Every year visitors flock to Panama City Beach for the beautiful beaches and emerald green waters. We often see guests posting pictures of various marine animals asking for help identifying these beautiful creatures. We’ve put together a list of the marine animals that you are most likely to see.
Sea Turtles:
From May 1st through October 31st, the beaches of Panama City Beach are home to hundreds of sea turtle nests. The most common sea turtle in Panama City Beach is the loggerhead turtle. Panama City Beach is also home to leatherback turtles and green sea turtles, but these sightings are less common. You are most likely to see turtles active in the water around midday when the water is warm and calm. During nesting season, you could get lucky enough to see a sea turtle come up on the beach at night to lay their eggs. A full-grown loggerhead is between 2.5 to 3.5 feet long and can weigh anywhere between 150 and 400 pounds. Green sea turtles are about 4 feet long and weigh about 440 pounds. Leatherback sea turtles are up to 6 feet long and can weigh up to 1500 pounds. Read our blog post about nesting season to learn more!
Bottlenose Dolphins:
You can see bottlenose dolphins year-round in Panama City Beach. Dolphins are very playful creatures and can often be spotted jumping through the water with their friends. Dolphins are most likely to be spotted when it’s warm and sunny out and the waters are calm. Unlike some other marine animals, dolphins can be easy to spot from shore and your balcony. You can also get the chance to see dolphins on dolphin cruises.
Manatees:
Manatee sightings have become increasingly popular in Panama City Beach in recent years. These gentle giants are most active in the mornings and can often be spotted swimming just off the shores. Manatees are often referred to as sea cows and swim at speeds of only about 5 miles per hour. Their size and speed make it easy to see them as they pass by. If you happen to see one while swimming, please remember that while they pose no threat to humans, it is illegal to touch or interfere with them in any way.
Stingrays:
Stingrays can be seen year-round in Panama City Beach, but are most commonly seen between April and October. In the summer months, stingrays can often be found in large groups. The most common types of rays in Panama City Beach are the cownose ray, devil ray, manta ray, southern ray, bluntnose ray, and spotted eagle ray. Some rays like the southern ray, bluntnose, and roughtail are harder to spot because they tend to bury themselves in the sand while others swim closer to the surface. If you suspect that there may be rays in the water around you it is best to plant your feet and shuffle through the sand instead of lifting your feet in the water.
It is important to remember that during our trips, we are visitors in their homes and to respect these beautiful creatures and their habitats.
If you don’t get a chance to see all of these residents in their natural habitats while you’re in town, you can always visit Gulf World to see them up close and learn more about them! Be sure to check out our Gulf World post to learn more about our recent visit.
Are you ready to plan your next trip to Panama City Beach? Book your condo today!