3 hours Manatee Swim Tour in Florida
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Crystal River, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Learn about Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s “gentle giants” and snorkel in the waters where they live with this manatee-spotting boat tour and snorkeling excursion. Set off with your expert captain who is trained in manatee behavior by the Manatee Eco Tourism Association to learn about these wild creatures as you glimpse them in the water. Don a wetsuit to snorkel in their habitat and even interact if the manatees decide to swim up close.
- Get up close to Kings Bay manatees without stressing the animals
- Led by a trained manatee expert with a focus on their welfare
- Spot manatees from the boat and snorkel in their habitat waters
- Wetsuits and gear provided, plus heated changing rooms and showers
What's Included
- Coffee and/or Tea
- 5 MM Full Henderson Wetsuit
- Mask and Snorkel
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 525 NW 7th Ave, Crystal River, FL 34428, USA
You will find us on the water at Paddletail Waterfront Lodge in a 2 story white building. Your tour time is the meet time so no need to arrive early. Right on time is perfect.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Three Sisters Springs
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jeremy_B
Wow!!! What an amazing experience. Our guide John and Capt Aaron were amazing. Water clarity wasn't perfect but he definitely put us on the manatees. Even had on almost put me on its back. Such a great experience.
The facility is top notch. Great quality wetsuits and great boats. I wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere with them.
If you're thinking of doing this, just do it
Reviews
5.0
based on 552 reviews
Elizabeth_B, Apr 2026
Prime time is Dec-Feb; We went end of March. The manatees had mostly left and the water was murky. However, our Captain Mark & Guide Ross were both great & we still got to see some manatees. Was a wonderful experience.
Lori_Z, Apr 2026
Entertaining. Found manatee. Great expierence. Great captain. Great guide. Kids enjoyed Great memory
Peter_C, Mar 2026
Well, we went at the very end of manatee season, so we only found one to swim with, but it was still an amazing experience! Our guide, Ross and captain Aaron were great and we ended the adventure with a swim in one of the most pristine water springs you can imagine.
Lisa_C, Mar 2026
Sara was our guide and Mark was our captain. They were very attentive and ensured our safety at all times. They made sure that every single one of us were able to see a manatee up close. The excursion was amazing. We even were able to see two dolphins playing..
Susan_P, Mar 2026
Amazing experience. When they say swim with manatees, they aren’t kidding. We were in the water well over an hour and swam alongside several manatees. Guide Sara was outstanding, making sure everyone got a 1:1 expedience with a manatee. Captain Mark made sure everyone was safe and kept the group together, serving as our manatee spotter. I couldn’t have asked for a better adventure.
Evelyn_I, Mar 2026
We were a family of 4 and had a blast I would recommend this for family trip, hope I get to do it again one day. Sarah and Mark were awesome!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for joining us! We’re thrilled to hear your family had a blast and that Sarah and Mark helped make the experience memorable. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you all again one day.
Jeremy_B, Feb 2026
Wow!!! What an amazing experience. Our guide John and Capt Aaron were amazing. Water clarity wasn't perfect but he definitely put us on the manatees. Even had on almost put me on its back. Such a great experience.
The facility is top notch. Great quality wetsuits and great boats. I wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere with them.
If you're thinking of doing this, just do it
Rod_A, Feb 2026
Awesome experience! Sara’s a great alll-around guide for the swim with manatees. Many thanks to Sara and her skipper!
Diane_M, Feb 2026
If you go in February, the water can still be a little chilly. The staff was wonderful, everyone from the cashier (gift shop), guides and captains.
Miriam_L, Feb 2026
Michele was a great guide! We chose the 7am tour and had no regrets. It’s fills up through out the day, so if you can make it early, it’s worth it. I brought my GoPro and got to capture nearly 10 unique manatees swimming underneath me.
When you arrive you’ll be taken into a room to watch a 7 minute info video, soon after you’re fitted into 5mm wetsuits to keep you warm and help you float better in the water. Next you’ll walk to your boat and head towards distinct springs as you peacefully search for the magical gentle giants. The whole thing took about 2.5 hours as we returned to the shop by 10:30, and I jumped into their hot shower to get cleaned up. They do have towels available. Note: I saw maybe 2-3 shower stalls, and it is first come for serve, so just a quick rinse to give others in the group a chance. The also have shampoo/conditioner/body wash dispensers.
100% worth the price. Magical and Professional.
Katie_T, Feb 2026
Captain Glenn and tour guide Michelle were great. We weren’t able to get a room at the Paddle Tail lodge but if we come back I will make sure we do.
Jenna_L, Feb 2026
We had a great time and loved the company, tour operators, guides, boat drivers, etc. The manatees were amazing. My biggest issue was how overcrowded it was. I had peoples nasty feet in my face the entire time, people were kicking me, pushing me, swimming over me, shoving their giant professional underwater cameras in front of me, their go pros in my face. I saw more people and spent more time trying to dodge people than enjoying the manatees. And this is not THIS companies fault, it’s crystal river as a whole for being greedy and trying to get as many paying people out there as possible at a time. We want to swim with manatees again but probably somewhere else in hopes of it not being so insanely crowded.
