We had the best ride with Captain Mark at the end of the August. It was a perfect summer afternoon, and he was able to start a bit earlier since we arrived ahead of time. We saw TONS of dolphins and jellyfish, and he took us to shell island! Mark was super knowledgeable about the island and the nature around us. Highly recommend doing a tour with Commander Zodiac - it feels like such a personalized experience with people who know their stuff and care about the environment. read more

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This was my first time in Hilton Head and I knew getting on a boat would be the best way to see the island, I'm SO glad I did! Mark, our captain, was absolutely phenomenal. He knew so much about marine life and nature in general. I was blown away. He was so friendly too! Such a great trip, I highly recommend Commander Zodiac! read more

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Awesome experience with the best two captains in the Low Country! We saw so many dolphins, birds, and other marine life. They even took us in channels that the larger boats cannot access to get a real feeling of the low country. Would definitely recommend using this company if you are looking for a personalized and affordable experience. read more

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I can't wait until we're back on the island to book with the Commander Zodiac team again! Janna was awesome about communicating the changes with the weather and helped us rebook our tour so we wouldn't miss out on seeing dolphins. We also had the best captain on the island, Captain Todd! I cannot say enough about this wonderful gem of a man. We had booked a private tour since it was originally supposed to be the entire family, but because of changes not everyone was in town yet. It ended up just being four of us on the small boat and it was worth it. Captain Todd was so knowledgable about the island, the dolphins and the tides. Our 4.5 yo is very curious and Captain Todd answered every questions like a pro! After she told him that she loved seashells he made a special excursion to shell island (I never even knew all those banks were shells and not sand!) and found her the most amazing shells to take home. We saw so many dolphins! The dolphin tour was equal parts exhilarating and relaxing and we were so happy it worked out even with the impending storm. Both my 4.5yo and 9mo loved the tour and neither were afraid at any point even though it was there first time on a speed boat. We will definitely be back! read more

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My family and I (husband and kids ages 7,7,3 and 11 months) went on the Dolphin and Disappearing Island Cruise with Captain Scott. After hearing such great reviews on FB groups, I booked Commander Zodiac right away! Captain Scott was very knowledgeable about the island, dolphins and marine life. We got to see dolphins during the tour and jellyfish, crabs, hermit crabs, starfish and sand dollars on the disappearing island. My entire family loved this tour! read more

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Amazing dolphin tour. We saw tons of dolphins and Graham also took us out to see the marsh. The smaller private boat was perfect and worth the extra money. My toddler absolutely loved it. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a dolphin / boating experience. read more

Commander Zodiac - Boating Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

I have used Commamder Zodiac many times, and my latest experience was as good as before. It's so pleasant to have a small group, an interesting, friendly, and capable captain, and to see the beauty of Hilton Head Island's waters. read more

Our captain Graham was great. Excellent outdoor activity, a lot of fun. We saw quite a few dolphins too. read more

Commander Zodiac - Boating Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Excellent tour with Graham. We saw a lot of dolphins (up close and personal) and we also saw a few Manta Ray's. I highly recommend the tour. read more

Commander Zodiac - Boating Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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This is our 2nd time booking with Commander Zodiac! Highly recommend this private charter. Graham took us to the Disappearing Daufuskie Sandbar. This 2.5 hour tour is a must see in Hilton Head. He took us on an great tour of the area AND saw dolphins on the way. We had 45 mins on the sandbar which was perfect. Found seashells and tons of sand dollars. We definitely book again next time we are in Hilton Head. read more

Commander Zodiac - Boating Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Went on a dolphin cruise the day before thanksgiving and it was fabulous. The captain was born and raised nearby and was so knowledgeable and friendly. The islands surrounding Hilton Head are so beautiful. I've visited this island for many years and can say that Zodiac has given the best tours hands down. read more

This was a wonderful excursion! Everyone we dealt with was so very friendly and the trip was wonderful. We saw lots of dolphins and spent time on the disappearing sand bar. There was lots to see there too. This is a good trip for families and seniors. Easy on and off the zodiac at the sandbar and the dock. It is not a big vessel so you don't feel like you are on a cattle boat. Our captain was very informative and had a good sense of humor. All in all it was a wonderful time! read more

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I cannot recommend Commander Zodiac enough! We signed our 10 year old up for beginner's sailing lessons (he was adamantly opposed to trying it, but once he did it he said he'd do it again), and we signed the whole family up for the dolphin watching cruise, which was a blast (much of the good time was due to Graham, our boat captain, who was knowledgeable, personable and conscientious. Kudos also to the lady who sighed us up - I noticed in a previous review she (or perhaps another employee) got a bad rap, but as far as we're concerned, she was fabulous. P.S. we saw a buttload of dolphins (in nautical terms, buttload equals roughly 100 or so). read more

We love the Commander Zodiac dolphin cruises. A very unique up close and personal adventure. They are no longer running out of South Beach. They are on Simmons Rd at Broad Creek. Fish camp and Up The Creek provide a very festive atmosphere for grabbing a beverage and bite before or after your adventure. read more

