What to Pack for Your Hilton Head Boat Tour

What to Pack for Your Hilton Head Boat Tour

So, you’ve booked your Hilton Head boat tour and are ready to go! But what do you need to pack? Whether it’s a Hilton Head dolphin tour, sunset cruise or vanishing islands tour, here are the essential items to have a comfortable and memorable experience:

What to Wear for Comfort?

We always suggest bringing an extra layer that you can remove or put on easily. Generally, the air temperature on a boat feels around 5-10 degrees cooler than it does on land. Mornings are cooler and afternoons are milder.

Always check the weather on the morning of your Hilton Head boat tour and prepare for any possible rain showers.

Generally, we advise wearing casual, comfortable clothes.

Non-Slip Shoes for Vanishing Island Tours

On our Vanishing Island boat tours, you’ll be getting out the boat and walking through the water. We advise wearing some non-slip wet shoes for this Hilton Head boat tour, so you gain comfort and protection getting in and out of the boat.

What to Bring for Protection?

Protection from the sun is essential for a comfortable and safe day on the water. The sun can be very bright as it shines off the boat and the water. Bring shades, a cap, sun screening products and plenty of hydration! No sunburns are fun.

We’ve Got The Safety Equipment

Fear not, we have all the safety equipment you’ll need such as life vests. We also have an ice cooler on board to keep your drinks fresh and chilled.

What Else to Pack on Your Hilton Head Boat Tour?

Camera/Fully Charged Phone

If you have a decent camera, bring it. Cell Phones have great cameras these days, but if photography is your thing, then this is a great chance to capture dolphins and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

Ensure your cell phone is fully charged. You’ll probably take lots of photos and videos, which will drain that juice!

Bag or Backpack

You’ll need to store your camera or other personal items somewhere. A backpack is essential for bringing some snacks, drinks and extra layers.

Food and Drinks

The Captain will supply ice, and a cooler for your trip. You are welcome to bring food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages.

Checklist: What to Bring on a Hilton Head Boat Tour?

  • An extra layer for when it gets cooler
  • Fully charged phone
  • Camera
  • Backpack/Waterproof bag
  • Sunscreen and lip balm
  • Sea sickness medication (if you’re prone to sea sickness)
  • Non-skid rubber soled shoes
  • Clothes appropriate for walking in deeper water (Vanishing Island Tour)
  • Light colored clothing to avoid absorbing heat
  • Lightweight microfiber long sleeve shirts to protect arms (Unessential but ideal)
  • Short pants when warm
  • Long pants when cool
  • Waterproof windbreaker for possible rain
  • Polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun
  • Binoculars to see distant sights

 

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Hilton Head Boat Tours

Hilton Head Dolphin Tours Comes to You!

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GOOGLE REVIEWS from our Happy Guests

5.0
Based on 156 reviews
Kathy (Kat)
Kathy (Kat)
19:40 22 Aug 26
We wanted to go to the disappearing island tour but the tide was not really cooperating while we are here. Instead, Brody the boat captain, took us to search for sand dollars and shark teeth. We found quite a few shark teeth and we had a great time on the boat. We all enjoyed the ride and he was very knowledgeable. We will definitely be calling again next time we are here to do something else new. Thanks again for the great tour!
Matthew Vetrano
Matthew Vetrano
01:36 21 Aug 26
I went on a dolphin cruise during the sunset it was beautiful we saw a lot of birds our captain ( Mark ) was awesome and we also saw a dolphin the waves were not that big so it was not rough the whole time we did not go in the Atlantic open waters there was also a snack bar it was a lovely tour and I recommend going on this tour our whole family had a lovely experience I really think anyone reading this would really enjoy this If you happen to go on I hope you have a great time
RC&CL Kolb
RC&CL Kolb
00:10 05 Aug 26
Captain Kat and first mate Michelle are top notch!! They gave us a great cruise and we're very knowledgeable of the area, I highly recommend the cruise!!
Hans Meeldijk
Hans Meeldijk
20:41 01 Aug 26
Great trip with captain Brody. Even helped us to find some fossile shark tooth!! Recommended!
Sally Markowski
Sally Markowski
02:11 26 Jul 26
We have had three great adventures with Captain Brody: Sunset Dolphin Cruise, Disappearing Island, and most recently a fishing charter. Each one has been amazing. Captain Brody is very knowledgeable and patient; is a great tour! Looking forward to our next visit!
Nikii Hunt
Nikii Hunt
20:03 18 Jul 26
Hilton Head Dolphin Tours with Captain Brody is a MUST if you're in the area! My husband, our four teens (13, 14, 16, and 19), and I had such a great time on the private tour. It felt so much more personal than being on a crowded boat. The best part was seeing so many dolphins! They were everywhere and so playful. Watching them swim alongside the boat and pop up all around us was something we'll never forget.Captain Brody was fantastic. He knows so much about the dolphins—their habits, where to find them, what they eat, breeding, and so much more. He also shared interesting facts about the local ecosystem and other marine life. As a mom and a teacher, I loved that we came away having learned so much while having fun.Brody made the experience so memorable for our family. He was knowledgeable, personable, and just fun to spend time with on the water. We all agreed this was one of our favorite parts of our trip, and we’ll definitely be booking another tour the next time we’re in Hilton Head!
Jacob Jones
Jacob Jones
01:03 25 Jun 26
Highly recommend!! We were supposed to do a Disappearing Island tour, but the weather was not cooperating. Instead, Captain Brody took us on a shark tooth and sea shell tour - we had such a good time! Captain Brody was very nice, helped us find a bunch of fossilized shark teeth, showed us several homes on the water, shared some history of the Hilton Head area, and stopped any time we saw a dolphin (there were several). Captain Brody even took the time to rescue a hat that blew overboard - he did a great job!
Katie McGinnis
Katie McGinnis
22:21 06 Jun 26
Captain Brody was an amazing tour guide for our dolphin boat tour! We saw so many dolphins!!! His knowledge of dolphins combined with his easy going personality (we had to change our time several times due to weather and schedule changes on our end) made for the perfect outing! His tour is the best kept secret in Hilton Head!
Noot M
Noot M
20:46 03 Jun 26
Brody was awesome and fun!!!
Michelle Murphy
Michelle Murphy
19:21 03 Jun 26
We had the best day with Captain Brody on our girls trip! Not only was he knowledgeable, but he was so much fun and accommodating. Definitely book with him when you're in Hilton Head. We just did a booze cruise type trip but he offers so much more.