Tour Options
SaltyDawg offers you a casual, unstructured itinerary based on your preferences of activities, subject to the weather and tides of the day. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the Georgia coast at your leisure. Experience the unmatched beauty of Georgia's waters and pristine barrier islands. As your guides, we can share the fascinating history, geology, geography and ecology of our unique coastline.
Delight in the amazing wildlife found here: alligators, wild boar, deer, stingrays... to name a few. Resident and migratory birds abound. Spy an eagle nesting high in a marsh cedar! Keep in mind, there is no guarantee to see any particular animal - - - it is after all...WILDLIFE!
Watch the fabulous wild Bottlenose Dolphin.
Listen to the chatter of the dolphin and other underwater critters with our hydrophone.
Listen to the chatter of the dolphin and other underwater critters with our hydrophone.
Drag a seine net off the shore and discover an array of sea life up close and personal. Look through a magnifying glass; be amazed at all the tiny creatures.
Work a set of crab traps to catch a bounty of Georgia blue shell crabs.
Practice throwing a cast net for Georgia white shrimp
...and other surprises!
...and other surprises!
Hike through a maritime forest of virgin strands of oak, pine and cedar on a uninhabited barrier island. (see NOTE below)
Stroll an undeveloped, natural beach accessible only by private boat.
Enjoy a special picnic lunch prepared fresh just for you.
"Three Hour Cruise"
Relax as we travel out the Ogeechee River to the Intracoastal Waterway and Ossabaw Sound. Explore the magnificent marshes as we wind through them via saltwater creeks which teem with zooplankton. View these tiny creatures through a special microscope. We'll see a variety of periwinkle snails, brown fiddler crabs, stingrays, dolphins and seabirds. Have your camera ready for photo-ops. Information will be shared about the ecology and history of the islands.
Relax as we travel out the Ogeechee River to the Intracoastal Waterway and Ossabaw Sound. Explore the magnificent marshes as we wind through them via saltwater creeks which teem with zooplankton. View these tiny creatures through a special microscope. We'll see a variety of periwinkle snails, brown fiddler crabs, stingrays, dolphins and seabirds. Have your camera ready for photo-ops. Information will be shared about the ecology and history of the islands.
Learn about the seashells and other specimens
you find on the beach.
you find on the beach.
Half Day Cruise
Enjoy the journey out to Ossabaw Sound, past Raccoon Key, through the infamous Hell Gate to Wassaw Island. Cormorants, pelicans and a variety of gulls often accompany us on our cruise. If the dolphin are agreeable, we'll listen to their chatter with our hydrophone. Peach will offer amazing facts about our fabulous Bottlenose dolphins. We'll enter Wassaw Island via the U.S. Fish & Wildlife dock. Hike through a maritime forest, across ancient sand dunes to the beach on the Atlantic.(see NOTE below) Enjoy a picnic lunch and then collect shell specimens before the hike back to the dock. On our return to the Ogeechee RIver, we'll pull a crab trap and explain the life cycle of the blue crab. Try your hand at throwing a cast net for Georgia white shrimp.
OPTION: The Wassaw hike and picnic may be exchanged for the Ossabaw tour for an extra $10 per person which is donated to the Ossabaw Foundation. See "Ossabaw Tour" description above.
Lunch is included in the price of this tour. Time: 4 - 4.5 hrs
Enjoy the journey out to Ossabaw Sound, past Raccoon Key, through the infamous Hell Gate to Wassaw Island. Cormorants, pelicans and a variety of gulls often accompany us on our cruise. If the dolphin are agreeable, we'll listen to their chatter with our hydrophone. Peach will offer amazing facts about our fabulous Bottlenose dolphins. We'll enter Wassaw Island via the U.S. Fish & Wildlife dock. Hike through a maritime forest, across ancient sand dunes to the beach on the Atlantic.(see NOTE below) Enjoy a picnic lunch and then collect shell specimens before the hike back to the dock. On our return to the Ogeechee RIver, we'll pull a crab trap and explain the life cycle of the blue crab. Try your hand at throwing a cast net for Georgia white shrimp.
OPTION: The Wassaw hike and picnic may be exchanged for the Ossabaw tour for an extra $10 per person which is donated to the Ossabaw Foundation. See "Ossabaw Tour" description above.
Lunch is included in the price of this tour. Time: 4 - 4.5 hrs
Full Day Cruise
Over the course of a full day on the water, you'll experience the wonders of Coastal Georgia's tides. Low tide brings out more shore birds foraging for food along the mudflats. We'll cast a shrimp net at the edge of the marsh. You're welcome to try your 'hand' at it too! Camera buffs will delight in the variety of birds along the marshes. We'll pull a crab trap and explain the life cycle of the Blue Shell Crab. Enjoy a hike through Wassaw's pristine maritime forest. (see NOTE below) Wassaw is the only barrier island that was not harvested for its timber. With a bit of luck, we'll experience the amazing Bottlenose dolphins and hear them chattering through our hydrophone.
