Semi-Private Manatee Snorkeling with Guide

156 Ratings

Crystal River

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Experience a semi-private manatee snorkeling tour in Crystal River, Florida. Swim with these gentle giants in their natural habitat for an intimate and unforgettable encounter.

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Nature’s Adventure Center - Guests check in at the front desk, and then a tour guide will show everyone USFW’s Manatee Manners video, instruct our snorkel briefing, and fit everyone for wetsuits. Once it is time, all guests will be shuttled down the dock to meet their Captain. Once on the boat the Captain will take everyone on Kings Bay to locate…

What's Included

Wetsuit, pool noodle, mask and snorkel
Towels for post-tour showers (not for boat ride)
Snacks
Bottled water
Transportation to dock
In Water Guide & Photographer

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Photo Package
Bathing suit

Additional Information

Discover the beauty of Crystal River, Florida, by joining our eco-conscious and small-group manatee snorkel tours. Immerse yourself in the natural habitat of these gentle creatures as you swim alongside them. With a maximum of 8 guests per boat, we prioritize an intimate and sustainable experience that benefits both our guests and the manatees.
Please…

Location

Nature's Adventure Center

Southeast US Highway 19

We are located off of US HWY 19 in Kings Bay Plaza next to the SeaFood Seller Restaurant. Guest check in at the front desk in our building. Guests must arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

4.6

(156 Ratings)

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Markbw3433wg

Apr 7, 2025

Great manatee snorkel & swim ! - We had an amazing time snorkeling with the Manatees. We were concerned as this was early April and most of the manatees have moved out to the gulf; however boat driver Carlo had no problem finding some to swim with. First a mama and juvenile a while and then later a baby ! Our guide Jeff shared tons of great info, stayed near by and always suggesting where to be, go next etc. Also watch 2 pairs of dolphins corral a school of mullets up into a sea wall and then a feeding frenzy ! We also had some time to swim over a couple of the spring heads - very interesting.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Shannon_m

Mar 27, 2025

Kelly & Tom were great! - It was so peaceful to be around such gentle giants! My son and I enjoyed every minute. The manatees were amazing to be near.

Review provided by Viator

Deborah_p

Mar 15, 2025

Manatee Swim - The water was a little murky but our in water guide would try and get us to the manatees so we could be right there with them. I had a couple of them swim directly beneath me I had a great time and would recommend this activity to anyone.

Review provided by Viator

Vicki

Mar 4, 2025

Incredible experience - This trip was to take swimming with the manatees off of my bucket list. I am 72, handicapped (balance and some walking issues) and after entering the water, I started panicking. I almost gave up and got back on the boat, but Tom and Carlo worked with me until they were able to get me confident enough to continue. We were lucky enough to see a mother and baby. Tom got me close to them and I had a wonderful experience watching them rest, get air, and turn directly towards me. Tom and Carlo made sure I got safely back on the boat, onto shore. They were so kind to me. I wouldn't have been able to experience this without either of them. I can't thank them enough for giving me the confidence I needed to see these wonderful creatures. I highly recommend these two wonderful men as well as Sea Daddies.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Marianna_a

Mar 2, 2025

Great Tour Guides - Emmitt and our captain were awesome. They knew just where to find the manatees and made sure we all were able to view the manatees.

Review provided by Viator

Terry_k

Feb 11, 2025

Best value for the dollar! - This is a woman owned and run business which works hard to support manatees in many ways. They truly walk the ecological talk. From checking in, to being sized for your wetsuit and patiently provided instructions on how to wiggle into it, you already know you are going to be well taken care of during the trip. And the trip was an enjoyable mix of listening to the history of the area, the excitement of a seeing manatees bobbing to the surface to take a breath and the actual swimming with the manatees. The captain of this boat did not settle for grouping us up with 2 to 7 other boats in one area. She worked hard with our photographer/swim guide and found us an awesome place where we had the manatees to ourselves. Our photographer/swim guide was very professional and she diligently checked in with each participant continuously, during the swim, to make sure each felt comfortable and safe. The highlight of the trip was swimming with a friendly mother manatee and her baby. It was both a relaxing and exciting trip. One that I will take again!

Review provided by Viator

Michael

Apr 3, 2025

Bait and Switch - The experience was nothing as advertised. Multiple photos and video show clear water and good visibility and interaction with the animals. We were taken to a murky bay with 1 foot visibility. Total bait and switch. DO NOT RECOMMEND

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Dannetten

Mar 26, 2025

Use a different company - I paid for the semi private tour because it stated the tour was NEVER crowded- untrue. The boat had more people than outlined on the website which meant it was hard to see the manatees because everyone wanted to crowd around. Because the water is very murky (we were in a different area than what you see in pictures), you had to be about 2 feet from the manatees to see it. You could not even view from the boat because the water is so murky. Having additional people made it very crowded. The management did not provide what was promised: no towels, coffee/bottled water, nor snacks. I asked only for a partial refund, the difference from the standard group tour and the semi private tour, I was told I was ridiculous and would not be refunded.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Samantha_k

Feb 18, 2025

They cancelled and didn’t refund my money! - Cancelled at the last minute and sent me to various websites to try to get my money refunded… still waiting for Viator to help.

Review provided by Viator

Nancy_w

Feb 18, 2025

Be warned. False advertisement. - I booked the semi private that says there will be six people on the trip. When you read further down it says there will be a maximum of 9 people on the trip. My trip had 11 people and 1 guide. After being kicked (head and chest) several times by other travellers I went back to the boat as I couldn’t even get close to the manatees. When there was 5 minutes left of swim time (and I know it was 5 minutes as the boat captain kept yelling there was 5 minutes left) the guide called my son and I back into the water to see a manatee. This was the one and only manatee I saw as I couldn’t even get close due to the large amount of people. The other two members of my party also gave up and went back to the boat after being kicked and not even getting close to a manatee. When I said something to the captain about the large amount of people and that I had booked a semi-private he replied “welcome to manatee world”. I told the front desk of my disappointment and they offered free photos. After thinking and reflecting on the experience I contacted them again stating that it was not right that I paid for an experience with less amount of people, in which they replied there would only be maximum 9 people, despite telling them there was 11 plus the guide. They offered a return to swim voucher but this is completely useless as we are in Canada, which I told them. So offering us a return voucher does nothing when we have left Florida and live so far away we could never use it. I feel very lied to. So be warned that if you book here and it says a maximum amount of people that this may not be accurate as they do not follow their maximums.

Review provided by Viator

Check Availability

From $70

up to 12 guests

1 - Adult