This was my first time riding on the Sanibel Thriller, after having watched several YouTube videos. Overall, it was a great experience. We had good weather, and we were fortunate to have come upon several pods of dolphins along the way. I sat on the left-hand side of the boat near the front, and I did get unexpectedly soaked for the first 10 minutes or so, which subsided after that. One thing I'll mention for the benefit of other first-timers: I was under the false assumption that this boat would be going so fast that we would break the space-time continuum, based on the videos I've seen. However, when you're actually on the boat, it's not really going all that fast. You'll still want to remove or secure your hat, but you needn't worry about entering a wormhole or returning before you started. read more

Sanibel Thriller - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

I went for a ride on the Sanibel Thriller with some family on a recent visit to the island. The skies were blue, the water calm, and the sun was shining... a perfect day for boating. The Thriller offers a little something for everyone. Interested in a bit of history about Sanibel? This has it. Looking for a reprieve from the heat on land? Feel the breeze in your hair as you zoom about in water. Love dolphins? You're likely to catch a pod or two swimming along with the boat. Excited most about the possibility of dolphins, my group and I opted to arrive to the dock approximately 1 hour ahead of time to ensure a seat towards the back of the boat. The very last row has the best views but also requires you get up and down out of your seats from time to time to balance out the boat to get up to speed. Though the back has the best views, you're also likely to get wet with spray and won't be able to hear the guide as easily. If you are more interested in the history and views of the island, sit towards the front and find out which way they'll circle the island. We were gifted with several pods of dolphins that stuck with the boat for great periods of time. I had plenty of time to capture some nice shots. We sped by the Hobie World Championships and caught views of some expensive homes on Captiva as we made our way around the island. The ride lasted approximately 2 hours. With its catamaran hull, the ride was smooth and enjoyable. Comfortable seating! Bring sunscreen, a hat you can secure tightly to your head, and some water. read more

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Sanibel is def one of my all time fav places to vacation. I don't usually like to go the same place twice but i never get bored here. Theres always something to interest me .. never bored here. I am so surprised this was the first time we took this tour .. but I made my husband promise we will do it every time we travel here. The boat ride alone was well worth the price ... so fun. played rock ... went fast made a nice breeze on that HOT day. So fun. I'm not a history person but the history and info they give as your touring was really interesting. They show you other island and give you a great tour of Sanibel Captiva ... and Dolphins!!!!!!! The staff were top notch .. made sure we all had a great time. We learned dolphins like sound and the next time we saw dolphins on our beach days later ...we clapped and whistled .. no real effect. Then my husband whistled a tune. instant game changer ...the dolphins put on a show. flapping their tails and kept jumping up ... soooo neat. If it wasn't so hot out i hear it can be cold out on the boat .. need some layers but it was 100 so cold wasn't a problem. they dont try to get you wet but you might be slightly wet in the back but thats best place to see and photography scenery and dolphins. i used video so didn't miss anything. can save pics from video. To get the seat you want you need to come 60-90 minutes early. You are seated by first come first serve. right now we are having the Covid virus craziness so the boat is at 1/2 capacity which is ideal time to take the ride. otherwise they are packed in so tight it's hard to turn around to see. One good thing about this virus ... lol. This tour is a must do. And check out Grandma Dots ... lobster roll and fried oysters are awesome ..... oh Do no miss the keylime pie!!!! read more

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Came in recommendations from a Sanibel fb group I am on. We've never seen dolphins up close naturally in the wild and weren't sure which boat cruise was the best for seeing dolphins. We are so happy we chose Sanibel Thriller. We got the most awesome photos. The dolphins were putting on a show for us. They just loved the wake of our boat. This boat tour goes around Sanibel while a guide tells many historical facts about the Island. I'd say the boat is good for most people. We did not heel sea sick. Price of the boat was inexpensive for a boat trip on the island. We will definitely be back. read more

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Get there 45 minutes early to get toward the back and ask which direction they will be heading. The dolphin jumping was the highlight and we had about 6 of them jumping around. The sanibel and captivating narrative was decent and provided some good information. During the 1.5 hour trip the engine noise might get to you. A fun time but once you do it I cannot see returning. read more

SO much fun! We saw at least 50 dolphin. My 4 year olds loved the dolphins, but weren't a huge fan of the boat. We sat in 2nd to last row and got SOAKED Would definitely do again with a change of clothes and some goggles read more

Sanibel Thriller - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Highly recommended! Saw a couple dolphin just after leaving the dock. Our Captain found many pods of dolphin for us to see and snap pics. So awesome to see babies in the pods. The dolphins were jumping and rolling at the back and sides of the boat. What a great ride. Also they talked about the area, so we learned a lot of history today too! read more

Awesome! We saw tons of dolphins while onboard Sanibel Thriller. What a delight ... the dolphins seem to enjoy following the boat, taking a "free ride" and playing in the wake - jumping and diving and smiling. The captain and the guide were great. I loved all the current and historical information that was shared as we circumnavigated Sanibel & Captiva. And of course, the dolphins were amazing. The earlier you get there, the better your seat will be. People arrive early and line up in chairs under umbrellas. The best seats are in the back row. I think about 40-45 people per boat. I have to say that the name "Sanibel Thriller" makes it sound a little bit like a tourist trap, but thank you yelpers for leading me here. It was wonderful! read more

Sanibel Thriller - Awesome dolphins! - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Went out on a rough day and was told it would be ok...NOT. Boat was full, and people were terrified. They went too fast and everyone was drenched. Saw dolphins. Can't believe we paid for this. Might be better on a calm day and if they cut the unnecessary real estate tour. read more

If you are looking for a fun and thrilling dolphin tour I would choose this. We saw dolphins within minutes of getting out in the open water. The best place to view is the back row of the boat. It is hard to hear the narrator from there but for me it was more about the dolphins, even though what I could hear was informative. I would get there the hour before they tell you when calling for reservations. We are already talking about doing it again next year when we come. read more

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If you want to be on a boat, learn about the island and see the island from the water, this is your trip! The tour has a narrator who shares stories and island facts. The captains found three sets of dolphins for us that followed the wake and jumped for us. If you have time do this! read more

Other than a handful of extreme homes, there really isn't much to see by speeding around Sanibel and Captiva. BUT wait! There are dolphins! Lots and lots of lovely dolphins who pop up and chase after the boat. They do leaps and jumps and delight the passengers. They made the trip. read more

Get there early and bring water. The ride was fun! We got to see the islands from the water. Saw lots of dolphins! Amazing!!! read more

Sanibel Thriller - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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4 stars for a fairly fun boating experience. If you are going to visit Sanibel, boats are going to be a big part of your trip. While I'd always recommend getting your own boat, taking a trip on the Sanibel Thriller isn't a bad way to spend your afternoon. A group of us decided to take a ride on the Sanibel Thriller one afternoon. Located over in the Sanibel Marina, the way it works is you arrive about 30 or so minutes before heading out (be sure to park in the correct parking lot). You grab a seat, chat for a little bit, and then get on this fairly large boat with 2 large motors. Once you are on the boat, the captain and his mate go over some basics, throw on the radio (Thriller of course to start the ride), and head out. While they like to brag about how fast this boat goes, the boat doesn't actually feel like it is going very fast (especially if you are used to speedboats). They move along pretty well (I did almost lose my hat), but the speeds are kept fairly family-friendly. Once you get out into the Gulf, the mate will tell you some stories about various points on Sanibel and Captiva (the North Captiva stories are some of the best ones), but you will spend most of your times chasing dolphins. What happens is the captain finds some dolphins, drives around a little bit, and then takes off. The dolphins will then follow along and jump out of the water to show off! While it eventually felt repetitive, seeing dolphins jump within 5 to 10 feet of you is pretty cool. Overall, the Sanibel Thriller is a fun Sanibel experience that everyone should check out once. While it is a bit overhyped, the stories and jumping dolphins make for a unique and fun afternoon riding around the islands. read more

When we booked the tickets for the Sanibel Thriller, I admit to being skeptical that it would be able to live up to the billing it received here on Trip Advisor and elsewhere. Surely, we would be lucky to see one or two dolphins, perhaps at some distance. That skepticism dissolved almost immediately after leaving the marina, when we came quickly upon five or six dolphins ready to play in the wake of the Sanibel Thriller. All I can say is that this initial encounter was the first or four different encounters with dolphins over the two hour ride that took us the entire distance around Sanibel Island and Captiva. With the expert eyes and savvy steering of the boat's pilot, we were able to see very many dolphins playing in the wake of the catamaran. To see so many dolphins so close up was a special experience. My two daughters loved it. The trip around the island was also quite interesting and informative. Not only did we have the opportunity to see a larger proportion of the island from the perspective of the gulf, our tour guide was engaging and full of interesting facts about the Sanibel Island and its surroundings. If you do nothing else in Sanibel but take the Thriller, you're ill have had a successful visit. read more

Absolutely amazing experience. A little bit of history and some up close dolphins! This was everything we hope for. Everyone was very friendly! read more

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Awesome boat tour and a way to get out on the water around Sanibel. Most of the tour is looking at the beautiful homes and resorts, which as a group of adults we enjoyed. We saw two groups of dolphins, which considering how small the boat is, came fairly close to us! Pro tips: -bring a bottle of water and skip the snacks (you're going to fast to want to eat) -get there an hour ahead of the tour for the best spot in line. boarding the boat happens in the order in which you line up to wait to board. -ask if you are going clockwise or counter clockwise around the islands and determine side of the boat accordingly - clockwise (sit on the right) / counter clockwise (sit on the left side) -if you want the best views of the dolphins and you are ok with possibly getting wet then sit in the last row or towards the back of the boat -make a trip to gramma dots before or after for great food! read more

We highly recommend this if you are visiting Fort Myers or Sanibel Island area. This was a great way to spend an hour and half on the water while learning about the area while being entertained by the dolphins. On our particular trip, the weather was mostly sunny and we encountered what appeared to be at least a half dozen or so dolphins playfully jumping behind the boat. We were able to get some really good photos and videos of them. The ride itself was mostly smooth and a few of us were sprayed with salt water a few times but nothing too bad. Our Captain did a great job throughout and the knowledgeable and pretty tour guide had us laughing throughout. We were all completely satisfied with the entire experience. Highly recommend! read more

Wow wow wow this boat ride was amazing worth every penny. The narrator the young man that talked on the boat what a darling sweetheart the captain was amazing we saw so many dolphins it was smooth this is something you definitely need to do it was my first boat ride and I absolutely loved it read more

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So disappointed with this company. We drove an hour and a half away for a cruise that we paid for and when we got here they told us it was canceled because they didn't have enough people to fill it. Unacceptable! If we had known that they were trying to fill the boat we would not have wasted a vacation day. Don't waste your money. read more

Truly enjoyed this tour around Sanibel and Captiva! Did this in January when my son was visiting and again in February with my sister. We all were thrilled with how close we were to the dolphins as they playfully soared into the air next to the boat! Adam's narration was interesting and informative and we had no problem hearing him. The communication with office staff was outstanding at the time of my reservations. The weather caused choppy waters and the Captain cancelled the trip in January a couple of days in a row, but I was called and emailed regarding this in plenty of time to make alternate plans. read more

Learned more about Sanibel and Captiva real estate than I would have liked. We were promised by the agent that we would see "tons of dolphins jumping all around the boat" (we were looking for more of a dolphin experience) and saw 3 dolphins for a brief 5 minutes. Luckily we were seated in the back of the boat or we wouldn't have been able to see any dolphins at all. Not exactly "thrilling", should be advertised as a historic / real estate boat ride with the possibility of seeing dolphins. read more

If you get a chance take this tour. It goes all around Sanibel and Captiva with a great tour guide. Plus the dolphins come out and follow the boat which is spectacular! read more

Sanibel Thriller - These guys were a riot following the boat! - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Great Ride Nice boat, crew was great. Narration while we went past landmarks. Overall nice ride read more

My experience on the sanibel thriller was excellent. The boat goes over 40mph, which would be exciting standing alone, but that was not all the tour had to boast. While we were zooming by, the narrator was providing very cool information about the history of this beautiful island. Then we spotted Dolphins, at least five at first. They slow down the boat to 15mph, the same speed that Dolphins swim at, and the Dolphins drift off of the wake. While they drift along they jump out of the water to get oxygen, which gives amazing opportunities to get pictures of the Dolphins up code and personal. The tour was amazing, and the dolphin watching was as well. The narrator was excellent, she knew a ton about the island, for the price, it is probably the best boat trip offered on the island. read more

Sanibel Thriller - Two Dolphins following the sanibel thriller - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

September 25,2020 was a day to remember for me and several family members. We took a ride on the Sanibel Thriller and we had the best time as it was the highlight of our vacation. The crew was was extremely knowledgeable of the area and the history of the island. They truly care for the environment and are very careful when dolphins are in the area. We saw pods of dolphins that included many calves, which added to the excitement. The Thriller should be at the top of your list when visiting Sanibel Island. read more

Yet another great time aboard the Sanibel Thriller. Captain Jack and AJ delivered great history and information about the area and lots of dolphins too! read more

This is a must do on Sanibel! It is worth every penny! We saw numerous dolphins! Get there early so you can sit in back; it is worth it!!!! Best thing we did the entire time we were there! The staff was so kind and knowledgeable! read more

Sanibel Thriller - Dolphins all day! - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Visiting Sanibel Island: this is a must do! This 90 minute boat tour around Sanibel and Captiva island is absolutely worth the money. Many dolphins to see. Pictures taken on 5/24/2015. read more

Sanibel Thriller - dolphins along the way - Boating Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Hardly thrilling, we did see dolphins which was nice but didn't really drive fast, didn't get wet at all, more of a information boat ride then anything "thrilling" should change there name, really! read more

I have done this several times!! Each time with different love ones.It never disappoints!! Looking forward doing it again!!

As advertised and then some. I agree with the other Yelper reviews. My sister took me on this boat for my birthday and it did not disappoint. Sure, the weather was superb and that helps in this open boat. Sit in the middle if you wish to avoid spray. The captain sighted four pods of dolphins and we were treated to some terrific acrobatic swimming by them. They should be on the payrolll. The narrator was good and between him and my sister (who has been coming to Sanibel for 40 years) I learned a lot of its history. One tip: wear a tight hat! read more

The whole family loved the ride. We must have seen over 30 dolphins following us and playing behind the boat. Great narration along the way as well about the history of Sanibel and Captiva! read more

We were booked on a cruise and our flight was changed so we were no longer able to go. I called 5 days before our cruise was scheduled and explained. I did not want my money back. All I wanted was the chance to move it to another day. I was told that they could not accommodate us because they were completely booked. My friend called the next day and asked if there was availability and she was told, "Sure! How is Saturday at 10:30?" She then explained our story and asked why were lied to. The owner came on the phone and was very rude. Clearly because she was caught in a lie. She explained their policy which we did agree to. What bothers me is that they lied and said they had no availability! Why not be honest and say sorry, our policy is no changes, exchanges within one week? NOT good business! Not trustworthy! We will be back to Sanibel in October and February but I will not be booking the thriller, ever. It looks like fun but I will not support a business like this. We went on Treasure Seekers instead, saw a lot of dolphins and Captain Ben and First Mate Matt were informative about the island and super nice, even coming around to take pictures of us. read more

Ride was fast but very smooth, the young lady doing the narration was very informative and easy to listen to, and the dolphins were simply amazing; got some great pictures and video to charish forever! read more

This was a awesome adventure. Its a exciting narrated ride on a 55' motor yacht around Sanibel/Captiva with DOLPHINS lots of them. The Captain is great at finding the dolphin and getting the boat in a position to get them to play. It seems as you could just reach out and touch them cause they are so close. Those dolphin just love riding and jumping the wake. The crew is super nice and friendly and have such a passion and love for the island and dolphin. I think it was about one had half hours ride. My suggestion is to get there AT LEAST 20 min before they actually tell you to get there. There is a nice shaded seated area for your wait. You want to sit in the back row OR the 2nd row to the back. They say you can get a little wet in the back but I have been on this twice and have not gotten wet. There is a weight limit for this boat so they will ask you if your over 300lbs. This is for safety and regulations set by the coast guard so don't take it personally like some did on our trip. This was worth every penny!! read more

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If you sit in the back or front sides, you will get a bit wet from the water splashing when going at high speeds but there are rain jackets provided for those who want them. The water and scenery was beautiful but the best part, of course, was seeing all the dolphins swimming behind us and putting on shows for us by jumping into the air the two times they were spotted. :) read more

It was fun... more of a story boat ride then a thriller. Would be more fun if it wasn't interrupted by talking every 5 mins. Also, there wasn't any 360 spins.... Kinda just a cruise... read more

We had a blast, the sunset cruise was just great, with lots of Dolphins and other wildlife. Narration by Anthony was captivating and funny. JR was vert experienced as captain, a must do. read more

Fun for kids. Interesting narration. Dolphins were amazing.