Dolphins of Beaufort, South Carolina

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are a common sight in Beaufort, South Carolina’s waterways. They are highly intelligent mammals known for their playful behavior and acrobatic displays. Because they breath air they frequently come to the surface where they can be seen observed at any time of the day.

Many of our dolphins live in Beaufort’s estuaries year around. They are often spotted swimming in groups called pods, ranging in size from a few individuals to larger aggregations. Their dorsal fin, which acts as a unique identifier, can help researchers track and study individual dolphins.

Dolphins are often observed popping up and down as they take breaths of air and casually swim along. They love to play and are frequently engaged in playful behavior with other dolphins. Occasionally, our dolphins can be seen feeding on a variety of fish using a number of techniques including tail slapping and if you're really lucky, strand feeding. Strand feeding is a feeding technique were dolphins push fish and themselves onto a bank, eat the fish then slide back into the water. They also use echolocation abilities to locate prey and are capable of reaching speeds up to 20 miles per hour.

We love offering opportunities to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. It is important to remember that while dolphins are friendly, they are wild animals so don’t feed them and and admire them from a respectful distance to avoid disturbing their natural behavior.