Swim with manatees on a 3-hour tour with 6 guests or fewer
3 hours
Up to 6 people
Snorkel gear, Wetsuit
Head out on a semi-private manatee snorkel tour in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Float at the surface with an in-water guide and use provided gear for a relaxed, small-group experience.
Guests must be at least 3 years old unless booking a private tour for a child under 3. You should be comfortable in the water and able to climb a boat ladder. Follow U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manatee protection guidelines.
Cancel at least 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Short-notice cancellations are not refunded.
Bring a towel. You may want to 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. If you arrive with your bathing suit on under your clothes, you can change into your wetsuit more quickly.
Yes. All necessary gear is provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own wetsuit and snorkel mask if you prefer.
You should be comfortable in the water. Basic swimming ability is recommended, and you must be physically able to climb a boat ladder to reboard after swimming.
135 NE 3rd St., Crystal River, FL 34429
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