The Dolphin Explorer

APRIL 2019 We had a great time on this adventure. We got to see lots of dolphins and birds and even a manatee who was hanging around the boat while we were at the island looking for shells. The men on this boat seemed very knowledgeable and were very informative. I would definitely recommend taking this trip! Show less

APRIL 2019 We booked an evening tour but due to lack of numbers we were asked to move to the afternoon trip, no problems for us and what an amazing experience. Our hosts for the day were Bob the highly knowledgeable entertainer and Eddie at the tiller...both in their own way contributed to proving a never forget experience. Within seemingly minutes we were being enthralled by dolphins who seem to revel in putting on a show for us, the captive and awe struck audience; this continued unabated for the best part of 3 hours...Bob's intimate knowledge of every dolphin contributed to an extraordinarily experience. So, if you want a trip of alifetime, are inspired by viewing wildlife in there natural habitat then head off to see Bob at Dolphin Experience...you won't be disappointed.

April 2019 Our guide was so knowledgeable! He knew each dolphin we saw and even the dolphins we saw the day before (I showed him pics of the fins). We even saw a manatee! I would recommend this trip for young and old alike!

APRIL 2019 Had Bob as our guide and Eddie as our captain and they found the dolphins. We saw a total of 21 different dolphins and they were playing with each other, jumping and went for a ride with us a couple of times. Had a great time and got some great photos.

APRIL 2019 An excellent 3-hour tour through the mangrove, we spotted several dolphins in their natural environment, some playing in the boat's traces and passing close to us. We had a very knowledgeable and attentive guide Kent. Our pilot Michael was very flexible to move the boat closer and safely to the dolphins the passengers spotted. Nice stop on a small island full of shells. We collected some very nice ones to take home. And enjoyed a swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Many thanks to Kent & Michael!

APRIL 2019 I took my daughter and her fiancé!! We had a blast!! Saw quite a few dolphins. Watching them frolicking in the boats wake was just AWESOME!! Stopped at an island to go shelling . Found: horseshoe crab, sand dollar, and more shells than I need!!! Lol. GREAT time for all ages.

APRIL 2019 Seeing Dolphins having fun without any pressure. Beats every depression or bad mood. Lovely Nice staff did the rest: we kept smiling. Thanks.

APRIL 2019 Naturalist Bob and Captain Mike were great. We saw lots of dolphins including babies.. Would highly recommend this tour. I have been on it multiple towns and it has always been great.

This tour exceeded expectations. It could have been hokey, but the naturalist and skipper were engaging (to all ages), informative, flexible, funny, and attentive. We enjoyed it as much as our eight year old grandson! Never boring, we learned a lot and had a good time. We saw 18 different dolphins, most close up. We’ll do it again next year.

APRIL 2019 Terrific tour, very educational and fun for all ages. Highly recommend for families with children 3-10.

April 2019 Captain Eddie and Naturalist Bob were our tour guides this morning. They were terrific. We saw 3x the average number of dolphins during our 3 hour tour. The kids loved it. We loved. You should go!

APRIL 2019 Well worth the price for a family outing to get out on a boat, see dolphins, shell, and enjoy nature. The guide and captain were very knowledgeable and very good with all the kids on the boat. I would highly recommend. We will definitely do this again when down in Marco!!!

APRIL 2019 We had a fantastic trip, as well as seeing lots of dolphins we got up close to a manatee! Shelling stop at the tip of tigertail beach, a very informative & fun afternoon, we will definitely book this again with family in the future

APRIL 2019 It was thrilling, entertaining and a great learning experience. I have been on other nice dolphin viewing trips, but this was by far the best. The tour leader was very knowledgeable and the boat captain knew just where to find the dolphins. I highly recommend this educational trip!

APRIL 2019 We actually booked a 5pm evening excursion the same day and we were extremely impressed with the crew. The boat was clean, the instructions were easy to follow. The crew had wonderful books on the dolphins and our younger kids were able to earn a patch based on a short and informative quiz. We saw over 15 dolphins and the Captain was able to get 2 of the large males to jump in the wake. The stop on Tiger Tail Beach was just the right length. We found sand dollars and other shells. We also saw quite a few live creatures like starfish and lightning welk shells that were occupied. Of course we left these in the ocean. The sunset was spectacular. This was one of the best excursions we’ve ever experienced!!

APRIL 2019 This was a fabulous trip with 2 very knowledgeable staff who taught us about the wildlife in the area. We saw so many dolphins and identified them (this kept my 11 year old daughter entertained!). We came home with quite a few photos printed off on the boat of the dolphins/ospreys we’d seen and a lovely badge for our daughter. Highly recommended!

APRIL 2019 Booked this trip for 2 adults for early April and had a FANTASTIC time with Captain Mike and our nature guide Bob! We saw multiple dolphins, including a mom and baby, before we had even been out of the marina for 5 minutes. Mike and Bob both were very friendly and knowledgable about the local wildlife. We even got to see several dolphins, including some babies, playing in the wake of our boat as we were wrapping up! So awesome. Definitely a must-do activity for kids and adults alike visiting the Marco Island area!

