Please arrive 15 minutes early, as our trips leave right on time. Our trips run rain or shine but in case of severe weather we will contact you as soon as possible so you can join us at another date/time. The vessel is not equipped with a bathroom so we recommend using the one at the meeting marina before boarding the boat.
Boat tours depart from Slip D 2 Edisto Marina, 3702 Dock/Site Rd, Edisto Beach.
Beachcombing Walking Tours meet at the beach access listed in your confirmation on Edisto Beach.
Sea Island Cooking Lessons are in your home kitchen.
The Dolphin Ecotour is scheduled with the tides so we have the best chance of seeing dolphins. Though we often see dolphins on a Sunset Cruise, we are more focused on a relaxing end to the day rather than finding dolphins.
Yes, all of our tours can be booked as private tours.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and cruises often sell out quickly. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please book well in advance. Tickets can only be purchased with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
Yes, an electronic waiver is sent after booking and can be shared with the adult participants in your group.
We generally do not recommend bringing children under the age of 4, but leave it to the discretion of the parent to know what is appropriate for their child. Please keep in mind that tours are a minimum of 75 minutes long and it is hard for most young people to sit for a long period.
Since the US Coast Guard counts all people the same, regardless of age or size, all children are required to have a ticket for public tours. Private tours have a minimum price for 4 people and then only adults need to buy a ticket if you have more than 4 people in your party. With more than 4 people, children ride for free, up to a maximum of 12 passengers total.
Tours runs rain or shine regardless of weather conditions. But don’t worry! Some of our best tours take place in less-than-perfect weather. If you forget your rain jacket, there are ponchos available for sale at the marina store. Umbrellas are not recommended since they won’t stand up to the wind.
Coastal weather moves quickly and most forecasts call for rain daily. We will contact you if we need to adjust a tour.
The exact itinerary varies from tour to tour, but we generally explore the tidal creeks and St. Helena Sound near Edisto Beach.
The salt marsh is full of “hidden biodiversity” and we could see dolphin, fiddler crabs, oyster beds, egrets, herons, osprey, eagles and more!
As an ecotour, we let the dolphins come to us and we follow regulations about how to safely observe marine mammals. We will be close enough to hear them breathe!
Dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, therefore we do not touch, chase, pursue, harass or feed wild dolphins as it is harmful to the well-being and against the law.
Dolphins are wild animals, so there are no guarantees that we will see any. However, our guides have lots of experience and knowledge about the tides and the places they like to feed, so it’s rare that we don’t see any.
Food and drinks are not included with your trip and not recommended (with the exception of sunset cruises and private tours) since we will be traveling in an open boat. Food and drinks are available at the marina restaurant before or after most tours.
Usually we don’t get wet. However, if it rains or if it is a windy day you may get an occasional spray from the water.
Dress seasonally according to the weather. You’ll want to wear comfortable soft-soled shoes or sandals. Note that the sun is much stronger on the water so we always recommend sunglasses and sunscreen. In the spring or fall, be sure to bring an extra layer such as a wind breaker, sweatshirt, jacket or fleece. For the Botany Bay Water Taxi and Island Safari your feet will get wet getting on and off of the boat.
While there is no bathroom on board the boat there is one available at the meeting location. We do not have any scheduled bathroom stops along the tour, but if you need to stop, please let us know and we will try to accommodate you.
The boat is partially covered providing some shade.
We operate a 24 foot Carolina skiff for most tours that is USCG Certified for 12 passengers. The boat is very flat bottomed and very stable. We may rock a little bit but have never had any sea sickness on board. Comfortable bench seating is also provided. The boat has a sturdy railing that allows even more safety and stability for our passengers.
Our guests usually find the tour boat to be a very steady vessel. While we have never had anyone get sick on our boat, we advise you to consult with your doctor about taking preventative measures beforehand if you are prone to motion sickness.
There is a 2 foot step down into the boat that people must be able to make. While the boat cannot accommodate wheelchairs, if you are able to be lifted onto the boat by someone in your party and sit in a seat on board then you should be able to attend the trip. Please let us know if you need help accessing the boat.
Yes, life jackets for all passengers are on board. We are a US Coast Guard inspected vessel with appropriate safety gear and training.
Free parking is available at Bay Creek Park and across the street from the marina.
Not at this time.
Yes, gift certificates are available and they make a great gift for holidays, birthdays or any other occasion! Click on the tour you want to buy a gift certificate for and look for the gift certificate option.
Yes, you can! When you purchase your gift certificate online, you will be presented immediately with your gift certificate so that you can print it out and deliver it. If you buy it over the phone, a link to your gift certificate will be emailed to you as soon as your purchase is completed.
Yes, with a leash and IF you can keep your dog from licking/sniffing/interacting with other passengers on public tours. Not everyone is dog friendly and some people are scared of dogs, so your dog needs to stick close to you. If you have more than 1 large dog there will not be space on a full tour for you and your dogs so a private tour is best. No barkers, please.
