Swim with gentle manatees in small groups with guide and all gear included
3 hours
Up to 12 people
In-water guide, Wetsuit, Snorkel
Join a fully guided 3-hour snorkeling trip to swim with manatees in Crystal River. Small groups and included gear keep the focus on the experience.
Guests must float on the surface; a wetsuit and pool noodle are provided. Children under 3 and pets, including service animals, require a private tour. No flash photography or long selfie sticks in the Refuge.
Full refund with at least 48 hours' notice. No refunds for shorter notice; tours may be rescheduled subject to availability.
Bring a towel. You can arrive with your swimsuit on under your clothes to change faster. Wear flip-flops or other shoes for the walk down the dock. In cooler months, bring a sweatshirt or jacket for the short boat ride back after your swim.
Yes. All necessary gear is provided, but you can bring your own wetsuit and snorkel mask if you prefer.
You must float on the surface of the water and keep your legs from dangling down. You will wear a provided wetsuit and use a pool noodle to help you stay afloat.
Crystal River, FL
With a near-perfect rating across thousands of reviews, this manatee tour operation clearly knows what it's doing. Guides like Shelby, Jason, Jessica, and Captain John get consistent praise for being knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and great with kids. The crew does a solid job positioning guests to encounter manatees without disturbing them, and several reviewers noted seeing dolphins, eagles, and other wildlife as a bonus. A small handful of reviewers had frustrating experiences on days when water visibility was poor, with murky conditions making the snorkeling feel underwhelming. Communication around what to expect during low-visibility days could be clearer. That said, these complaints appear to be the exception rather than the rule, and the overwhelming majority of guests left genuinely thrilled. If you're planning a manatee swim, this outfit is well-organized and the staff passion for local wildlife comes through consistently. Morning tours seem to be a popular pick, and even guests who ended up on smaller or private groups had wonderful things to say. Worth booking with confidence.
We had a lovely tour with Guide Shelby and Captain Derek! We booked the first tour in the morning and there must have been cancelations as we ended up with a private tour. There was limited visibility due to a bad storm the night before, but we still enjoyed our time with Shelby, Derek, and the manatees! Would definitely recommend 🙂
Sydney Williamson
May 23, 2026
We had a lovely tour with Guide Shelby and Captain Derek! We booked the first tour in the morning and there must have been cancelations as we ended up with a private tour. There was limited visibility due to a bad storm the night before, but we still enjoyed our time with Shelby, Derek, and the manatees! Would definitely recommend 🙂
Sydney Williamson
May 23, 2026