Shell Island Boat Rentals — Local services in Upper Grand Lagoon

I would have given 5 stars because the family had a BLAST on the boat, but Shell Island Rentals wrote down the wrong GPS # for our boat and called us 30 mins after we'd gotten out in the bay to tell us we were about to be in the Gulf and would face around a $500 fine. They had the WRONG boat! Then later that evening, well after the boat had been turned in, I received notification that my credit card had been charged $100 by the rental company (price of a late turn in fee). I waited 2 days, since the charge appeared as "pending" on my card, before calling, and as I was explaining why I was calling (the added $100 charge), the man said "you wouldn't happen to be the C???? family would you?" When I told him yes, he said "we're sorry, we charged the wrong credit card, it was a mix up, your card will be refunded the $100, and again, we're very sorry." I appreciated him admitting the error and letting me know I would be refunded (since it wasn't a valid charge), but I was very surprised they hadn't called me first to let me know there was a mistake and they were taking care of it...I don't want to think bad about it, but it sort of made me wonder if they were waiting to see if I caught it or not before issuing the refund????, because he mentioned during the conversation that he had a note in front of him...

Incredible Snorkeling Experience – Ted and His Team Are the Best!

We recently went on the snorkeling tour with Shell Island Tours, and it was hands down one of the best parts of our trip! Ted, the owner, runs a top-notch operation—he’s friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what he does. You can tell he genuinely cares about creating a memorable experience for every guest.

His team was just as amazing—knowledgeable, upbeat, and great with both first-timers and seasoned snorkelers. They made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe while keeping the mood light and fun.

The snorkeling itself was incredible—crystal clear water, tons of marine life, and plenty of time to explore. The boat was clean and well-equipped, and the whole trip was seamless from start to finish.

If you're anywhere near Panama City Beach, don’t miss the chance to do this tour. Ted and his crew will treat you like family and make sure you have an unforgettable day...

I was racially profiled and discriminated against upon arrival. I made a reservation and was running a little late so I called them and let them know and they said that it didn’t matter as long as we got the boat back by 530. Upon arrival, late as discussed, we were told that we couldn’t get a boat if we weren’t born before 1988. The website said nothing about that, it gave a choice to take a temporary boat license test. When we pointed that out to the owner, he then switched to saying that they don’t let the boats out after a certain time. Something that he could have clearly said on the phone. All the while there was another party that was signing the contract to take another boat. If I could give it zero stars I would and I’m going to share this in n every...