Crystal River Kayak Company and Dive Center - Crystal River, Florida

Tom S.

We've rented kayaks at Crystal River Kayak Company many times now and each time has been awesome. The staff is great to work with and patient with an old man getting in and out of the kayak without laughing at me. LOL. The dock set up works great. Lots to see, easy to get to Three Sisters to see the manatees or just paddle around and enjoy the peaceful area. Highly recommend and will be back again.

Favian A. C.

In today’s world, Of easy accessible information it’s never been easier to become your own tour guide. Crystal River kayak Company and Dive Center offers you the tools to do so. Their property has direct access to the Canal system that leads you directly to Three Sisters Springs, Kings Bay, and Paradise Point . A 10 minute kayak ride and you will have manatees awaiting your arrival. Make sure to rent a wetsuit and jump in!

Yoga A. H. W. S.

Great experience. We launched 2 of our own kayaks and rented 1. My dad flipped his kayak upon launching into the water. The young guys working there were incredibly professional and helpful getting him out of the water and the kayak flipped back over. My dad lost his phone when he flipped. While we were out kayaking, one of the guys went in the water and found his phone for him. They went above and beyond for us. The map they provide was incredibly helpful too! 10/10 would recommend and go back again.

Brittany B.

We were the only ones to go out this day as the company was preparing for Hurricane Milton, however they were still very welcoming and helpful with our reservations. I booked a 3 hour trip and in the middle of it fully regretted not booking the 5 hour trip. It was my first time kayaking and I had the best time. I will be using this company for future kayak trips!

Alexia G.

Absolutely great experience! Lovely river, and we were able to see lots of manatees! There was so much to see, even a little “beachy” area you could get out and walk, I would definitely recommend!

Kathleen J.

We booked last minute for me and my two kids (10 & 13). We rented the kayaks for 5 hours (vs 3 hours) and I’m so glad we did! We had a beautiful day on the water, and the extra time meant that we were not stressed about getting back quickly (which was good since we are not expert kayakers!). The water was calm and it was mostly easy paddling so we were not overly tired at the end of the day.

One advantage to booking with this company is the proximity of their dock to the Three Sisters spring, which meant that we were able to go there on the way out and on the way back, which was really lovely and a nice way to both start and end the day.

Because we booked last minute, we were not able to join a tour, and in the end, I think it was better as we were on our own timetable and could adjust as we wanted to. However, I did not find the dock staff very helpful in terms of providing us with guidance on where to go /what to do with our time. They gave us a laminated map, pointed out a couple of key spots and said how long it would take to get to each one. It felt rushed and basic, even though there was no one behind us/no one waiting. They could easily have taken a few more minutes to give us a better explanation/ better advice on what to expect, what to look for, etc.

Otherwise, though, we had a fabulous day and I would highly recommend this as a day activity for anyone in the area. It was well worth the 1hr+ drive to get there!

The Three Sisters spring was gorgeous and we saw a variety of wildlife as we paddled around. Some tour guides from other companies gave us some tips and local info, so that was great. Even though it was off season for the manatees, we were lucky enough to be able to interact naturally with one of the resident moms and her baby manatee on the way back - those 10-15 minutes were definitely the highlight of the day! The weather was beautiful and the location is lovely. I imagine it can get pretty crowded around the manatees during the season. I’m glad we had the kayaks and could explore on our own.

The office staff was very helpful at every stage (before booking, check in, check out, etc). They were friendly and helpful and made us feel welcome.

Overall a fantastic experience! Highly recommend.

Nassim J.

We had an amazing time with Crystal River Kayak Company and Dive Center! From start to finish, everything went smoothly. The staff was incredibly helpful and provided great advice on where to go, making sure we had the best experience possible. The location is perfect—just a short paddle to Three Sisters Springs, which made exploring the area super convenient. The equipment was in great condition, and the whole process was easy and stress-free. Overall, a fantastic experience! Highly recommend for anyone looking to kayak in Crystal River.

Lexi

Can’t recommend enough!! I’m a local and have been on the water many times but it was the first time taking my 3 year old, so I was a little nervous making the paddle from the closest public launch to Three Sisters with her. CRKC is a much shorter paddle so I thought I’d give them a try and I’m so glad I did. They were very accommodating and helped me in any way I needed. Whether you’re an experienced paddler or someone that doesn’t know where to start, I absolutely recommend launching/renting from here.

I paid $5 to launch my own board and no charge for parking. Launch fees are more expensive during manatee season, but their customer service and proximity to the spring would make it worth it, especially if you’re from out of town or not used to the waters. Happy paddling!