Captain Dans Around the Island Tours

Captain Dans Around the Island Tours Private and public tours now available, Guided boat tour of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. Wild Ponies, Dolphin, Eagles and more. This trip has it all!
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Out on the water 7 days a week from April 1st to December 1st, trips are 2 to 2.5 hours. For 2022 we will be running “public”, “private” and “semi-private” tours. See our website for specific pricing details. Our signature tour, the “Around the Island Tour”, is a family favorite. We cruise over 25 miles of unique coastline, never passing the same spot twice. We go searching for wild ponies, dolphi

n, bald eagles (and other local wild fowl), sea turtles, and sting rays. Your captain is your guide, pointing out all the local wildlife, historic areas, and explaining the local customs and cultures, both past and present. We will travel completely around Chincoteague Island, while viewing the entire bayside coastline of Assateague Island in Virginia. Our “Afternoon Pony Tour” takes a specific focus on ponies, and may not travel completely “around the island”, but takes us to where we think we will have our best chance, of a good view of ponies. “Private tours” can focus on whatever you desire.

02/03/2025

2/3. Otters came back last night! At least 3 visible at one time. Got a couple decent shots, but most of the footage they were at the edge of a camera range. Looked like one was eating an eel!

02/02/2025

No otters for a while now, I’m thinking they were just temporary visitors. Only dock cats, raccoons, and a heron.

Not sure what that raccoon pulled out of the slip. Could be scraps someone tossed after cleaning, fish or maybe waterfowl 🐟 🦆 🤷‍♂️ The way my slip is situated, when we get a NW wind, anything floating down the channel blows into my slip.

01/31/2025

No otters in a few days. Cats, raccoon, and a heron.

01/28/2025

1/27 They brought some friends tonight! 4 otters swimming in the slip!!

I set up 5 more cameras, but the classic angle is still the best.

I don’t know what’s catching their attention on my platform, I’m not feeding them. Maybe it’s the scent of the raccoon, or the dock cats?

You can hear them splash into the water on the close up cam.

01/22/2025

As I was checking the cameras on the dock, (just to see the snow and ice). I thought I saw 2 cats playing on the floating dock. Then one jumped/fell into the water!! 🥶 💦 I was thinking I might have to drive down there, until I realized……I think they’re otters!! 🦦 🦦

Looked like they were having a blast playing in the snow. I’ve never seen otters in my slip before.

Update: Wow! That post really blew up! 🤯 As an FYI: my camera motion sensors are set to “human size”. So I just happened to check the cameras while these guys were out there playing. I don’t think it’s a regular occurrence, but will be keep my eyes peeled for them.

01/14/2025

We are ready to start taking pre-orders for the new 2025 Edition of Stallions & Mares of the Wild Chincoteague Pony Herds at PoniesInTheMist.com for arrival in February!

It includes pictures of every stallion and mare on the Virginia side of Assateague Island with information on full name, call name, other nicknames, year, color, gender, dam, sire and other notes. It is organized by color and markings to assist with identification! There are also indexes by full name and call name! It is spiral bound with water resistant 8.5”x5.5” coated paper for durability! It is a wonderful reference for identifying ponies in the wild, in the corral and in pictures! This is our eighth year and we strive to continually improve each version while keeping the price the same as when we started in 2018!

Use a coupon code of PICKUP and enter a note with pickup the next time you are on Chincoteague or delivery to a Chincoteague address instruction if you don’t need it shipped. All other orders will be shipped as soon as they arrive in February!

Message us to order by PayPal, venmo or check!

Thank you for supporting our work!

PoniesInTheMist.com

12/24/2024

Happy holidays from the Capt. Dan’s crew!

Working thru my winter work list, and catching up on my neglected “honey do” list. April 1st is right around the corner. 😃

11/16/2024

Looks like good boating wx Sunday-Wednesday this week, then the long range forecast shows a cold blow moving in next weekend.

