Frequently Asked Questions

Please note, weather in Charleston is constantly in flux. What the weather app says three days out is usually always different from what weather we get. If we do get rain it does one of two things; it rains for 15 to 30 minutes and then its gone or it sits on top of us all day. We will make weather calls one hour before the tour. If we do have to cancel for rain we will first try to reschedule you. If this is not an option then we will offer a full refund.

Flipper Finders is a seasonal business that operates March – October. We do have some tours in the winter by appointment only. Office hours are 9:00am to 6:30pm. If it’s raining we might shut the shop down.

Offseason – We could be available by appointment only.  Tours and Sharks Teeth Hunting on Morris Island.  The only way to get in touch with us is to email us at flipperfinders @gmail.com

All offseason tours are subject to weather.  Meaning if it’s freezing cold or super windy we probably won’t go.

Charleston: The Dolphin Queen runs out of Sea Breeze Marina downtown, in the Charleston Harbor. 50 Immigration St 29403
Folly Beach: Come to our office near the boat landing. 83 Center St 29439

Yes and no: We love Dogs! Service animals are allowed. Dog’s on a private tour are allowed. Please let us know. We do not allow dogs on public tours.

Please note: Sometimes Captain Richard brings Mr. Chubbs on the boat. He is friendly and trained to behave…most of the time.

Yes, however if we have space, walk ups are welcome.

You can book online or email us first with questions. These tours are very popular and tend to fill up fast.  If you would like to go on a different day and do not see an available option please message us at flipperfinders@gmail.com

All tours are BYOB, snacks are allowed, please bring enough to share with the Captain.

Public tours: We have a 48 hour cancelation period for a full refund.  If we do not have enough people to run the tour then we will try to reschedule you.  If this is not an option we will refund you in full.

Private tours have a 2 week cancelation for a full refund.  This includes Bachelorette parties.

Charleston is home to over 100 permanent resident Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins. When it comes to location, your best bet is to head out on a boat tour, as the dolphins tend to congregate in deeper waters. If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, the best time to do so is during the warmer months, between May and September. Sightings are most common in the early morning and late afternoon, so plan your excursion accordingly. Flipper Finders offers guided tours, giving you the chance to witness these magnificent mammals up close and personal with a naturalist eco tour guide or captain. With a little patience and a bit of luck, dolphin spotting in Charleston can be a truly unforgettable experience.

Here in Charleston during the summer months of July – September, you can witness the unique phenomenon of the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin called strand feeding. This is when a group of dolphins work together to catch fish by pushing them up onto the shore of a beach or mudflat. It is an incredible display of intelligence and teamwork among these majestic creatures. While dolphin’s strand feeding can be seen in other parts of the world, it is particularly special in Charleston due to its proximity to the shoreline and the frequency of the sightings. For anyone interested in marine life or just looking to witness something truly amazing, visiting Charleston for the dolphin strand feeding is a must-see experience.

We do not have kayak tours to Morris Island.  It’s a 10 mile paddle each way.  We also do not allow renters to go there from the boat landing.  If you are dying to go to Morris Island please sign up for one of our boat tours.

The minimum number of people to run a tour on the Sea & The Rose is 6 and the minimum number to run a tour on the Dolphin Queen is 8.  If we do not reach the minimum number then we will have to rebook you to a different time/ day with more people.  If we are unable to do so we will have to cancel your tour and give you a full refund.  Usually, once one person books then the tour will start to fill up.  It’s our goal to make sure that we get all of our clients on the water.  If we can’t get you on one of the big boats, we also have the option of putting your group on the smaller boat, if available, but that boat has a flat rate fee of $350.  If that is not an option we can reach out to other tour companies in the area and make sure you get to have your experience on the water.

The Dolphins…Super excited about this years team!

Yes! One of the best parts about our tours is that OBX captures the lifestyle of living on the water.  Not only will we pass several filming locations, you will also get to experience what it’s like to be a pogue or for some of you, a kook.  Specific sights.  John B’s house, the Morris Island Lighthouse, the boneyard beach, several other filming locations.

At Flipper Finders we appeal to all our guest inner child!  We love to have kids on onboard or on the water.  We especially like to challenge kids (and some parents) to build up their self esteem.  We also have been know to take phones away from kids for the duration of our tours. (Your welcome Mom & Dad)

Children under 13 years will be required to wear a life jacket.

Both!  We have been running tours out of our Folly Beach office since 2010!  We now offer a harbor tour departing from downtown at the Sea Breeze Marina on our flagship vessel, The Dolphin Queen.  While we are super loyal to Folly Beach it’s refreshing to be exploring the Harbor and all it’s history.

Dangermuffin!  This band is a Folly Beach gem.

The Song is “The Sea & The Rose”  Notice our pontoon boat is named after the song.  Where can I find more of there music?  Spotify, Apple Music.  Why Dangermuffin?  Captain Richard, used to manage the band.  He started Flipper Finders as a way to earn extra cash so he could do what he loved.

Visit their website and be a fan!  Dangermuffin

We offer two options for bachelorette parties.  The first is downtown in the Charleston Harbor aboard our 20 passenger flagship boat, The Dolphin Queen.  The second is on Folly Beach with our 18 passenger Party Boat, The Sea & The Rose aka “Rosie”

Both tours are exceptionally magical.

As each tour group can be unique the best way to make this booking is to first reach out to us with information and questions.  Planning a Bachelorette Party can be tough so we try and make this party as simple as possible so you can focus on having fun celebrating your bride to be.

Click this link and scroll to find the contact page. https://flipperfinders.com/bachelor-bachelorette-party/

Please fill it out as best you can and someone will respond.  We do a lot of traveling in the off season so it might take a day or two.

Things you need to know:  All bachelorette parties on Friday & Saturday are 3 hours.  We can do other days that don’t have the 3 hour minimum.  FYI, That last hour is the best.  We provide a boat, a Captain, a mate (only on Dolphin Queen), a giant Lily pad, floats, such as noodles.  Both boats have coolers which we fill with ice, thumping bluetooth stereo’s and our staff is pretty good looking (so we think).  BYOB, no glass bottles except Champagne.  Always plan to bring more booze than you think you will need.  On the tour we will slow cruise, fast cruise, find a beach or a swimming hole, explore some islands, search for dolphins, encourage dance parties, possibility to customize your tour to how you like it, within reason.  Get wild or just chill, or both.

The popular times book up quickly.  On our booking flow, if you see a full line under the activity that means that it is already booked.

Bachelorette Party