Miranda_G, Jan 2026
Experience was amazing! The guide and boat captain were awesome and made the swim fun and educational. The guide and captain were very accommodating to our two year old getting him a wetsuit and goggles to fit him. They wanted to make sure our child was having a good time and included! Definitely a must do activity if you have time.
Morgan_A, Jan 2026
So much fun, relaxing and invigorating at the same time! Our guides, Danny and Captain Glenn were awesome!
Jesse_R, Jan 2026
Thick wetsuits, enclosed boat, knowledgeable guide, and hit chocolate and coffee when you get out make this a top notch experience.
Kassie_F, Jan 2026
Captain Glenn and Dani were fantastic! Saw so many manatees at Kings Island on our morning trip. Very knowledgeable and well work the visit!
Mallory_W, Jan 2026
This was a once in a lifetime experience! We were probably in a pod of at least 100 manatees - like wow! While the weather was on the colder side it was perfect! Staff were amazing and our guide Jacob was so informative and made sure we got our moneys worth. Will definitely do this again! Highly recommend. We loved it.
Robert_T, Jan 2026
Ask for Steve and Michele. They did a great job! Steve was a good captain and Michele was a great in water guide.
Jeremiah_T, Jan 2026
Sarah and the Captain was really helpful. They know how to take care if the manitees and how to guide us properly. Will do this again
Suzanne_C, Jan 2026
Such an amazing and fun experience! Our guides, Ross and Chad, were very knowledgeable and helped to make this experience unforgettable.
Michelle_H, Dec 2025
Awesome experience! Sarah was a great guide and Glenn was a great captain. The facility was nice, new, and clean. Saw a bunch of manatees and learned a lot.
Rachel_F, Dec 2025
We had a fantastic time, Dani and Steve were very knowledgeable. Love the hot showers and hot coco/ coffee! Would do again.
Annie_B, Oct 2025
We had a wonderful trip! Captain Morgan was knowledgeable and made the experience great for our kids.
Tirzah_S, Oct 2025
We had an amazing time with Morgan and Steve they were very knowledgeable about the manatees and made the experience very enjoyable we were so happy to get to see a group of 3 and appreciated the respect everyone showed for the creature would love to come swim with them again!
Lydia_S, Sep 2025
Ross and Captain Mark were amazing! Truly had such a great and memorable experience while feeling safe to free swim for the first time in open water! It was also for my partner’s birthday— he had an amazing time!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for such a heartfelt review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that Ross and Captain Mark helped make your first open water swim feel safe and unforgettable. What a special way to celebrate your partner’s birthday—so glad he had an amazing time too! Moments like these are exactly why we do what we do, and we’d be honored to welcome you both back for another adventure soon.
brent_o, Sep 2025
Pretty neat experience. I would like to have went in the busier time of December or January to see more manatees. So I have a good reason to go back.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Absolutely! We always recommend experiencing the manatee tour twice—once during the summer for a more personal encounter with our resident manatees, and again in the winter when hundreds of migratory manatees seek refuge in our warm springs. Each season offers a unique and unforgettable perspective! We look forward to having you join us again.
Chelsi_Y, Aug 2025
Such a great experience. Once in a lifetime memories were made! So cool to see the vet come out to check him out as well.
Guerthie_G, Jul 2025
I recently went on a manatee tour with my best friend, and despite an unexpected turn of events, it was a fantastic experience. While the opportunity to swim with manatees was incredible, the real highlight was the exceptionally kind and supportive staff.
As a first-time snorkeler, I unfortunately struggled quite a bit. I took on too much water and quickly realized that snorkeling might not be for me. I was embarrassed and a little panicked, but the crew was absolutely amazing. They were incredibly helpful, friendly, and understanding, making me feel comfortable and safe even after my near-death-by-snorkeling experience. Their professionalism and genuine concern turned what could have been a truly terrible memory into a funny story I'll tell for years.
I may not be a snorkeler, but I would absolutely do this tour again. The scenery was beautiful, the process was easy, and the chance to see these gentle giants up close was a dream come true. A huge thank you to the staff for their consideration and for ensuring everyone, even a struggling beginner like me, has a wonderful time. I highly recommend this tour... just maybe practice your snorkeling first!
Chris_T, Jul 2025
It was amazing. Captain Jake and Kasey did awesome got us up close and personal with a big mom and baby. Bucket list experience.
Ronda_H, May 2025
Guide Danny and Captain Glen knew their stuff and made it fun. They found a manatee right away and we swam with her probably 30 minutes. Then her baby appeared. We swam a good hour and a half with the manatee. It was a neat experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for your great review. We hope to have you join us again in the future!
From $74.99
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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