11/24 will be my last official day of the season, then I’m pulling the boats and starting the winter maintenance cycle. Lots to do, and not much daylight to get it done in. 🔧 🛢️ 😅 🥶

CaptainDansTours.comWarm wx last week was for the birds 🦅 😂. Temps dropped today, and it’ll be cool thru the weekend, bu...
11/02/2024

CaptainDansTours.com

Warm wx last week was for the birds 🦅 😂. Temps dropped today, and it’ll be cool thru the weekend, but looks like it will warm back up this week.

Been seeing a lot of our “residential” bird species “extended family” migrating thru the area the last few weeks. Sightings of cormorant, and great blue heron have tripled as some from father north are passing thru.

The first migratory species of the year that I notice are always brant, and some of them showed up about a week ago.

Lots of eagle sightings too. I think we had 6 or 7 sightings on multiple trips in the last few weeks.

Pony viewing usually picks up in the fall, we are in the throes of a nearly 40 days drought, and it’s deer hunting season in Virginia. Those 2 factors can influence our pony sightings, but things have been pretty good.

I’m shutting down for the season after 11/24. So just a couple more weeks til I start the off season maintenance cycle.

Way too windy for me to cruise today. But had a productive day in-spite of the wind. Replaced a defective battery, chan...
10/14/2024

Way too windy for me to cruise today. But had a productive day in-spite of the wind.

Replaced a defective battery, changed the oil, replaced a leaking steering cylinder, and bled the steering. No video….too windy.

I think I’ve got my boat back to 100% working condition.

Cold wx moves in tonight, 10am trips depart with 50° temps this week. Highs only in the lower 60’s til Sunday. Leave the shorts and t-shirts at home. It’s insulated pants, wind-breaking coat, hats covering ears, and gloves temps. 🥶🥶🥶

Huge day for eagle spotting!! We saw 6 eagles on the 10am, and 6 on the 4pm trip, including an immature I’m still not su...
10/13/2024

Huge day for eagle spotting!! We saw 6 eagles on the 10am, and 6 on the 4pm trip, including an immature I’m still not sure how a lady on my boat spotted.

Thunderbolt was the best pony viewing at 10 and 1, then we stayed north at 4pm, and found Puzzle, Hoppy, Twist, and Chief. Puzzle approached Hoppy, no fighting, just visiting I guess 🤷‍♂️.

I was coming in late on the 4pm, when a pod of 30-40 dolphin in the bay turned our trip into a
sunset cruise.

Supposed to get a lil S-SW blow Sunday, then we drop to the upper 50’s by Tuesday….time to break out the long underwear.

10/10/2024

One of my engines on Diligence keeps working out of alignment. After getting Abby to help me bleed the system a few times, I finally broke down and bought a bleeding kit from MarineTech. I think it just might save my marriage 🤔

I was able to get some air out of the system, but I think the underlying issue is a bad seal. So I’ll try to purge the system best I can, but I think I’m gonna have to repair/replace the cylinders.

This bleeding system is awesome, bleeding is now a 1 person job. I can also bleed in the water, with little to no drips. The hoses all use quick connects that shut when disconnected 👍🏽

*the olive oil jug was for purging the system. I flushed out all the old fluid to dispose of it. I don’t run olive oil in my boat 🫒

https://marinetech.com/seastar-bleed-system-with-tank.html

10/10/2024

This afternoon, I logged a couple man overboard, fire, and abandon ship drills.

Part of operating an inspected passenger vessel, is conducting monthly training drills, and performing those drills to the satisfaction of the USCG Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections (OCMI) during annual inspections.

Looks like a cold front coming in tonight….gonna be chilly 🥶 on the boat tomorrow. Then maybe a blow for the beginning of next week.

If you head to the Virgina State Fair this week, be sure to get yourself an “Officer Allen trading card” from the VMRC b...
09/29/2024

If you head to the Virgina State Fair this week, be sure to get yourself an “Officer Allen trading card” from the VMRC booth. Drove all the way to Richmond to see someone from Greenbackville 😂

We were off the water this weekend for a short family vacay to the state fair and Williamsburg. Back to cruising on Tuesday. 🫡

09/25/2024

Saw a bobcat on the service trail today 😉

Since we are under a “coastal flood warning”, it’s a good time to clarify the difference between a “watch” and a “warnin...
09/21/2024

Since we are under a “coastal flood warning”, it’s a good time to clarify the difference between a “watch” and a “warning”. 🌮

09/18/2024

It was a gloomy morning for a trip….kinda breezy, and drizzly rain. The rain stopped before we took off, and we landed into a HUGE pod of dolphin outside the harbor! They were chasing the fish right out of the water!