APRIL 2019 What a brilliant afternoon on the Dolphin Explorer with naturalistic Bob and Captain Mike ! Both Bob and Mike were superb, both so knowledgeable and ensured we saw as much as we could - lots of dolphins, ospreys and wading birds. I can’t recommend this trip highly enough, we all learnt so much and had a great time.

APRIL 2019 Bring your camera. The staff will also give you photos of the dolphins we see. We saw at least 9 different dolphins. The staff were very informative and courteous. We ended up at Tigertail Beach for sunset and seashell exploring. Wonderful experience. Would highly recommend this 3 hour experience.

MARCH 2019 We had a fabulous trip! We took the trip with three generations, mother, grandmother and grand daughters and all had a wonderful experience. Bob our naturalist was so friendly and knowledgeable and had a great way of engaging the children. We saw tons of dolphins and loved learning about their markings and families. Eddie was amazing getting the dolphins to follow us and play in the wake of them boat. The shelling stop was a fun end to a wonderful day.

March 2019 We took this dolphin cruise with our daughter and two grandsons, nine and five. Great captain, Eddie, and Bob was our cruise director with great commentary on the dolphins and he was wonderful with the kids. A wonderful three hours. And the boys also loved the shelling. Highly recommend.

MARCH 2019 We have been out several times with them and it is always fun and informative. Very nice naturalist and skipper...we saw peregrine falcon, osprey, pelicans of course and lots of dolphins. Had them jumping in the boat wake. Shelling stop was nice. Kids aboard had an excellent time too. Very reasonable price for a full 3 hour tour!

MARCH 2019 We took the Dolphin Explorer with our family in the morning. Although the weather was foggy, the captain went above and beyond to find dolphins. We saw many dolphins, and other wildlife. Bob McConville was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and informative of all that we were encountering. Our grand daughter was pretty young , but she LOVED the trip. This trip is definitely very family oriented. We've been on this trip many times and will continue to enjoy. We highly recommend this trip for anyone who visits Marco Island. The #1 tour for the island!

FEBRUARY 2019 We took this trip hoping to see a couple of dolphins, but the number we saw and the proximity to them at times far exceeded our expectations. We had some very close looks at them. The crew was excellent, and never failed to point out where the dolphins were, or what they were doing.

FEBRUARY 2019 We have done this tour several times over the years...and my grandkids have accumulated a collection of shells, pictures and badges!...each one a treasured memory. Captain Eddie and Bob, as always, has the answers to all of my grandson’s inquisitive questions. The focus on education and the ecology of the area sets this tour apart from just entertainment! Set sail and enjoy!!

March 2019 We went on the Dolphin Explorer 3/15 at 9am and had master naturalist Bob McConville as our guide and captain Mike. Both guys were wonderful! We saw many birds and a lot of dolphins too (see the photos). Then we stopped at Tigertail beach and they gave us shells bags and we had some time to walk the beach and collect sea shells. Bob took everyone's photo and also photos of the dolphins we saw too. They have a printer on the boat and they printed out the photos and gave them to us before we got off. Now that's a great example of them going above and beyond for their customers on this boat tour. Thanks for doing that for us Bob! We are looking forward to getting your new book Bob, called Beneath the Emerald Waves soon. On the boat they also offer ice cold water to everyone. And they have big binders with photos of all the dolphins around the island, as characterized by the markings on their fin. The binder includes the dolphins name and offspring as well. They have a special game for kids to participate in as well. Everything included in this tour just makes it marvelous. And the bonus is seeing dolphins up close! Thanks guys for a wonderful tour. We will be back. This was my third time on the boat.

March 2019 Really, really impressed with the up-close & personal trip - the crew was wonderful, knowledgeable and very inclusive. They could use a microphone, but it was a real personal touch to sit down with the group — loved the way the dolphins followed the boat !! Will take our grandchildren next year as it was very educational - the crew was very prepared and we loved every bit of it....they had water on board and took pictures of us on the island - how cool was that ?

FEBRUARY 2019 This trip was amazing and so cool to see the dolphins so close to the boat! We had an amazing crew who knew all about the dolphins and where to find them. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

FEBRUARY 2019 It was awe inspiring to see these beautiful creatures in the wild, so close to the boat! The crew was very informative. They know every dolphin by name, along with their history. Great visual learning aids for the kids. Highly recommend this tour.

FEBRUARY 2019 This was our second trip, having visited from the UK last year and we were so impressed we brought two friends with us to share our joy in this experience. The staff are very impressive - educating as well as entertaining us. This is a very well organised unit and offers so much, views of Marco Island, trip to shell island, osprey nests and, of course, amazing interaction with the dolphins. Highly recommend this trip, a definite winner.

