Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tour

Rentals from Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tour include life jackets, comfortable seating and an onboard restroom. Amenities vary by boat and by season, so confirm what comes with the boat you book.

South Carolina law does not set a numeric minimum age to operate a rented motorboat or personal watercraft. Under S.C. Code Section 50-21-95, a person born after July 1, 2007, must meet one of the law's qualifications before operating a vessel powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft. For a rental, a valid boat rental safety certificate issued in the operator's name qualifies. SCDNR says the rental certificate is valid for 30 days. The rental operator sets its own minimum age, so confirm it when booking.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)

Yes, some recreational operators need a South Carolina boating safety certificate rather than a traditional boating license. Anyone born after July 1, 2007 must have one before operating a vessel with an engine of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft. The rule states no separate minimum operator age; an uncertified person may operate when accompanied by a qualified adult at least 18.

Exemptions include people born on or before the cutoff, nonresidents with another state's equivalent certificate, and holders of qualifying Coast Guard credentials. Renters may use an SCDNR approved rental safety certificate, valid for 30 days and only on rented craft. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources administers the program.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)

From Murrells Inlet, you can boat the inlet’s tidal marsh creeks, head through the jetties to the Atlantic, or launch separately on the Waccamaw River and Intracoastal Waterway. Murrells Inlet Landing provides access to Murrells Inlet and Main Creek, where the marked channel crosses marsh water and strong tide rips can form at the sharp turn into Main Creek. Oaks Creek is another marsh branch for a creek-focused outing. Beyond the jetties, the Atlantic is open water. For a slower-moving inland alternative, use Wacca Wache Landing on the lower Waccamaw, which forms part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (nauticalcharts.noaa.gov)

Boaters from Murrells Inlet head to The Point, the MarshWalk waterfront and Paradise Reef. The Point is a remote beach reached by boat, making it a local choice for swimming and relaxing ashore. The MarshWalk is the dockside dining stop, with nearby public docks or transient slips serving its waterfront restaurants. Paradise Reef draws anglers to a buoyed artificial reef made with a deck barge, concrete reef balls, armored vehicles and other concrete structures.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)