By Peter A. Roos
Captain Dan Peretz is a native Floridian. Having grown up in Tampa, Dan truly loved the unspoiled beauty offered by St. Pete Beach. Dan began chartering yachts off the beach at the Odyssey Hotel, where part of the Tradewinds Resort is now, in 1972. Dan has owned and managed Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center since 1986. Dan has sailed extensively.
In 1992 he skippered one of his own yachts in the “America 500.” This 7-month cruise visited ports of call in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Azores islands, Gibraltar, Africa, and Spain. Dan has also delivered boats throughout the Caribbean and chartered regularly to the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Dan is actively involved with multiple community, state and national associations; including serving as president of the “Tall Ship Society.” He is also a sailing instructor and has personally performed over 100 weddings aboard sailing yachts.
Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center offers Dolphin Watch trips, Sunset Sails, sails to nearby islands and fishing trips from their docks behind CVS drugs at Dolphin Village Shopping Center, 4737 Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach.
Dolphin watch trips are one of the most unique experiences offered in the Tampa Bay area. Dolphin Landings’ sailboat captains can confidently tell guests they have a 99% chance they will see dolphins. While guests occasionally spot dolphins just beyond our docks, the best way to truly experience the natural wonder of these wild sea creatures is on board one of our luxury sailing yachts and glide silently among them. Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center typically offers 2-3 trip times daily. The Dolphin Watch trip is sure to delight and each trip is a different experience. The fare for dolphin watch cruises is: adults is $40, children $30 and under 2 years free. Parking is free. Visit dolphinlandings.com for details.
The very popular sunset cruise leaves about an hour or more before sunset and sails to the tip of Pass-a-Grille, where you can see the sunset over the water without land in your way. The fare for any of the sunset cruises is $45 a person, parking included. Children must be 6 or older to board for public sunset cruises. The boats are also available for private charter. Soda and bottled water is complimentary or BYOB and ask to use the cooler with ice on board. There is a bathroom on board for guests. Dolphin Landings also offers cruises to nearby islands of Shell Key and Egmont Key, which make a great use of a halfday at the beach, with an escape to a place where you are almost alone.
Want to go Fishing?
Novices and pros alike rave about near Shore Florida Salt Water Fishing, sometimes referred to as Back Bay or Flats Fishing. Back Bay boats are capable of operating in very shallow water in order to go right where the Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Grouper, Sea Trout, Tripletail, Cobia and Shark hang out. The Tarpon run strong in Tampa Bay from May through early September, throughout Boca Ciega Bay and surrounding Tampa Bay waters. There are numerous other species that can also be pursued using fly rods as well as spinning reels. Each vessel carries 1 to 4 guests and all your fishing gear is provided. Dolphin Landings can accommodate almost any occasion … using a single boat or multiple boats for groups, mini tournaments, corporate incentive packages, you name it. Fishing gear and license is included.
Florida Deep Sea Offshore Sport Fishing is world-renowned. Anglers Dream, their 58ft party boat for Deep sea fishing, offers 5hr trips Monday thru Thursday and Saturday $55.00 adults and $34.00 for kids 12 yrs and under. A 7hr trip is offered on Fridays for $75.00 adults and $45.00 for kids. Anglers Dream has a capacity of 38 guests. All equipment, bait, and free bottled water is provided. The Anglers Dream may be booked privately for your groups of 7 or more.
Depending on fishing season and the length of your charter, you’ll be able to catch many different species of fish such as Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish, Amberjack, Tarpon, Cobia, Snook, Spanish Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Shark and Barracuda, to name just a few. They offer 4, 6 and 8-hour excursions. Online reviews are almost all 5 stars. Fishing gear and license is included.
When I asked Captain Dan what keeps him so passionate about his work after so long, he says “it is hard to get bored of sailing in paradise.” Then he started to speak about a not-for-profit organization he founded called Soothe Our Souls.
Captain Dan frequently took a terminally ill friend, Art, out sailing. In witnessing his joy of his engaging with nature, Dan became interested in helping others with serious health challenges.
In the weeks before Art’s passing, Dan suggested to Art’s wife that they try to get Art and his family on a sailboat, providing everyone a chance to experience joy and respite in their last weeks together. Those Sunday morning sails provided Art with so much happiness and gave everyone cherished memories of his last days. Spending time together on the coastal waters, watching dolphins frolic and sea birds fly, was precious and therapeutic, benefitting the emotional wellbeing of everyone. It was from those wonderful experiences, and in honor of Dan’s friend, that S.O.S. was created in 2012.
S.O.S. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization providing complimentary sailing excursions on the first Sunday each month for seriously health-challenged people and their support group. S.O.S. is committed to offering a respite from troubling health concerns, celebrating life, and helping people to navigate their journey to wellbeing.
Word has spread about S.O.S., and the trips have gotten better known. There are times when they use two or three boats to accommodate their guests. They eventually created brochures, a logo, web page, SootheOurSouls.org, Facebook page, and t-shirts for guests and volunteers. “We regularly have a certified nutritionist on board, to discuss healthy diet choices, and a yoga instructor who offers a mini yoga experience while we’re sailing,” says Captain Dan.
In September 2016 Terry Porter, a longtime friend of Dan’s and now an S.O.S. board member, discovered the Boca Ciega Sail and Power Squadron Building was for sale. The building was built in 1930 and served as the Treasure Island Fire House for many years before it became the Boca Ciega Sail and Power Squadron. Terry and Dan saw the incredible potential and opportunity the property provided for S.O.S.
In acquiring this property, Dan felt a strong sense of community in preserving this Treasure Island landmark. The building has been remodeled to accommodate events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings, and fundraisers as well as a dock for S.O.S sailboats.
In the meantime Dan and his passionate team are recruiting volunteers and members who help support the group. He and his staff are attending waterfront events where he sells the chance to hit a target with a wet tennis ball from a slingshot strung between trees. I got a chance to try at the Chowder Challenge this month. Soothe our Souls also invites interested people to meet for wine tastings at Vino Sympatico in South Pasadena, or an Evening at The Hideaway Café in St. Petersburg.
Captain Dan looks forward to many years of soothing souls with S.O.S. and his great team of volunteers. Visit SootheourSouls.org for more information and a photo gallery, or to donate or request a cruise.
Interested in a possible charter?
Stop by anytime. You may also email info@dolphinlandings.com with any questions or inquiries or call 727-360-7411.
Ask for Cyndy Pemberton, Charter Specialist, with 30 years experience at Dolphin Landings, in helping you arrange your Private Charter, and coordinate your event. To book an outing from Dolphin Landings please visit dolphinlandings.com to see all of the alternatives available, or call 727-360-7411.
FUN DOLPHIN FACTS
How smart are dolphins?
Scientist don’t know. What we do know, dolphins are fast learners and they can learn language.
What do dolphins eat?
Dolphins eat fish and lots of them. An average dolphin will eat 4-9% of its body weight in fish, every day.
How long do dolphins live?
The maximum age for our wild bottlenose dolphins is between 40 and 50 years.
How many kinds of dolphins are there?
There are 36 different kinds of ocean dolphins and 5 species of river dolphins.
How long can a dolphin go without taking a breath?
Dolphins can stay up to 15 minutes under water, when diving in deep water.
How do dolphins find food?
Dolphin hunt socially in family groups called pods. They use a technique called echolocation (sound) to find food as well as to navigate.