Dolphins Down Under

Dolphins Down Under runs glass bottom dolphin cruises and scenic sunset cruises out of Orange Beach, Alabama, using a catamaran built with stable hulls meant to keep the ride smooth even when Gulf waters get choppy. The company operates from 28101 Perdido Beach Boulevard, a stretch of the Orange Beach waterfront lined with several of the city’s dolphin cruise and watersport operators.

The company’s main offering is a daily 90 minute dolphin cruise that uses the boat’s glass bottom viewing panels to give passengers a look beneath the surface in addition to the more typical above water dolphin watching most cruises in the area offer. A second 90 minute cruise runs in the evening as a dedicated sunset trip, timed to catch the light over the Gulf as the day winds down.

Beyond its scheduled public cruises, Dolphins Down Under also offers a private boat charter, also 90 minutes long, for groups that want the boat to themselves rather than sharing the trip with other passengers. That option appeals to larger families, small corporate groups, or anyone celebrating an occasion who wants more control over timing than a set public departure allows.

Guest reviews posted on the company’s own site repeatedly reference a crew that includes Captain Drew, along with Rusty and Hannon, describing a consistent onboard team rather than rotating staff. One review posted on the site praises the operation as the “best price around” with “guaranteed dolphin sightings” and friendly staff, a sentiment echoed across several other testimonials describing jokes and beach music adding to the atmosphere on board.

The company lists a few onboard policies worth knowing before a trip, including that strollers, infant carriers, and car seats are not allowed aboard and are stored at check in for safety and space reasons. Outside coolers and beverages are also not permitted, though both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks are available for purchase during the cruise.

The company also rents beach gear on the side, including metal detectors, pinpoint finders, sand scoops, headphones, and wagons, with rental periods ranging from a single day up to five days. A bundled treasure hunting package combining several of these items is also available, a smaller side offering that suggests a business built around a broader range of Orange Beach’s coastal recreation rather than cruises alone. Visitors staying in the area for a full week can rent the same gear for the length of their trip rather than a single outing, which suits families who want to spend multiple mornings combing the beach for finds between cruise days.

Reviews on the company’s site also describe the crew’s approach as light hearted, with jokes and beach music mentioned as part of the atmosphere during cruises, and staff are repeatedly described by guests as kind and helpful with children on board. That tone, paired with the glass bottom viewing panels, is part of what the company points to in positioning the cruise as a family friendly option among the several dolphin tour operators along Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Because the glass bottom feature is not universal among Orange Beach’s dolphin cruise operators, it gives Dolphins Down Under a specific point of differentiation in a crowded market that includes several other established cruise companies working the same waterways. Families with children in particular tend to respond well to the below water viewing panels, since they add an extra layer of engagement beyond simply watching for dolphins to surface near the boat.

For visitors comparing the many dolphin cruise operators clustered around Orange Beach, Dolphins Down Under stands out through its glass bottom catamaran and its combination of a daily dolphin cruise, a separate sunset cruise, and private charter availability. The 28101 Perdido Beach Boulevard location keeps it close to several other tour operators along the same corridor, making it easy to compare options in person before booking a trip out onto the water.