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 the weather we get. If we do get rain it does one of two things; it rains for 15 to 30 minutes and then it’s 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.

Our office on Folly Beach.  Same spot since 2010.

83 Center St Folly Beach, SC 29439

Look for the freshly painted Caribbean blue building with the large butterfly as you come across the Folly River bridge.  Second building on your right, next to the boat landing.

This is the departure spot for all tours.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT LOCATION.  IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT PLEASE CALL US! 843 588 0019

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.

1. If you have a dog you want to bring that is not a service animal please book a private on our small boat private tour.

Depends on the season.  Weekends tend to fill up fast in the spring and the fall, major holidays and all summer.  If you are flexible with your schedule and have several days or times, it may be possible to book a tour a week to a few days in advance.  If you have limited time, you should reserve your tour as soon as possible.

Bachelorette tours, especially the 1:00pm start time, tend to fill up quickly and way in advance.  We suggest booking early.  That being said, the most enjoyable party boat tours are in the evenings, especially in the summer.

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 [email protected]

Bachelors & Bachelorettes – Please click this link to read about all things bach related.

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

Swimming attire in the summer!

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 3 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 6.  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.

Our favorite NFL team? The Miami Dolphins, of course. We’re suckers for speed, big leaps, playful personalities, and the occasional unnecessary display of athleticism, which pretty much describes both regular dolphins and Tyreek Hill. Every August, we’re convinced this is finally the year they’ll win it all, and by October we’re emotionally preparing for next season. Tua is graceful when healthy, Achane is faster than anything should be, and we’re fairly certain real dolphins would approve of their pod. Also, Dan Marino indirectly named our business.

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.

We have been running tours out of our Folly Beach office since 2010!  While we tried to run a boat downtown for a bit we realized that Downtown wasn’t ready for our large personalities and Folly locals mindset.

Dangermuffin!  This band is a Folly Beach gem.

The Song is “Iris”  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.

Visit their website and be a fan!  Dangermuffin

We offer three options for bachelorette parties.

1. Rosie, our saltwater pontoon party boat!
2. Dolphin Queen, flagship, built from scratch, high end party boat.
3. La Sirena, newly acquired 6 passenger center console with a large bow area.

All 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 or Sun Chill, &  floats, such as noodles.  All boats have coolers which we fill with ice, thumping bluetooth stereo’s plus 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, float, play with mermaids, 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

Absolutely!  We are avid photographers!  If you get some good shots, tag us on Instagram @flipperfinders

Drones:  Sure, it’s up to you to be a responsible pilot.  Again, tag us in any video you make!

Maybe.  Dress prepared.  If it’s super windy sometimes splash can fly back and get you.  If it’s the middle of summer, be prepared to swim, even if it’s just to cool off.

Nope! We suggest natures toilet or we can stop at a few spots along the way if an emergency.

No restroom on Morris Island, just mother nature.

Absolutely not.  South Carolina is super protective of there marine mammals.  It’s is highly illegal to swim with Dolphins.

Yes!  We love babies on the tour.  Especially if they cry.  The dolphins can hear it and it draws them to the boat.

The toddler becomes the most important person on the boat but needs to be held at all times.  If you have a life jacket they are already comfortable with please bring it.  If not we have infant jackets at the shop.