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Private Manatee Snorkeling Tour: Crystal River Adventure
5.0
66 Ratings
Crystal River
Enjoy the beauty of Crystal River and the thrill of seeing our majestic wildlife on your own private, 3 hour tour. Your in water guide will lead you in the water with our Florida Manatees. All equipment is included in the price, as well as hot beverages and snacks. As an added bonus, we will include the photos and videos from your trip!
Enjoy the beauty of Crystal River and the thrill of seeing our majestic wildlife on your own private, 3 hour tour. Your in water guide will lead you in the water with our Florida Manatees. All equipment is included in the price, as well as hot beverages and snacks. As an added bonus, we will include the photos and videos from your trip!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Crystal River - Upon arrival at the dive shop, guests will be fitted for wetsuits and asked to watch a brief video from US Fish and Wildlife outlining their encounter with the manatees. The captain and guide will then take the group to the boat and embark all passengers and give a short safety brief. Once underway, the guide will further explain…
- Crystal River - Upon arrival at the dive shop, guests will be fitted for wetsuits and asked to watch a brief video from US Fish and Wildlife outlining their encounter with the manatees. The captain and guide will then take the group to the boat and embark all passengers and give a short safety brief. Once underway, the guide will further explain how to interact with the manatees once in the water and fit the guests with their masks and snorkels. While transiting to the swim areas, the captain and guide will present information about the area wildlife and what guests can expect to see during your tour. They will also answer questions and take pictures along the way. The guide will stay with the group the entire time, ensuring that the guests get the most out of their experience, all while taking photos and videos of your adventure!
What's Included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Bottled water
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
226 NE 5th St
Northeast 5th Street
Gulf Coast Expeditions
226 NE 5th St
Crystal River FL 34429
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
(66 Ratings)
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Alicialt1217ew
Jan 11, 2026
Great group snorkeling crew! - Had such a great time with Celeste, Captain Ron, and Captain Micheal! They made our experience so smooth, fun and safe! All of us got parkas and we were as warm as possible coming out & saw a handful of adorable manatees. 10/10 will do it again next year!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yushengc2026
Jan 4, 2026
Go. Trust me. Super worth it! - It was so fun!! We got to swim with huge manatees; they were super adorable. The guide was kind. We got super close to the manatees!!!! There were a lot, so it was very worth it. Even though we couldn’t touch the manatees, it was awesome. The manatees MIGHT accidentally touch you, and get close. I was honestly pretty nervous that the manatees got so close (they were huge like I said) but that’s for the best. There are lots of rules for your safety AND the manatees’ safety, that’s good. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!! The water wasn’t that clear the day we went, so when you see them it’s like a surprise!! THEY ARE ADORABLE!!! Go. Seriously. Trust me. Super worth it! Byeeeeeee!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Almondjoy18
Nov 26, 2025
Private time with manatees!! - Capt Ron is the best. He’s relaxed and knows exactly what he’s doing. Puts a drone up and finds the manatees and does a great job of keeping you away from the Kayakers and other boats, so you can enjoy your time with these incredible animals. It’s a special experience!! And who doesn’t like a donut and coffee or hot chocolate when you get out of the water. A perfect experience that is about as good as it gets. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sikora123
Oct 2, 2025
Wow!!!!!!!!!!! - What a fabulous experience! Capt Ron has over 26 yrs experience between the Navy and Coast Guard, so you couldn't be captained by a better skipper. He's also a huge source of great info about manatees. They are fascinating creatures. Milana, my snorkeling guide, says her ancestors are from various places in Europe, but I'm guessing at least one was a mermaid. She had an uncanny ability to spot manatees and an even more amazing ability to photograph them. I hadn't realized that October isn't the best time to see them. The visibility isn't as good, and most of them are still out in the Gulf where food is more abundant. Even so, I got lots of good looks at the gentle giants and consider it the experience of a lifetime. Next time I visit my in-laws in Florida it will be between November and April, and I'm bringing my snorkeling-loving kids with me!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esporaf
Jun 26, 2025
Tolle Tour - Very well organized. Very friendly guide and captain. It was absolutely worth it. Small group is very beneficial.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z9900ncdaveg
Dec 16, 2024
The Absolute Best Manatee Tour - Liz and Jade are amazing. Their manatee knowledge is second to none. And we saw so many manatees. It was incredible
Their office is also phenomenal. Huge and clean. Easy to change into your wetsuit (they provide). They also provide non-alcoholic drinks on the boat. Great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Excursion256160
Aug 4, 2024
Great snorkeling tour! - Took the Private Manatee Snorkeling tour on 31 July 24 with a family of four. Capt Ron and Jade did a great job! Although the summer months are not the best time to snorkel with manatee, we were able to see four manatee to include a mother and calf! After snorkeling with the manatee, we were able to visit the Three Sisters Springs for more snorkeling. Springs were crystal clear and very refreshing. Capt Ron & Jade had snacks, coffee, and hot chocolate for us after the snorkeling. Family and I had a great time and highly recommend Capt Ron & Jade for snorkeling with manatee!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vinatarta
May 3, 2024
Swimming with manatees - It was so cool!!!! The water in February was too…. The manatees were there floating under us!! Totally amazing. I’d go again
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pamhj1184im
Jan 20, 2024
Highly recommend! - Fabulous time with Captain Lauren and Matt. Saw loads of manatees and had a swim adventure with one that was amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauralx5448xc
Jul 11, 2023
Matilda Recommends Gulf Coast Expeditions! - Bucket List. Check!
Not only were Captain Ron and Lauren an absolute dream team when it came to ensuring we had the best experience, their unrefuted care for the gentle giants we visited and dedication to their conservation was top of the list. It's one thing to jump in the water, find a manatee, and swim around for a bit. It is a whole other level when a guest can see the care for these incredible animals shine through in the staff working the tour. Lauren knows the resident manatees in Crystal River. Captain Ron knows where they hang out. They work as a team along with other tour operations to make sure that the river provides what these animals need. It was awesome!!!
There are plenty of tour operations on the river but I do not think one will find another who truly are committed to these gentle giants like Gulf Coast Expeditions.
If spending time with manatees in the wild is on your bucket list, call Captain Ron and tell him "Matilda recommended him!"
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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