Ponce Inlet Watersports - Manatee & Dolphin Boat Tours — Attraction in Ponce Inlet

Before you read my review you should know I'm in no way affiliated with the company. Check Trip Advisor for a few reviews I've done there.

Best. Boat. Tour. Ever.

Captain John with his punny humor, charisma, knowledge and experience led our expedition. His willingness to stop the boat for almost 15 minutes so we didn't just slowly idle past something we saw in the distance created an amazing moment for all of us. Because of it, we saw Dolphins. A BABY DOLPHIN! Up close! A lot of others on the boat saw a manatee. I didn't get to see him or her because I got caught up in the beautiful view all around me and the feel of the of the boat moving through the water. I love being out on a boat and don't get to do it very often... not being a millionaire. 😊 Not for a moment did I feel unsafe.

I experienced the quiet vibration of awe when everyone on the boat went still and watched these beautiful beings we share our world with in their natural habitat. (A first for me.) And, wow, the cathedral like vibration of excitement we all felt when we first saw and met them. I don't have words for that moment. Thanks, Captain John. That'll stay with me forever.

We stopped on an island so everyone could check out the terrain and gather shells. Through pure luck and Captain John checking the time of it, we had the extraordinary good fortune of seeing a shuttle launch while we were there. Wowzers

The Amazing Danielle (It really is her job title. Seriously. She more than lived up to it.)...How do I count the ways of the pure awesomeness that is her? I've been on a few boat tours since moving to Florida and, years ago, was a tour guide for the Gone With The Wind Festival tours back in GA. Being a tour guide isn't an easy job but she made it look effortless. Her passion about her job was obvious. She was friendly, personable and eloquent. There were no stupid questions. Her knowledge and passion about the history of all we saw, geographically, and marine life was almost frightening at how extensive it was. I love it when a tour guide winds up feeling like a friend... not something I've experienced since moving to FL. 😉 She did. Rare & Priceless.

I have early, onset Parkinson's and was given great, non dramatic assistance. Never felt self conscious.

So, there ya go. My review is a novella because I'm a writer and have tried to cover as much as possible. I hope this gets you to the right place if you're looking for a great experience on a boat tour. I only booked to treat a visiting friend. I'm...

We booked a 2pm dolphin tour on 8/13/22. Our Captain was Tom & our tour guide was also a different wonderful gentleman named Tom. Both Tom’s were truly outstanding for the entire trip. I would recommend booking & doing all waivers online ahead of time to save time doing paperwork while checking in. Parking is easy & free for boat guests, it’s a close walk to the dock with clean bathrooms to use before boarding. Captain Tom manned the wheel & was super accommodating to the children on board & even offered / allowed each young child to steer the boat / watch the waterways with binoculars from the helm. Tour guide (younger / curly haired Tom) was SUPER knowledgeable about the history of the area, trends, tides & especially all the species of birds, mammals etc that we saw on our 90 minute boat tour. He also had a handful of corny / dad jokes that had everyone laughing & entertained for the entirety of the trip. The boat itself was no frills, but perfectly fine and we greatly appreciated the overhead coverage to protect us from the sun / heat. Bring food / drinks / cold water because we all know how hot it can get in FL! We saw several dolphins & many ocean loving birds on our tour. Loved that they made it a point to slow down & scoop up ocean litter with a net along our boat tour. We stopped for 10 minutes on the way back to the dock where everyone was given the option to de-board at a cute little sand barge / beach area. There Tom caught a few crabs & made it a point to share his knowledge with the guests about the species he caught. Encouraged guests to sea h for shells / sand dollars. These guys are friendly, knowledgeable & made the trip so much fun for all ages. They respect the ocean, the guests & are truly there to make sure everyone has a good, safe time. Make sure to bring some cash to tip these well deserving men for their hard work. Will definitely recommend & return in the future!! Well worth the $31/ person for...

While waiting for our tour to start we got to see a pelican and turtle, both locals to the area. It was pretty awesome to see them both up close in their natural habitat and not in a zoo. Out in the water we saw one or two other pelicans but no other turtles.

As far as the ride itself we got to see a couple pods of dolphins. Moms with their babies. Again super awesome that it wasn’t in a zoo.

It’s wildlife so we weren’t expecting up close and personal. As close as they did come was amazing. Good enough to get some good videos. They were swimming… not like you can ask them to hold still for a picture.

We got to see various birds in the mangroves including one of the tallest.

We didn’t get to see any manatees. I was hoping to see them. However, I understand it’s wildlife. Nothing the tour can do about that. They take you to the areas. The wildlife is either there or not. Today was a not.

The boat stopped on a sandbar for us to find shells. It was nice to get off for fifteen minutes and have a look around. Within reason, take what we wanted as souvenirs. Again you’re at the mercy of what nature gives you. This isn’t a staged boat ride.

The captain and his mate were both friendly and knowledgeable about the area. There was plenty of light hearted banter and knowledge about the area to keep you engaged.

Drinks were offered. All that was asked was that you pay what you could as thanks. You weren’t limited to their selection- you were able to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Over all money well spent for a couple hours. When in the area I’d...