FEBRUARY 2019 If the Children are with you, this is a must do; It is only a three hour tour !!! Bob and Eddie know where the Dolphins are and spent little time cruising without a purpose. We saw 11 dolphins. Eddie He knows how to incorporate the dolphins in the show. Cruising along with the dolphins is something the grandchildren will remember for a long time. Bob and Eddie Know how to work with the grandparents as well. I have some difficulties walking at certain times and they were both proactive in making sure I was comfortable and have access to all the activities.

FEBRUARY 2019 The crew shared so much knowledge about the dolphins and they were so friendly and kind! We saw a plethora of dolphins during our trip. The shelling was also really great! Overall a great experience!

FEBRUARY 2019 There was something for everyone...from 4 years olds to 94 year olds. Everyone was given a book with photos and descriptions of the dolphins so we could ID the ones we spotted....and the children were given a quizlet for a contest, for which they were awarded a prize on completion. We saw 21 DIFFERENT dolphins muktiple times that day ...over twice the usual. The boat captain and the naturalist (Bob) were very helpful and knowledgeable. We also found many shells ( Conch, starfish, and others) at our shelling stop. Another thing that I really appreciated is the cancellation of the tour on a day when the weather was dangerous. Plus, our friend decided to refrain from the rescheduledad trip, & her money was promptly refunded. Thanks for an exciting, educational tour

FEBRUARY 2019 This tour with Bob & Eddie was fantastic, one of our favorite things about our vacation. Highly recommend - we saw many dolphins up close and since they take a relatively small group you have a lot of information coming from the naturalist, Bob. He was so extremely knowledgeable and had so much enthusiasm for these incredible animals. I have been on dolphin watching tours before but thought this was the best! The highlight was seeing a mother and newborn pair swim along with us in the boats wake. The stop at the shelling island was great, only wish we had more time there! While there, bob printed off pics he’d taken of us and of the dolphins! At no addl charge to us... a real plus. FEBRUARY 2019

JANUARY 2019 Be sure to expect to have fun and don't feel bad about asking questions. Everyone on the trip with you will appreciate it. We had a cooler day so wore jackets but the dolphins were active and didn't seem to mind at all. Great trip

JANUARY 2019 Had an amazing trip with Bob and Mike. We saw lots of Dolphins that they could identify by name and habits as they shared their knowledge and humor with us during our three hour boat trip. Highly recommend this professional, educational and fun trip. Must do on a visit to Marco. Island

JANUARY 2019 I can not say enough about this experience. We saw more dolphins than I could ever have imagined. They frequently followed the wake of the boat and also swam so close to the side you could almost reach out and touch them. I was with a group and everyone got frame worthy photos of dolphins jumping in the air, mother and baby and dolphin groups. Bob and Mike were wonderful. I am sure that Bob has made countless trips and yet his level of excitement and engagement made it seem that this trip was a first. The magical, secret beach yielded a treasure of shells and sand dollars for all. We did not have a child with us, but Bob spent time customizing the experience for the kids. I am sure it is a trip they will remember always. The weather was a bit cold, but the dolphins didn't seem to mind so neither did the passengers (dress accordingly). if you are anywhere nearby, this is a must do!

JANUARY 2019 We were a group of 4 and each one of us were glad we signed up for this particular dolphin and wildlife boat excursion. Kent and Captain Mike showed us so many dolphins including their playful side of leaping behind our boat in the waves and identifying by name each dolphin with individual fin markings. We also saw Giant Blue Heron, bald eagles, ospreys, pelicans close up. A 45 minute stop onto an amazing shell beach of white sand was a beautiful seaside walk. With photo ops galore. Go and enjoy a fascinating morning with nature and cool guides.

JANUARY 2019 My second time and each is unique. Brought my fellow photographers and they said it was their best experience in Florida. It is not a hit or miss experience seeing the dolphins. These guys study them. They know where they are!

JANUARY 2019 Found much better shells on the trip than our trek to Sanibel! Great science lesson from the naturalist. Great piloting by the operator.

JANUARY 2019 We always take our guests on the Dolphin Explorer. This is the best way to get close to dolphins and even watch them play in the wake of the boat. The guide and pilot are very knowledgeable and provide a visual guide to help identify the dolphins by name. Fabulous experience for all ages.

JANUARY 2019 An abundance of dolphin spotting coupled with great educational commentary. Added fun shelling stop, family photos and true respect for all the wildlife we encountered. Go! You will love this trip

JANUARY 2019 The highlight of our trip to Marco Island! Wanting to travel with scientists and/or naturalists, this eco-tour was exactly what we were looking for. Bob gave us much detail about each & every dolphin. We got lucky on a beautiful, sunny day and spotted many playful dolphins. Bob and Eddie are very experienced in finding them and also very knowledgeable about this particular breed of bottlenose dolphin. DO NOT MISS this exceptional 3-hour excursion with a quick 30 minute island stop for some fantastic shelling.

JANUARY 2019 Kept all of us engaged (kids ages 14, 11 and 8) and learned a lot about local dolphins while spotting quite a few. The Captain was adept at knowing when the dolphins wanted to follow along in the wake and a couple of them provided some out of water acrobatics. Shelling at North End of Tigertail Beach and family photo provided to us were nice touches.