Booked the one hour dolphin tour to end our first ever HHI vacation in the middle of October, and it was excellent! Todd was terrific. We lucked out with beautiful weather but the tidal shifts made keeping the boat on/near the dolphins a challenge for him, but he did a wonderful job. Made two stops and saw dolphins at both places. Todd gave us some history of the island and one of the lighthouses on Daufuskie island and he made the whole hour trip the highlight of our week. Next time will definitely book the two hour trip. The boats are comfortable and fairly smooth through the water even when it was choppy. I would say unless you have severe back problems or get motion sick extremely easy (my wife and daughter get car sick often but had no trouble with this) the tour should be no problem at all. The trip goes out into the harbor only which is typically farily calm, except in our case because of the tides - but even that wasn't bad. Todd knew exactly where the dolphins feed and typically hang out and we were on a small pod very quickly into the trip. He was very knowledgeable about them as well as the ecosystem around the island. So not only was it a fun trip but educational as well. Highly recommended! read more

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After reading all the great reviews here (plus a solid tip from a local vendor who is friends with one of the captains) we KNEW this a must see item. You have your choice of three trips:. 60 minutes, 90 minutes, or 2 hours. We opted for the two trip. We left South Beach Marina at approximately 4:15 in the afternoon with Captain SCOTT. Captain Scott did an outstanding job of not only getting us to the right spots, but he was extremely informative on anything and everything pertinent to our trip and Hilton Head in general. You could not ask for a better guide. Captain Scott took the 5 of us (the max is 6) first to a sand bar to search for shells and sand dollars and such. He drops you off and gives you about 45 minutes to wander about. I'm guessing between my wife and the other 3 ladies on the boat they collected at least 50-60 sand dollars. (If that's what you're in to.) Next we cruise out to see the dolphins. There was an abundance of these dolphins swimming in pods. Captain Scott did an awesome job discussing all types of interesting tidbits about the dolphins. Very interesting. We even saw a very, very large leatherback turtle. Supposedly this very rare sighting. But you see plenty of dolphins! Lastly we cruised to a little inlet/river area where the eco system is vastly different than the ocean. You are more likely to see more birds here and maybe dolphins. We did not see any dolphins here. Oh well. It was a great trip. Captain Scott was a super guide. read more

We spent a gorgeous morning on a dolphin tour for my mom's birthday! Not only did we see 20+ dolphins, but our captain Graham was also super kind and really knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour and company-good people! read more

Amazing experience!!! Captain Todd was knowledgeable and fun! We would highly recommend Commander Zodiac!!!

2nd time going out with this company- first time in 2019 and just went out on Sunday for a different tour. Both times the staff was perfect. Our trip Sunday July 11th was fast and fun- just what we wanted! Saw otter- tons of dolphins- our captain was nice and went above and beyond showing us a pod of dolphins in the creek area on the way back. Cannot wait to be in Hilton head again and book another trip out on the water! New location was still easy to find and plenty of parking- 100% recommend. read more

Wonderful guide, beautiful sights. We had several dolphins swim along side our boat, and even had a baby say hello. We also saw a sea turtle and a sting ray!! Our guide was so fun and really knowledgeable about the local wildlife. I learned a lot, and really enjoyed the boat ride. def. worth it. read more

I called to make a reservation and spoke to Diane. She was the nastiest woman I have ever spoken to on the phone. After trying to ignore her attitude I finally had enough and hung up and called the place down the street! Much better experience! read more

A must do for HHI! Don't Waste your time on commercial dolphins cruises and hope to spot dolphins with a boat of other people, when you can experience a private ride with your own family with Commander Zodiak and see a lot of dolphins and sting rays! Captain Graham was fantastic. My 3 year old granddaughter loved the tour and speed of boat. I will keep returning to them. VERY reasonable price, good location, not that touristy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! read more

Great local business. Lots to offer and everyone from the woman we spoke to at the office to Todd our Captain was awesome. We took the 90 minute dolphin excursion that was amazing. We also got to see some of the marshes. Todd was awesome- my two 9 year old boys were super attentive to everything he talked about. He was very knowledgeable and absolutely great with the kids. read more

Commander Zodiac - Boating Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

This was a great activity for a group. Everyone in our group had different levels of tolerance for water sports, and our guide did a great job of offering something for everyone. We saw a few dolphins, including week-old calf, stopped at an island of oyster shells and grabbed some great pictures in front of the lighthouse. The fact that there's only six passengers per trip makes for a very personal experience and better dolphin watching. Definitely recommend! read more

We put our kids into their Water Fun Day camp (3 hours) and the kids really liked it. This was one of the only camps that covered 3-12 years old so we were able to send our 4 and 6 year old together. They had a great time and we are sending them a second time. We also did a separate Zodiac dolphin trip for 1 hour with Captain Jonathan and we had a great time. Jonathan was terrific and he did a great job. It was only our family of four and is definitely the way to go rather than a big boat. It's a great value and a lot of fun since you can zip around to different areas and customize the trip depending on where the dolphins are and what your family wants. Highly recommended. read more

Our trip was great! Matt was our guide, and he was excellent. He was so courteous to my 89 year dad. We saw lots of Dolphins, and enjoyed the stories and history of HH. This trip is perfect for all ages. Plan your ride so you come off the boat and grab a meal or beverage at the Salty Dog. Fun fun! read more

Not bad. There website says great for young and old. Not necessarily true. You basically get into a rubber raft with a motor. Hard to get in for older people especially with bad knees or hips. Also there are no seats. You pretty much just sit on the side of the raft. So if you're older that might not be so much fun. read more

Our captain was excellent--interesting and funny, not at all obnoxious, full of great trivia and stories and able to answer lots of questions. We saw a TON of dolphins and had a blast. I highly recommend this option--a raft down close to the water, only six people--rather than one of the larger boats where you're significantly farther away from the dolphins and on a cruise with a bunch of strangers. Our one-hour cruise was more personal and we got better views than the large boats we passed! read more