Over the course of a full day on the water, you'll experience the wonders of Coastal Georgia's tides. Low tide brings out more shore birds foraging for food along the mudflats. We'll cast a shrimp net at the edge of the marsh. You're welcome to try your 'hand' at it too! Camera buffs will delight in the variety of birds along the marshes. We'll pull a crab trap and explain the life cycle of the Blue Shell Crab. Enjoy a hike through Wassaw's pristine maritime forest. (see NOTE below) Wassaw is the only barrier island that was not harvested for its timber. With a bit of luck, we'll experience the amazing Bottlenose dolphins and hear them chattering through our hydrophone.
Ossabaw Tour
Cruise to the dock at Torrey Landing on Ossabaw Island's north end. We'll be met by Jim Bitler, Ossabaw Foundation Education Coordinator. A short stroll along the palisade of palms will lead to the Clubhouse, a restored 1880’s hunting lodge. After a brief restroom break Jim will give an informative and entertaining overview of the island’s history.
Following, we will venture back in time as we walk along Cane Patch Road past vestiges of centuries old activities on this island spanning the colonial, antebellum and 20th century periods. The Ossabaw Island Foundation’s ongoing $1.3 million preservation and archeological exploration of the island’s tabby slave settlement, which has received national attention, will come to life as the rich Colonial and Antebellum history is revealed.
The story of Ossabaw Island, its history and its Heritage Preserve designation, will be explained in the hopes that the importance of protecting, conserving and preserving the natural and cultural resources of this remarkable island for the benefit of present and future generations will be understood.
You may bring your lunch and enjoy it on the porch of the hunting lodge. Following the tour (and lunch) the SaltyDawg will depart for Fort McAllister Marina.
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Cruise to the dock at Torrey Landing on Ossabaw Island's north end. We'll be met by Jim Bitler, Ossabaw Foundation Education Coordinator. A short stroll along the palisade of palms will lead to the Clubhouse, a restored 1880’s hunting lodge. After a brief restroom break Jim will give an informative and entertaining overview of the island’s history.
Following, we will venture back in time as we walk along Cane Patch Road past vestiges of centuries old activities on this island spanning the colonial, antebellum and 20th century periods. The Ossabaw Island Foundation’s ongoing $1.3 million preservation and archeological exploration of the island’s tabby slave settlement, which has received national attention, will come to life as the rich Colonial and Antebellum history is revealed.
The story of Ossabaw Island, its history and its Heritage Preserve designation, will be explained in the hopes that the importance of protecting, conserving and preserving the natural and cultural resources of this remarkable island for the benefit of present and future generations will be understood.
You may bring your lunch and enjoy it on the porch of the hunting lodge. Following the tour (and lunch) the SaltyDawg will depart for Fort McAllister Marina.
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Sunset Cruise
Enjoy a leisurely sunset cruise with appetizers on the Ogeechee River and Intracoastal Waterway. You may bring your beverage of choice.
Time: 3 hrs
Enjoy a leisurely sunset cruise with appetizers on the Ogeechee River and Intracoastal Waterway. You may bring your beverage of choice.
Time: 3 hrs
You have your choice of a picnic lunch, swim and seine net drag on Ossabaw's south beach or a guided tour* of Ossabaw's historic north end by Jim Bitler, Ossabaw Foundation Education Coordinator and then enjoy lunch at the hunting lodge. (*a donation to the Ossabaw Foundation of $10 per person will be added to the tour cost) See "Ossabaw Tour" description above.
Lunch is included in the price of this tour. Time: 5.5 - 6 hrs
Lunch is included in the price of this tour. Time: 5.5 - 6 hrs
SaltyDawg HOME
About Us
the Boat & Marina
Tour Options
What to Bring
Island Charters
Fishing Charters
Burials at Sea
Rates & Policies
Fun Pixs
Info & Links
Fun Facts
Contact Us
About Us
the Boat & Marina
Tour Options
What to Bring
Island Charters
Fishing Charters
Burials at Sea
Rates & Policies
Fun Pixs
Info & Links
Fun Facts
Contact Us
NOTE: Physical Restrictions...
The hike through the maritime forest to the beach via the Pavilion Trail includes climbing a 40 ft sand dune and hiking on rough or un-marked trails. Physical restrictions may limit one's ability to traverse the island on this trail. Other trails are available but require lengthy walking on a rustic dirt road
Due to the dramatic variations in the tides, the dock ramp to our boat can be as much as a 45-degree downward slope.
When a dock is unavailable to unload passengers to the beach, SaltyDawg will tow a dinghy.
The hike through the maritime forest to the beach via the Pavilion Trail includes climbing a 40 ft sand dune and hiking on rough or un-marked trails. Physical restrictions may limit one's ability to traverse the island on this trail. Other trails are available but require lengthy walking on a rustic dirt road
Due to the dramatic variations in the tides, the dock ramp to our boat can be as much as a 45-degree downward slope.
When a dock is unavailable to unload passengers to the beach, SaltyDawg will tow a dinghy.