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Manatee Snorkeling: Family-Friendly Adventure
5.0
792 Ratings
Crystal River
Experience the thrill of swimming with wild manatees on our small group, family-oriented tour. Enjoy a private and stress-free experience with our experienced guides. All gear included!
Experience the thrill of swimming with wild manatees on our small group, family-oriented tour. Enjoy a private and stress-free experience with our experienced guides. All gear included!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Nature’s Discovery Manatee Tours - Experience our flagship activity! Climb aboard our cozy passenger vessel for a personal snorkeling adventure with the Florida Manatee! Journey through the picturesque King’s Bay in Crystal River, Florida, as we search for the wild Florida Manatees.
We excel in offering small group and private manatee snorkeling…
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Nature’s Discovery Manatee Tours - Experience our flagship activity! Climb aboard our cozy passenger vessel for a personal snorkeling adventure with the Florida Manatee! Journey through the picturesque King’s Bay in Crystal River, Florida, as we search for the wild Florida Manatees.
We excel in offering small group and private manatee snorkeling tours. Upon arrival, guests are introduced to their in-water tour guide, who will escort them to the boat and capture photos throughout the journey!
During the boat ride, our in-water guide and captain provide education on the correct way to snorkel with these protected creatures, ensuring a fun and safe experience for all ages! Once a manatee is spotted in our 600-acre Bay, guests disembark to snorkel with the manatee. Our guide leads guests to the manatees and takes in-water photos during the entire tour. Enjoy close encounters as you glide smoothly alongside one of nature’s most magnificent and gentle animals. The manatees’ size and gentle nature create an unforgettable snorkeling experience suitable for snorkelers of all skill levels. Keep in mind, this is a genuine wildlife adventure, and conditions can vary daily, but our team is dedicated to providing you with the experience of a lifetime!
What's Included
- In-Water Tour Guide
- Wetsuits
- Bottled water
- Admission to Pete’s Pier
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package Included from May-November
- In-Water Tour Guide
- Wetsuits
- Bottled water
- Admission to Pete’s Pier
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package Included from May-November
What's Not Included
- Gratuity for captain and guide
- Towels and bathing suits
- Gratuity for captain and guide
- Towels and bathing suits
Additional Information
Our owner-operated tours focus on intimate, family-friendly excursions with small groups.
All essential equipment is provided for your convenience! Delight in your manatee snorkeling adventure and receive FREE PHOTOS at the conclusion of your journey. We supply everything needed so you can fully enjoy the splendor of these wild manatees without any…
Our owner-operated tours focus on intimate, family-friendly excursions with small groups.
All essential equipment is provided for your convenience! Delight in your manatee snorkeling adventure and receive FREE PHOTOS at the conclusion of your journey. We supply everything needed so you can fully enjoy the splendor of these wild manatees without any worries!
This tour accommodates a maximum of 6 passengers, ensuring a private experience for you and your family! Our tour guides boast over 20 years of experience working in the water with guests of all ages from across the globe, specializing in family-oriented groups to offer you the finest experience swimming with these wild manatees! Snorkel up-close with these magnificent sea cows and admire their impressive size and elegance.
- THIS EXPERIENCE CAN ONLY ACCOMODATE 6 PERSONS MAX!
Location
Nature's Discovery Manatee Tours
Southeast US Highway 19
Meet us at our shop location fifteen minutes ahead of your tour time to get checked in and suited up with wetsuits!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(792 Ratings)
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Eileen
Oct 28, 2025
Incredible experience for first timers !! - This was the first time my daughter and I took this tour. We were pretty nervous about getting in the water with manatees. Our captain Jon and our guide Taylor were amazing ! They explained everything and helped us understand what to expect. They were very knowledgeable about the area and manatees. They helped calm our nerves and Taylor guided us in the water so we had the best views of a mom and baby manatee. It was an incredible experience. I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rocio_f
Oct 20, 2025
Awesome and totally worth it! - We had a great experience! Our guides were personal, funny and lots of fun. We saw like 4 manatees and swam with them and had so much fun. It was a wonderful experience and 100% recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Neanderthal71
Oct 4, 2025
Captain John will make it happen! - What an unforgettable experience! We took a redeye flight and arrived early in the morning for our snorkeling adventure in Crystal River — and Captain John and his assistant made it absolutely worth it. Even though it was the off-season for manatees, Captain John went above and beyond to make sure we got the experience we came for. He explored every canal and scoured the seawalls until we finally found one — our dream come true!
Captain John and his assistant were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in giving us the best possible adventure. Along the way, Captain John shared fascinating facts and local history about the manatees and the area. On our way back, we were treated to an incredible sight — a mother manatee with her baby, and another little one along the seawall. It was truly the highlight of our trip!
Getting up close to these gentle, beautiful creatures was such an honor (and yes — we have to agree, they really do look like giant potatoes! 🥔💙).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Candacecr3124xb
Sep 30, 2025
Manatee swim - We had a great time visiting the manatees and the springs! We look forward to visiting again. The tour was relaxing. The water was perfect for swimming! We got lucky and got to swim with a couple manatees.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I4087vasandrar
Sep 26, 2025
Magical, gentle, and unforgettable! - We had such an incredible experience thanks to our tour managers, Caleb and Jake! I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first, but they immediately made me feel so comfortable and at ease. Their kindness, knowledge, and enthusiasm turned any fear into excitement, and by the end, I honestly didn’t want to leave! They went above and beyond to make sure we were informed, cared for, and having fun every step of the way. Caleb and Jake truly made this experience unforgettable — we couldn’t have asked for better guides!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
290tracieg
Sep 26, 2025
Fabulous Group Manatee Tour - We had an amazing time with Jake & Caleb on the manatee swimming tour. They found the perfect area to swim with the manatee & we actually were able to swim with 4 including a baby! Caleb was able to keep track of the manatee while in the water & Jake helped guide from the boat. We finished the tour by swimming in a few different springs which were so refreshing. I highly recommend this tour & be sure to ask for Caleb & Jake!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Road01364361048
Sep 25, 2025
Bucket list Manatee Adventure - There are lots of good Manatee tour companies in Crystal River and believe me I researched and talked to quite a few... If you want to save some time, energy, and money Nature's Discovery is an excellent choice and I highly recommend them! Our guide Jayden was absolutely fantastic. We were lucky to find a group of manatees right away and he educated us on how to swim with them and not disturb their natural environment. He guided us around and up close and personal with the manatees, while still completely respecting their space. Our Captain Jake was fun, funny and very knowledgeable so that we were able to find the group almost immediately even though it was off season.. Big bonus, our guide brought a GoPro underwater camera and we had tons of great pictures included in the price. Not having to bring or use a camera during this exciting trip was priceless in its own way. When I go back to do this again I will absolutely use Nature's Discovery !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A4255gdelizabethm
Sep 18, 2025
“Amazing Guides & Unforgettable Experience! - “Taylor and John were awesome guides! We had such a great time — learned a lot about the manatees and the area they live in. The pictures came out amazing (and there were tons of them!). Definitely recommend this if you’re in the area and want a super fun, unique experience.”
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erica_r
Sep 12, 2025
Best Manatee Tour! - Amazing experience! Caleb and Evan were fantastic guides and it was nice to have a smaller group. We also loved the photos!
Review provided by Viator
Amandapt6490sc
Aug 31, 2025
Awesome trip! - Amazing trip! We had a great time and would definitely book with them again! They found a perfect mom and baby and we spent over an hour swimming with them! Thanks for a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