Felt like 100, but I think 50 dolphin is a conservative estimate. Might have been the most active dolphin sighting I’ve ever had!

Thanks to my daughter Charlotte for giving me some background music on her ukulele.

CaptainDansTours.com
Chincoteague Island Virginia

Address

4161 Main Street
Chincoteague, VA
23336

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 7pm
Sunday 8am - 7pm

Telephone

+17578940103

Website

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Videos

2/3. Otters came back last night! At least 3 visible at one time. Got a couple decent shots, but most of the footage they were at the edge of a camera range. Looked like one was eating an eel!

No otters for a while now, I’m thinking they were just temporary visitors. Only dock cats, raccoons, and a heron. Not sure what that raccoon pulled out of the slip. Could be scraps someone tossed after cleaning, fish or maybe waterfowl 🐟 🦆 🤷‍♂️ The way my slip is situated, when we get a NW wind, anything floating down the channel blows into my slip.

No otters in a few days. Cats, raccoon, and a heron.

1/27 They brought some friends tonight! 4 otters swimming in the slip!! I set up 5 more cameras, but the classic angle is still the best. I don’t know what’s catching their attention on my platform, I’m not feeding them. Maybe it’s the scent of the raccoon, or the dock cats? You can hear them splash into the water on the close up cam. #HeyDanimals #OtterCam

Guess I really do need to set up more cameras on the dock. This seems to be a regular otterccurrence. 🦦 🦦

Otters on the dock 2 nights in a row. Dunno if it was just cuz of the snow, but I think I’m gonna set up a few more cameras out there. #heydanimals #chincoteague #otters

As I was checking the cameras on the dock, (just to see the snow and ice). I thought I saw 2 cats playing on the floating dock. Then one jumped/fell into the water!! 🥶 💦 I was thinking I might have to drive down there, until I realized……I think they’re otters!! 🦦 🦦 Looked like they were having a blast playing in the snow. I’ve never seen otters in my slip before. Update: Wow! That post really blew up! 🤯 As an FYI: my camera motion sensors are set to “human size”. So I just happened to check the cameras while these guys were out there playing. I don’t think it’s a regular occurrence, but will be keep my eyes peeled for them.

Happy holidays from the Capt. Dan’s crew! Working thru my winter work list, and catching up on my neglected “honey do” list. April 1st is right around the corner. 😃

Looks like good boating wx Sunday-Wednesday this week, then the long range forecast shows a cold blow moving in next weekend. 11/24 will be my last official day of the season, then I’m pulling the boats and starting the winter maintenance cycle. Lots to do, and not much daylight to get it done in. 🔧 🛢️ 😅 🥶

One of my engines on Diligence keeps working out of alignment. After getting Abby to help me bleed the system a few times, I finally broke down and bought a bleeding kit from MarineTech. I think it just might save my marriage 🤔 I was able to get some air out of the system, but I think the underlying issue is a bad seal. So I’ll try to purge the system best I can, but I think I’m gonna have to repair/replace the cylinders. This bleeding system is awesome, bleeding is now a 1 person job. I can also bleed in the water, with little to no drips. The hoses all use quick connects that shut when disconnected 👍🏽 *the olive oil jug was for purging the system. I flushed out all the old fluid to dispose of it. I don’t run olive oil in my boat 🫒 https://marinetech.com/seastar-bleed-system-with-tank.html

This afternoon, I logged a couple man overboard, fire, and abandon ship drills. Part of operating an inspected passenger vessel, is conducting monthly training drills, and performing those drills to the satisfaction of the USCG Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections (OCMI) during annual inspections. Looks like a cold front coming in tonight….gonna be chilly 🥶 on the boat tomorrow. Then maybe a blow for the beginning of next week.

Saw a bobcat on the service trail today 😉

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