Manatee Tour and Dive - Crystal River, Florida

Megan W.

Gary and John were amazing! They did all they could to find the manatees including flying a drone and traveling all over the bay. John took so many wonderful pictures and videos documenting our time in the water. I highly recommend this tour group!!

Sabrina N.

We were adventurous enough to go at 8:00am. So glad we did. It was cold but we were provided with jackets and they were very warm. It was completely amazing!! Hunter Springs are the best!! I was face to face four times with these sweet faces. I would do this over and over again. Chad and John made us feel like old friends and made sure we were comfortable at all times.

Brandon

Great trip with Manatee Tour and Dive. Chad and Lacy took us out. My first time swimming with manatees and won’t be the last. The spring heads are crystal clear (see video and pics) and the visibility where we found the manatees wasn’t bad either. I expected worse after the hurricanes but was pleasantly surprised.

The manatees roam around freely and you have to find them then get in and hold still! The tour guide spent much of the time giving instructions to the kids and keeping them from disturbing the manatees. She did a fantastic job. I decided instead of trying to move and find them I would sit still. As with most marine life it worked well! While the entire group just circled swimming and trying to get pictures and the best angle… I had the mom and calf come up and sit 6-12” from my mask right in my face. Holding still worked well definitely the most important tip for having the best experience in my opinion.

Franek D.

This was the BEST experience on my Florida tour as an animal passionate so far! Even though the weather was so cold(what I think was better because there was much less people and more manatees) it was such an AMAZING experience. We’ve got really fluffy coats to keep warm during the ride to our destination and after we got a cup of delicious hot chocolate- everything to keep warm. Besides manatees we were lucky enough to see a lot of really interesting fish and even the TURTLE! When we got back to the store we were able to buy great photos taken during our tour by the best guide- LACY! I also want to thank the best captain that drove us to the springs:)!!!

Foodie 4.

Wow! We did the 2 pm tour today and Captain Dexter and Lacy made this experience extraordinary! They made sure we swam with manatees despite the challenge of finding them. Everyone on our tour were taken care of! Lacy also stayed back to make sure that I caught up and saw the manatees too and she helped me back on the boat. Hot chocolates and tea were available to warm us up after our tour, which made this experience all the more enjoyable! Thank you Lacy and Captain Dexter!

Heather W. E. R.

We had the best time with Captain Chad and guide Lacy! We were concerned about the colder than normal air temperature of 48 degrees, but it was perfect for manatee watching! Several swam under and close to us as we floated. Lacy kept us calm and brought us to the best viewing area. Incredible experience!

Michelle R.

Had the unexpected opportunity for a tour with my friend for her birthday. We did not dive with the manatees. Our guide Matthew was fun, knowledgeable and easy to talk with. While in the bay we had a dolphin follow along with the boat. We saw a momma and baby manatee. Several new birds added to my life list.

Autumn F.

I had an incredible experience swimming with manatees in Florida! From start to finish, the trip was well-organized and enjoyable. Captain John and our guide were amazing—friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we all felt comfortable.

Before heading out, they showed us an informational video and provided everything we needed: wetsuits, snorkel gear, changing rooms, and even a coat for the chilly boat ride (we went in December, so this was much appreciated). On the way back, they warmed us up with delicious hot chocolate—such a thoughtful touch!

We visited two locations, and it was absolutely magical swimming with the manatees. They emphasized the importance of not touching the manatees, which I really appreciated as it showed their dedication to protecting these gentle creatures.

At the end of the tour, they offered a photo and video package for $45, or $15 for a single photo. It was a great way to capture the memories.

Overall, I had an amazing time and would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Florida!