Manatee Swim: Authentic River Ventures Experience

Dive into adventure with our Manatee Tour, guaranteed to thrill. Swim with manatees or get a full refund. Book your unforgettable experience now.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • River Ventures - Dive into the extraordinary ‘The OG’ Swim with the Manatee Tour in Crystal River. Experience the magic of swimming and snorkeling alongside the Florida Manatee in their natural environment. Our dedication to small group sizes ensures a personalized and intimate adventure for every guest.
    Your adventure starts at our comprehensive…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Use of Wetsuit
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Photo Package
Additional Information

River Ventures’ OG tour is crafted for those seeking a genuine, traditional swim-with-manatee adventure without compromising on quality. With a limit of 10 guests per boat, it maintains a friendly group size that encourages social interaction while ensuring personalized attention from a USCG Captain and an in-water guide. The tour emphasizes respectful…

Location
River Ventures
Southeast Kings Bay Drive
Check in at the front desk of River Ventures
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(121 Ratings)
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753adriannaa
Oct 6, 2026
Unforgettable - Had an amazing experiance, our guide and captain were fantastic, we went just before the begining of the season and still got to see 3 manatees, including a momma and baby, it was an unforgettable experiance!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tbobby81
Oct 2, 2026
Awesome experience! Great guides! - Gary and Brian were awesome! Found some manatees quick, then they took us to super clear water at the springs!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
404indiap
Sep 28, 2026
Amazing, would do again - We had such a great time on the manatee snorkeling tour! The tour guides were really nice, helpful, and made the whole experience enjoyable. I was honestly worried about the wetsuits, but they weren’t nearly as bad as I thought they would be! Overall, it was a fun experience and definitely something I’d recommend if you’re looking for a unique adventure. 🐋💦
Review provided by Tripadvisor
500annaw
Sep 25, 2026
Amazing experience! Second year in a row and will be back again and again! - Captain Mike and Guide Crystal are AMAZING! This is our second time visiting River Ventures and swimming with the manatees! Both times were amazing!! Guide Piper was our guide last year and our dream boat would be Piper, Mike and Crystal!!! Love all 3 of them so much. We came face to face with manatees even though it’s the slow season! The boats communicate with each other so even when there aren’t many manatees to see, they make sure you get to see them!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U5691ykkevinl
Sep 11, 2026
Manatee adventures. - Awesome experience, everyone from our arrival to getting suited up were great. Our guide Crystal was an engaging, informative and fun guide. Captain Mike was very knowledgeable about all wildlife, the area and took good care of us. Thanks to all for a great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire15493720314
Aug 30, 2026
Swimming with beauty - Fabulous experience. I wasn’t going to swim because I really don’t like cold water but was encouraged to give it a go. The wet suit made all the difference and with the experience of our charming captain JJ and guide Sean, we saw a manatee despite it being ‘off season’. It was very safe for people and manatees. Strict rules apply to going near the manatee and they were adhered to. I was happy our sleeping manatee appeared undisturbed. Everyone was lovely including the staff back at the base. I strongly recommend this experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christinato3545kv
Aug 26, 2026
Unforgettable Manatee Experience with River Ventures - Booked a tour with Crystal and Captain Michael at River Ventures, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! Crystal was incredible. She got right in the water with us, personally brought us to two manatees, and swam alongside us through Three Sisters Springs. She was extremely knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about the manatees, the river, and making sure her guests had an amazing experience. She went above and beyond to keep us comfortable, from properly fitting our wetsuits to providing clean, sanitized snorkel gear, pool noodles, and goggles. Captain Michael was wonderful as well and helped make the entire trip smooth and memorable. You can tell they work incredibly well together and truly care about their guests. I highly recommend River Ventures!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellerl5043pb
Aug 25, 2026
Snorkeling, Swimming with Manatee with Guide - Crystal and Michael did an amazing job on their tour ❤️ we had so much fun, it was an unforgettable experience! They were very informative. We swam in three sisters, swam with the manatees and they were very patient with us. If you're looking to book a tour, I highly suggest booking with them! They even took the most amazing pictures for us!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
458angk
Aug 17, 2026
Best experience ever! - Great experience with an awesome guide Gary, who knew so much about everything. He was very chill also and made us feel comfortable. The captain Gareth found so many manatees so fast. It was a great experience! We came all the way from The Netherlands for this and had a great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fultonb2024
Aug 12, 2026
An Unforgettable Private Tour — An Absolute Must Do! - We booked the very first private cruise of the day (6:30 AM) with River Ventures, and it was the best decision we could have made! Going out first thing in the morning meant the water was pristine, crystal clear, and completely peaceful before the crowds arrived. Our captain, Mike, and our guide, Crystal, were absolutely wonderful. They were incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and went above and beyond to make sure Tara and I had a safe, respectful, and magical experience with the resident summer manatees. The manatees were so active, playful, and curious! The private boat experience allowed us to stay in a calm, quiet environment, which made the manatees so much more comfortable swimming right near us. We are already planning our next trip and will definitely return to do this again in the winter months to see the springs packed with hundreds more. Thank you, Mike and Crystal, for an unbelievable morning! If you are visiting Crystal River, do yourself a favor and book a private morning tour with River Ventures because you won't regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $76
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).