Guided Small Group Manatee Snorkeling Tour with In-Water Photographer
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Enjoy a close, personal encounter with the West Indian Manatee as you snorkel with them under the guidance of a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain. Our small group (no more than six guests) tours are conducted daily in the beautiful Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Get up close and personal with these amazing mammals and learn about the ecosystem and their habitat. Unlike many tours, these Captains will actually swim with you and your group to ensure that you have a memorable experience. While in the water, your captain/tour guide will take high-definition photos and videos of you and your group which you will be able to view and purchase at the end of your trip. Your price includes all snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, wetsuit) and complimentary coffee or hot cocoa.
Inclusions
What's included
- Wetsuits
- Professional guide
- Use of Snorkelling equipment
- Coffee and hot cocoa
What's not
- Gratuities
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 51,354
- 433
- 38
- 21
- 12
Ratings come from 1,398 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5An Awesome “Off Season” Manatee Snorkeling Experience
Sarah, Cailyn, and Captain Ron were incredible! We ended up being the only ones on the tour since it’s out of season (September), so it was like a private tour! It was such an incredible experience! We saw a mom nursing a baby and two large makes all around us. I never expected to be so immersed in the experience! The mother, calf, and two males stayed around us practically the whole time! Then we went to Three Sisters Springs which was beautiful! Saw mullet, sheepshead, and other fish. How breathtaking! Then on the way back we saw a small alligator, turtle, and cormorants. I would definitely recommend this tour! They took 255 photos and 17 videos which were fabulous! What a highlight to our trip! If you are wondering about going, JUST DO IT!
5Manatees are adorable !
It is so hard to get good pictures in the water with the manatees but I loved the experience. Also very cold water. We did the best we could!
5Awesome experience for my mom and I!
It was so good! My mom and I came to Tampa for the first time and although we knew it wasn’t manatee season, we still got to see them! The tour team went above and beyond looking for them for us to see, and it was awesome. They are very respectful with the animals and very friendly to the group. Sarah was fantastic too! She was out tour guide, and was so passionate and caring; the ride was perfect because of her! If you’re thinking about going to the Crystal River this tour is fantastic!
5Capt. Ron and Andy were...
Capt. Ron and Andy were great! We found a single manatee and swam with it. Then all aboard and he took us to Three Sisters Spring which was amazing! My grandson was awestruck by the clarity of the spring. After swimming in the springs we loaded up and Capt. Ron took us on a little tour and we saw an alligator sunning himself. But we noticed his jaw was missing and Ron, knew the whole story. We had a fantastic time and recommend to everyone as it’s quite the experience. Thank you again Ron and Andy for sun h an enjoyable time.
5Arkansas Loves This Manatee Tour
The team was professional and personable. We had bad weather, and they were accommodating to us to ensure our little manatee-loving girl got her tour. Love this place, and highly recommend!
5Highly highly recommend this amazing experience with this wonderful crew!
We had a wonderful experience. Although it was off season for the manatees, the crew made it thoroughly enjoyable, were knowledgeable regarding the manatees and area, and made sure we had a great time. They even recommended places for us to visit and eat as we were first timers there. As first time snorkelers, my wife and son really enjoyed the guidance set forth by our tour guide. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone and look forward to coming back with our family again.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please arrive at your scheduled tour time. Our captains and guides will be busy with the previous tour and readying your boat and our shop for your trip. Please note: Our shop is in the residential area of Crystal river and looks as if it is a house, but it is, in fact, our shop so come on in!
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 6 travellers
- Operated by
- Gulf Coast Expeditions
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Guests with limited mobility are welcome, but must call us to make prior arrangements
- Single travelers may be required to change time or date of tour depending upon availability
- Use of a ladder is required to get into/out of the water. Please give us a call if you have any health related questions.
How it compares in Crystal River
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 127 experiences we list in Crystal River.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 6 of 127.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Crystal River
Crystal River is a small town on Florida's Nature Coast, famous for clear spring-fed waters where manatees gather in winter.
Crystal River lies on Florida's Gulf coast north of Tampa, where many springs feed Kings Bay with clear water that stays at a steady 22 degrees Celsius all year. As winter cold chills the Gulf, West Indian manatees crowd into the warm water, and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge protects them. Three Sisters Springs, a cluster of crystal-clear pools, is a manatee refuge in the cold months.
Top-ranked sights in Crystal River: Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
