and soft drinks are available onboard, children of all ages are welcome, and the shorter timeframe means that there are that many more cruises available for you to choose between when scheduling your time!

Just the Facts:

Adults ride for $28 dollars, children under the age of 12 rides for $20 dollars, and kids aged 2 and under ride for free!

Private cruises are available for corporate events, private parties, or family reunions, so long as arrangements are made ahead of time.

Because the chartered vessels used by Express Watersports are more contained than those used by some of the other options on this list, children of any age are welcomed aboard, which makes this tour a great option for families with younger children!

Covered shade areas and wheelchair/stroller access make this cruise accessible for all.

4. North Myrtle Beach Jet Ski Eco Tour and Dolphin Encounter

If you want a dolphin experience that’s even more up-close and personal than the previous options on this list, this tour puts you literally inches away from the action on a jet ski, instead of on a chartered boat! Expert riders guide you and the rest of your party on a two-hour tour of some of South Carolina’s gorgeous offshore vistas, and let you get your first-person brush with nature in an intimately familiar way!

Just the Facts:

Because of the self-guided nature of this tour, riders do have to be 16 years or older in order to participate.

No prior experience with Waverunner jet skis is required prior to the tour, as guides will provide basic orientation and instruction on how to operate the jet skis before the tour starts.

Because marine life sightings cannot be guaranteed, if no dolphins are sighted during the tour, riders will receive a voucher for a ride on a more traditional dolphin cruise with the same company.

Rescheduling due to weather may apply.

 Prices start at $199 dollars per rider plus tax.

Ultimately, no matter which tour you settle on, you’re certain to get a wonderful glimpse at the world below the waves, with the natural beauty of  North Myrtle Beach easily seen everywhere you look. The North Myrtle Beach Watersports activities will never let you down. 

Enjoy seeing the dolphins while on a fabulous boat ride in the Atlantic Ocean. These boat tours can stretch all the way from Little River to Murrells Inlet.  Some tours may double as a fishing charter and you can even advance book online.  Enjoy chasing dolphins and even sea turtles through the Grand Strand and then hop on the Intracoastal waterway to grab lunch on the river in the North Myrtle Beach Area.  This sightseeing adventure will bring aquatic life to reality. Be sure to use the restroom before you go unless you are on a pontoon boat or another boat that has one on deck. Enjoy and be safe.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *