Experience dolphins up close as many call the coast of North Myrtle Beach home. These impressive mammals grow up to 12 feet long and weigh nearly 1,000 pounds, making them a common and majestic sight. Discover the best times and spots to find these friendly creatures and dive into an immersive dolphin-watching adventure.
Where & When to Spot Dolphins
Visit in late autumn to boost your chances of seeing dolphins. While the holidays are already fun around here, communing with dolphins adds even more jolly to the festive season. In addition to the year-round dolphins, many pods migrate along the coast in November and December, making this the best time of year to see dolphins in South Carolina.
Any other time of year, chances are pretty good too. Bottlenose dolphins live along the coast and offshore. If you look closely, you may see some swimming off our beaches. The Cherry Grove Pier is one of their favorite spots because oftentimes fishermen and women throw back their catch, guaranteeing dinner for the dolphins, and making it a great time to see these creatures in action.
While they’re always swimming around, the best time of day to spot dolphins is in the morning or evening during feeding time.
Book a Dolphin Tour
Increase your chances of spotting these friends by going on a dolphin tour helmed by a captain who has cruised the coast and our inland waterways for years. They know where dolphins like to hang out and can take you right into the heart of the action.
Tours are typically between one to three hours. Local outfitters include Voyager Deep Sea Fishing & Dolphin Cruises, Calabash Fishing Fleet, and the Sea Screamer Dolphin Tour, among others. These tours take you close to the dolphin's natural habitat without disturbing them. Swimming with dolphins isn’t allowed to help the local ecosystem flourish.
When you visit North Myrtle Beach, you can encounter dolphins or pods from the beach, a pier, or a boat. Even if you’re not on a dolphin tour, stay alert, you never know when these playful creatures might surprise you.