Swimming & Water Safety
Generally, the ocean around Dauphin Island is quite safe: the waters are calm and the beach tapers off slowly, so swimming in the shallows is a great activity for the kids.
Can you swim on Dauphin Island?
Best known for its abundant migratory bird population, Dauphin Island, Alabama, attracts plenty of swimming enthusiasts in spring and summer. … Visitors can easily access it via the Dauphin Island Bridge. The island has two primary public beaches and dozens of private residential beaches for swimmers to enjoy.
Are there sharks in Dauphin Island?
OCEARCH has recently pinged 2 great white sharks and 1 tiger shark just south of Gulf Shores. MONTGOMERY, Ala. … They aren’t dangerously close based on their ping locations, but the three of them are only 20-40 miles off the coast of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and Dauphin Island!
Are there alligators on Dauphin Island?
Dauphin Island Details
Goats climbed oak trees to keep from drowning in the hurricane of 1906, not to escape alligators—though there are alligators on the island.
How safe is Dauphin Island?
Is Dauphin Island, AL Safe? The D- grade means the rate of crime is much higher than the average US city. Dauphin Island is in the 12th percentile for safety, meaning 88% of cities are safer and 12% of cities are more dangerous.
Is Dauphin Island worth visiting?
Dauphin Island is a top family destination. You can see some dazzling historic attractions, such as Fort Gaines or the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest of its kind on the east coast. There are numerous fishing charters for families, giving you accessible trips in and around the Gulf and Mobile Bay.
How much does it cost to go to Dauphin Island?
$140.00 (10 rides for one vehicle – under 21 feet and driver.
Does it cost money to go to Dauphin Island?
The fees: $5 per car or on motorcycle, regardless of the number of passengers. $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. $20 for those driving motorhomes or buses, or anything that takes up more than a single parking space.
Can you drink on Dauphin Island?
No alcohol ban for Dauphin Island as town unveils a revitalized East End Beach.
Is Dauphin Island beach nice?
Dauphin Island, Alabama is three miles south of Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. Dauphin Island is known as a prime place for relaxing and having fun with family and friends. Dauphin Island’s beaches, with their fine white sands and clear blue water, are considered some of the best in the state.
Where is the clearest water in Florida?
Surveys for the clearest water in Florida consistently rate Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast as Number One. This esteemed title of clarity includes Destin, Miramar Beach, all the picturesque coastal villages along South Walton’s Scenic 30A, and Panama City Beach. The water here is usually “swimming-pool clear”!
Should I take my car to Dauphin Island?
Slow Down on Vacation
Your trip should be an opportunity to get away from it all, so if you don’t want to bother with a car, Dauphin Island is the perfect place to take it slow. You are easily able to bike, walk, or jog around the island, as everything is relatively close.
Can you drive on Dauphin Island?
You can drive to Dauphin Island by crossing over the one long bridge that connects it to mainland Alabama – take the I-193 over the 3-mile long Dauphin Island Bridge (that used to be called Gordon Persons Bridge) to get across.
Why is Destin water emerald green?
The color of the water here on the Emerald Coast is attributed to the Algae in the water. When the sun reflects off the Algae it makes our water the beautiful emerald color we all love. Because the sun plays a big role in why the waters are emerald, the water may not be as green on rainy days.
How long is the Dauphin Island ferry ride?
The trip takes approximately 40 minutes and is a great way for passengers to view birds, sea life and other boats and ships. The ferry service utilizes two ferries, the Fort Morgan and the Marissa Mae Nicole to carry passengers and vehicles across the Bay.
How much does the ferry cost from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island?
It cost us $48 to ride the ferry from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island.
Are beaches in Dauphin Island Open?
Hours of operation: 8AM to 6PM
The beaches are open to the public year round and during the Spring and Summer we collect a nominal environmental fee. The revenue from the environmental fee will be used to cover the cost of the Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board to maintain the cleanliness of the public beach.
Can you see dolphins at Dauphin Island?
The marine life in the waters around Dauphin Island is diverse, as the Gulf of Mexico is home to sharks, gamefish, dolphins, and many other incredible species. … Dolphin sightings are extremely common. Special dolphin boat tours for visitors will essentially guarantee a sighting- or many.
Can you snorkel at Dauphin Island?
Shore Snorkeling
Most of the snorkeling sites in Alabama are within swimming distance of the coast, so they’re open to independent shore snorkelers. … Snorkelers can look for stingrays hiding in the sandy bottoms around Dauphin Island.
How deep is the water around Dauphin Island?
The sound side of Dauphin Island is composed of a narrow (~ 0.5 km) island platform less than 2 m deep that slopes into Mississippi Sound (fig. 3). Water depth within the sound ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 m.
Can you swim in Bon Secour Bay?
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge features gorgeous swimmable beaches. It is located on the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the Gulf Coast. Its beaches are excellent places for a day trip and a long swim.
Are there alligators in Mobile Bay?
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The Mobile Bay alligators were active today while one of our camera crews was working on the Causeway. Video taken of them on Thursday, May 30 shows the gators swimming leisurely, enjoying the cool water on a hot day.
Does Dauphin Island have snakes?
Relatively few snakes are venomous. Of about 116 species of snakes native to the U.S., only 19 are dangerous. … Bites of a few species of the rear-fanged snakes sometimes cause harm, but the effects vary.