The Dolphin Explorer

Dec. 2025 Bob an Eddy made this trip an amazing experience. Thank you so much! At the beginning we were handed out a catalog with all the dophins already given names. We saw 16 of them on our trip! The jumped around, played and came really close to the boat. We had just a great time.

Dec. 2025 This was our fourth on the dolphin explorer and it was another excellent experience. Captain James and Bob were great and gave a lot of insight and information about the dolphins using their identification system were able to identify 16 different dolphins. It is a very worthwhile excursion, each time a little different and one we will do again.

Jan. 2026 This was one of the better dolphin tours we have been on anywhere, and we have been on quite a few. Bob and James really know all about dolphins. It was so cool to learn the names of the males, grand mommas, momma's, babies and the dates so many of them were born. This is a private 501c3 group that has operated for 20 years, sharing their collected info with other dolphin study groups around the world, operating on donations and the fees from the boat tour. It was great fun helping them spot the dolphins. The shell collecting at Tiger Tail beach was also amazing. Oh! and the price of the tour is super reasonable. The boat goes out to collect information 2 times a day.

Jan. 2026 “Passion, Integrity, Education “ is the motto of The Dolphin Explorer. You are engaged as a citizen scientist to assist in identifying the dolphins. We received a binder filled with information on each of the dolphins that live, eat, raise their families in the Marco River. This eco-friendly educational tour is the only on going study of the wild Dolphins in SW Florida. It is the only one in the US that engages and is supported by the general public. Master Naturalist Bob McConville and Capt Ed gave such fascinating details about these beautiful, brilliant and playful creatures. dolphin-study.com and coastal breeze news.com to read Bobs 2025 Annual Dolphin Report for North Marco Island. We also stopped on Tigertail Beech to collect a variety of shells and sand dollars. “Flora and Fauna” fantastic.

Jan. 2026 Six of us (three generations) did this tour yesterday and it was wonderful. We had a 4 and 7yo and they loved seeing many, many dolphins and hearing their individual stories and fun facts about each one. The staff is knowledgeable, engaging with all the guests and very willing to share their experiences with everyone. We pulled up at a fabulous beach and collected shells as well. Our kids were given little clipboard to count the dolphins, take a little dolphin test, and draw something that they saw. They thought that was fabulous. This is a tour for all ages and well worth the money.

Nov 2025 The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We saw 31 dolphins and learned a great deal about them. This was our second time going and we will definitely be returning with other family members and friends. It is too good not to share!

Nov.2025 My toddler had the best time searching for the dolphins. James and Jennifer so very educated on every single dolphin and all the birds and other wildlife. It was perfect for all ages. My parents had a great time looking for dolphins and watching them surface. We saw 18 dolphins while on the tour and 8 were calves. So amazing to see the mother and babies together and learn how they interact. Well worth the experience!

Nov. 2025 This was an amazing experience for us and our grand children alike. The staff of Captain Eddie and the biologist James were incredibly knowledgeable and shared a lot of great information that was truly an interactive experience. It is so important for the public to participate in this experience as The Dolphin Explorer is publicly funded by persons attending these trips. Every trip allows the staff to collect valuable data about these amazing animals. Highly recommend this adventure!

Nov.2025 This was a fabulous experience for our family which included my 4 and 6 year old grandsons. It exceeded expectations and was one of the best tours of any kind that we've been on. Jennifer (is phenomenal) and Captain James do a great job providing a fun and educational experience and we all learned a lot about dolphins (we saw 13 of them). We also enjoyed 40 minutes of shelling on a beach that had more beautiful shells than you can imagine. By participating in this you are actually supporting a 20 year old research program.

Nov.2025 Bob, James, and the whole Dolphin Explorer team went above and beyond providing an engaging, educational, and fun experience for our whole family, including our two year old daughter! Definitely a highlight of our first trip to Marco Island!