When you come to the Outer Banks, there are many things you can do. Visiting lighthouses, seeing the Lost Colony, and going to the beach are all popular pastimes on the Outer Banks. But no trip to the OBX is complete without getting on the water. While fishing on the Outer Banks is one of the biggest reasons to jump on a boat, for those who prefer not to fish, you can also go out for one of our Dolphin Tours! 

Home of the Bottlenose Dolphin

The main type of dolphin on the Outer banks is the bottlenose dolphin. These oceanic mammals can be found in many temperate waters around the world, and are very populous around Hatteras. Bottlenose dolphins are migratory, and like to spend their winters of Cape Hatteras, frolicking in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

During the summer, bottlenose dolphins range along the coast of the Outer Banks, and pods can even be seen in the Albemarle Sound. It’s estimated that a little over a thousand dolphins make their home in the waters of north-eastern North Carolina.

Protected Species

In the United States, bottlenose dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. This act states that it is illegal to harm a dolphin or change its behavior. This means you shouldn’t approach them, feed them, try to swim with them or pursue them. They are wild animals, and they can bite.

The Miss Hatteras sets out from Odin’s Den in Hatteras village weekly for dolphin trips on the Outer Banks. We can seat 80, but seats fill fast, so don’t be late! And of course, if you’re looking for an Outer Banks charter, we can do that too!