Book Direct & Save! – Learn More

6 Best Dolphin Cruises in Myrtle Beach

Beyond the famous Boardwalk, the amusements and attractions lie unspoiled nature waiting to be explored. Myrtle Beach is home to eye-catching natural habitats from the endless Atlantic to estuaries flowing into the Intracoastal Waterways. In both, you’ll find pods of stunning bottlenose dolphins.

Dolphin cruises are a fantastic way to spot such beloved wildlife while experiencing the region’s underrated nature when you book a Myrtle Beach getaway. The cherry on top? A family-friendly experience that’s bound to end up in your favorite picture albums.

The Top Dolphin Cruises in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruises

Photo Credit: Hang Dinh

Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruises is a one-size-fits-all dolphin tour. That’s why it’s saddled at the top of our guide. Offering great value for money, the 1.5 to 2-hour tours embark along the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the exciting Sea Thunder or Sea Screamer. Your onboard tour guides will provide context and history as you go, ensuring any lingering Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are brought to your attention.

You’ll soon depart the Intracoastal, picking up speed aboard the Sea Thunder as you venture into the tour’s two other sections. Enjoy the views and the wind in your hair as you glide by uninhabited barrier islands on your way to the open ocean. Here is your best dolphin sighting spot!

It all ends with a delightful cruise along the spectacular coastline. So keep your cameras ready.

Worried that the fickle nature of, well, nature will bring no dolphin sightings? Well, Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruises offers a free tour for all who return to shore empty-handed.

Voyager Dolphin Cruises

Photo Credit: Olha Solodenko

Presenting one of the longest dolphin tours in Myrtle Beach, Voyager Dolphin Cruises offers a great way to see more for less, all with a gorgeous (hopefully!) sunset added to it.

Departing the Marina at Dock Holidays in the moments before golden hour starts, you’ll join the shrimp boat fleet as they work their nets. If you’re lucky, your captain may haul in a net of their own, with the potential for all sorts of delicious seafood.

The 2.5-hour sunset cruise is a true marine adventure. From the Intracoastal Waterway, you’ll soon be out in the inlet area under the glistening South Carolina sky. Here, you’ll jump between searching for bottlenose dolphins and sightseeing among Myrtle Beach’s stunning natural habitat.

Food and beverages can be purchased from the onboard snack bar, perfect for toasting to a brilliant sunset.

Myrtle Beach Watersports

Photo Credit: StacieStauffSmith Photos

Myrtle Beach Watersports provides travelers with the most unique dolphin tour. How so? Well, with MBW you can trade in the big boat and fellow passengers for your own speedy speed boat.

Now if that’s not thrilling enough, this tour has limited idling, so you can explore, chase the stoke, and spot some dolphins. Naturally, these tours are at worst, semi-private experiences, as they do only small group trips.

Alongside your experienced guide, you’ll embark on a 30 to 40-mile tour. In calm conditions, this includes the Intracoastal, barrier islands, and, yes, the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, you’ll see why jet skis are more than just for the adrenalin as you’ll get even closer to wildlife than you may with other tours.

If this sounds like your kind of fun, we recommend booking in the calmer morning hours.

Lowcountry Fishing Charters

The experienced and knowledgeable crew knows all the backwater creeks, hidden estuaries, and local secrets to ensure a unique perspective. Their two-hour evening private experience is great for families and couples alike.

From embarking to docking, they’ll unveil the dynamic local ecosystem in a spectacular way as you venture from Calabash to Ocean Isle Beach.

Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tours

Photo Credit: agsaz

Blue Wave Adventures sure knows how to put the adventure in their dolphin watch cruise. Great for all ages three and up, Blue Wave Adventures offers four different kinds of tours that depart from the nearby Murrells Inlet.

It all starts with the Tursi-OPS dolphin cruise. This is their bang-for-buck option aboard a boat that can hold up to 40 guests. Don’t worry, folks; each seat has an incredible 360-degree view of the action.

The Tursi-OPS isn’t just physically big. The tour that covers the most ground will plenty of opportunity to spot bottlenose dolphins and other wildlife such as sea turtles, lingering osprey, and stingrays.

The other main tour is their upscale Osprey Premium Tour. The highlight? Being able to sit on the sponsons at sea level for a more interactive experience. Both tours are available as private experiences.

Sea Racer

If the jet skis left you seeking even more thrill and hair-raising experiences then check out Sea Racer. As the name suggests, this epic speed boat is the fastest of our favorite Myrtle Beach Dolphin Tours, but in all the right ways.

With a large, 360-degree viewing area there isn’t a bad seat in the house aboard the Sea Racer. Once you’ve departed, the engines will soon kick in, and you’ll pick up a head of steam as you scream through the Myrtle Beach area in search of dolphins.

The boat ride causes a wake, which often becomes a playground for dolphins and the scene of a memorable dolphin sighting experience. Regardless of whether you spot dolphins, the fun thrills and spills of the Sea Racer tour are bound to create an unforgettable time.

Private Sea Racer tours are available.

Best Time of Year to See Dolphins in Myrtle Beach

The best time to see dolphins in Myrtle Beach is in the warmer months. Better weather conditions and calmer seas provide a more comfortable experience for guests. Late spring to early fall presents beautiful balmy mornings (the best time for dolphin boat tours) and the warmer waters attract more dolphins.

Ultimately, the Myrtle Beach coastline is frequented by dolphins all year long. So there’s always a possibility of seeing dolphins. This is especially true in October and November as migrating dolphins arrive in large numbers. From the shore, they’re best spotted during the morning and evenings.

What to Know Before You Go

Who are these tours ideal for?

Dolphin tours are a wonderful activity for families visiting Myrtle Beach. The above tours come in a range of sizes and styles, so theirs bound to be one to suit. This is particularly true if you prefer a more educational or thrilling experience.

Some tours can facilitate children under the age of three. However, generally, these tours are more appropriate for those 3 and up.

What other kind of wildlife can you see?

Photo Credit: Muhammad IQbal

Not only can you spot dolphins but the waters surrounding Myrtle Beach are teeming with exciting wildlife. These include loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles, a rich variety of fish species, stingrays, jellyfish, and birds (especially in the shoulder seasons).

Are there private charters?

Private dolphin tours are common in Myrtle Beach. Some examples include Lowcountry Fishing Charters, Blue Wave Adventures, and the Sea Racers.

Stay in Myrtle Beach with Together Resorts

Seeing dolphins up close is always a memorable experience. Their playfulness and jaw-dropping beauty as they ascend above the water is a sight to behold. When you add in the backdrop of Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, and the Atlantic then you have a trip highlight at your disposal.

After coming down from the high of dolphin spotting, check out some of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach. All before settling in for another cozy night at your Together Resorts vacation rental.

Skip to content