Winter is a great time to see dolphins in Hilton Head. Here’s how to get the best look
While much of the Lowcountry slows down for winter, there’s one local resident that never takes a seasonal break: the dolphin.
It’s estimated that the Hilton Head area is home to nearly 200 year-round dolphins, meaning there isn’t a bad time of year to spot one.
“We’ve never had a trip where we don’t see them,” said Neil Arlett, captain with Hilton Head Boat Charters. “Their population stays stable and steady year-round.”
While they may draw the biggest crowds in summer, here’s what to know about Hilton Head’s year-round dolphins and how to spot them in winter.
About bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins, the species most commonly seen in the Hilton Head area, are highly intelligent and use sound both to communicate and hunt for food.
Their presence spans the East Coast, stretching from Massachusetts all the way down to Florida. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, these flippered friends can live for at least 40 years, with some females surpassing 60 years.
Dolphins are still active in the winter, thanks in part to their unique sleeping habits. Dolphins don’t hibernate and are able to rest without fully shutting down their brains – one hemisphere rests at a time, so they stay alert to potential dangers while still getting sleep.
But one interesting winter adaptation that dolphin watchers this time of year may spot is their slightly thicker blubber layer, which helps them stay warm in cooler waters.
Other than that, dolphins don’t significantly change with the season, continuing to display the same playful behaviors and social patterns seen year-round.
How to see a dolphin
Hilton Head’s dolphins are often spotted in the same waterways all year, which tend to include:
- Broad Creek
- May River
- Calibogue Sound
- Skull Creek
- Jarvis Creek
- Waters surrounding Moss Creek
- Pinckney Island bridges
To spot one in their natural environment, here are a few tours and boat charters offering dolphin sightings in the winter to consider.
Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruises
- Departing from Shelter Cove Harbour, this tour travels down Broad Creek into the Calibogue Sound and toward Daufuskie Island.
- Located at Shelter Cove Marina, this tour cruises from Broad Creek into the Calibogue Sound, offering educational insights about Hilton Head’s local waters and marshes. This tour is available until the end of December.
Outside Hilton Head Dolphin Eco Tour
- This eco-centered tour offers the chance to see dolphins in their natural environment while learning about Hilton Head’s unique marine ecosystem, cruising through Broad Creek.
- Departing from four different locations across Bluffton and Hilton Head, tours explore the May River and Calibogue Sound for dolphin sightings.
Hilton Head Boat Charters Dolphin Watching Tours
- Embark on this boat tour to witness dolphins in the wild with guidance from expert captains. The tours visit Broad Creek to the Calibogue Sound.
Tale Hunter Hilton Head Island Dolphin Tours
- This tour explores the waters around Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, offering opportunities to see dolphins and learn about their natural habitats.
Dolphin Discoveries Hilton Head
- Cruise through Broad Creek on a variety of tours designed to provide an engaging and educational dolphin-watching experience.
What to know if you go
With calmer coastal waters and a steady year-round population, dolphin watching is just as rewarding in December as during warmer months.
But if you plan to venture out, make sure to dress for the weather.
Layers, a hat, gloves, and a cozy sweatshirt are a must, Arlett said. While Hilton Head may see warmer winters than most areas, winter breezes off the water can be brisk.
Make sure that whenever looking for dolphins, do not feed, pursue, harass or attempt to interact or touch them. These actions are illegal and dangerous for both the animal and boaters, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
