Are we guaranteed to see dolphins?

Dolphins are wild animals, and thus impossible to predict with certainty. But they live in the waters of Charleston harbor year round, and they certainly are not shy! We’ve been leading dolphin tours in Charleston, South Carolina for years, and we know exactly where to take our guests to get the best looks at these incredible animals as they frolic in the water and put on a show for us!

How do you find the dolphins?

Unlike many animals, dolphins are actually attracted to humans! They seem to love the admiration that people show them, and they inevitably come around to see what’s going on when we take our boats out for dolphin tours in Charleston, SC. In most cases, all we have to do is launch our yacht and keep our eyes open, and before long we are enjoying the company of a few attention-loving dolphins.

What else can we do on a dolphin tour?

The activities offered on our tours are quite flexible. Fishing and swimming require a minimum amount of time chartered on the yacht, but that can be arranged with no problem. Your captain will be more than happy to point out the most historically significant sites around the harbor and take you to the best vantage points for photos so that you get the most out of your experience out on the water.

How long does a tour last?

Our Charleston dolphin tours are very flexible–most tours are two to three hours, which is plenty of time to enjoy the wildlife, the sea breeze, and a closer look at Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, and the other amazing sights on the harbor. For corporate events and longer charters, just give us a call and let us know what you have in mind!

OUR CAPTAINS

The Professional difference

Charleston Yacht Tours boats are US Coast Guard inspected vessels. What does that mean? They have been built to higher safety standards than a production boat. We are also inspected every year to make sure safety standards are met. It is illegal for a production boat to carry more than 6 passengers. This is where we stand out. Our boats are built specifically for larger groups to give the most comfort and amenities while keeping all our guests safe.

We are a owner operated small business. We want every guest to appreciate the love for the water and boating like we do. We keep all of our boats ship shape to insure that we do not break down and have to cancel a charter.

Captain Tom Yenkner , Owner

Captain Tom has been on the water his entire life. Growing up spending summers on Long Island sound boating. He went to Maine Maritime Academy and graduated in 2005 with a bachelors degree in Marine Transportation and Small vessel operations. He holds a USCG 1600 ton Masters license, with many extra qualifications including firefighting, first aid, CPR, and towing. Along with being able to drive the boat he is a master mechanic with diesel engine, and ABYC certifications.

Captain Dan Stoll , Owner

Captain Dan Stoll, a professional Captain who started his career in Miami Florida exploring the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico for a period of 10 years. In the following years, Captain Dan has navigated to France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Albania, Monte Negra, Croatia, Canada, the Great Lakes, and the entire East Coast. Island adventures include St. Marteen, Virgin Gorda, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos.

Captain Dan’s specialty is now Bachelorette and Bachelor parties, Corporate excursions, wedding departures, customized proposal events and Sunset evening trips.

He loves to create specialty adventures for groups that are looking for something above the normal cruise. Charleston harbor, the rivers around the area, Fort Sumter, Shem Creek, Daniel Island, James Island, Kiawah and Folly are all close by for exploration.

Captain Jake Phillips

Born and raised in coastal Maine, he developed a lifelong connection to the water at an early age. He holds a 25-ton Master Captain’s License and has more than eight years of experience operating charter vessels.
Over 20 years ago, he relocated south to pursue year-round boating and build a career centered on maritime operations.
He takes pride in providing exceptional experiences for his guests, ensuring every trip is both memorable and conducted with the highest standards of safety. When not running charters, he remains hands-on—maintaining, repairing, and caring for vessels to keep them operating at their best.

Captain Kyle Mikes

Captain Kyle, a native of Long Island, New York, began his professional career serving our country in the United States Coast Guard. That experience informs his commitment to maintaining our vessels to the highest professional standards. He holds a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License and works part-time on the water with TowBoatUS, assisting stranded boaters. In addition, Captain Kyle owns and operates a marine electronics installation business and is ABYC-certified for all marine installations.

Meet The Team