Though swimming with dolphins is the fastest way to become acquainted with the charming mammals, it’s also the easiest way to lose lunch money to bullying schools of tuna. Witness the bustling marine ecosystem from the comfort of a bully-proof boat with today’s Groupon to Botany Bay Ecotours in Edisto Beach. Choose between the following options:

• For $39, you get a two-hour dolphin eco tour for two (an $80 value).
• For $75, you get a two-hour dolphin eco tour for four (a $160 value).<p>

Helmed by a local biologist, Botany Bay Ecotours leverages scientific expertise while exposing the ACE Basin’s natural beauty through two-hour excursions in kayaks or boats. Scheduled by the tide, the dolphin eco tour sets off in pursuit of clear, memorable glimpses of the long-nosed creatures. Guests looking for an aquatic workout can opt to paddle a kayak past swaying grasses and talking alligators while peeling eyes for the sonar-fluent swimmers. To enjoy a more hands-off expedition, tour participants can climb aboard a zipping motorboat and lounge on its open deck as the vessel glides past dolphins and bald eagles. Guides augment the sightseeing experience with rich explanations of the history and biology of the frolicking mammalian pods, decoding their jubilant splashes and squeaking for directions.