Sea Daddys Adventures and Dive Center - Crystal River, Florida

Dayna M.

Day’s Trips, LLC brought 52 people from the East Coast (3.5 hours away) to Sea Daddy’s to swim with manatees. I would give these folks 100 gold stars if Google would let me!
The experience was 100% great from start to finish!
Some of my folks required a little TLC and they were prepared: kind, gentle and respectful.
Extremely well run operation, clean facilities and exceptional employees.
I’m already planning next year’s trip!

Rose J.

I'm still smiling.This was truly a day we will never forget .A great time.. Saw too many manatees to count.And a baby manatee kept giving kisses .Too darn cute. The crew that took us out was very knowledgeable and informative. Made sure everyone enjoyed the day .They succeeded above and beyond.This was our 2nd time going .Plan on going again .This is for all ages . We highly recommend

Annmarie L.

Thank you everyone at Sea Daddy's Adventures and Dive Center for giving us such a personal experience of swimming with the manatees. Our ages ranged from 6 to 71 and we all enjoyed it. You helped us not only see the manatees but taught us to appreciate and respect them.

Dianne S.

A group from Day's Trips had a perfect day swimming with the manatees. The wet suit kept us almost warm. Swimming was easy in shallow water with a noodle. The guides took us to several areas with mamas and babies. I will definitely go back.

Eunice A.

💯 recommend the V.I.P all inclusive experience, we had a family of 4 which included my 7 and 8 year old sons! Colin was our spectacular guide, he made sure that my children had a memorable experience! Colin made sure to always check on my family’s well being, making sure that we were safe and able to continue swimming; always asking if my kids needed water or snacks between stops. This is a lifetime memory experience, something I will cherish and always remember! We were able to see a pregnant manatee as well as see them eating, resting and traveling! We did a fun walk through, saw an informative video about manatees and they were able to accommodate our family with wet suits as well as snorkel gear. They were so organized, we had such an amazing experience.

Charley

Collin was awesome and super funny. He kept the whole thing upbeat and remembered all of the groups names. Of course we can not help how nature chooses to act, we got to see a manatee and lots of other cool nature, but overall we had a blast! And will definitely do this again. The place is super clean with a lot of space and has a gift shop as well. We came 2 hours for this experience. Definitely recommend.

Craig C.

What a well run and accommodating outfit. We were a large group, over 50, and all of us saw and/or swam with the manatees. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a manatee, I highly recommend Sea Daddy's.

Emily N.

I have taken the manatee 3 hour tour with Sea Daddy adventures twice now, so I wanted to leave a review to shoutout what an incredible team they are and tell you some things I wanted to know!

Today Jess was our in water guide and Michelle was our captain. The duo were knowledgable, friendly, and also hilarious. In times we were searching for manatees to swim with , they gave us facts or jokes to fill the time and ensure we all had a great time. The first time we did this tour, we did not have an in water guide-If you want go pro pictures and an in-water guide, you must ADD that to your ticket. The price is more then reasonable. PS the pictures here are from my phone underwater- their pictures are MUCH better.

I am plus size (4XL) and they do have wetsuits that fit all body sizes- which is not the case for all the tour companies.Overall, this is a great company that is more than accommodating.

Below are the things I wanted to know or learned from going twice now with them:

1. You are seeing wild animals in a natural habitat- they cannot guarantee the quality of the water, visibility, or how many manatees you will see. Those things are up to nature! If you want to guarantee seeing a manatee, view them at the zoo. You will have the best chance at clear water and many manatees being in the water if you go during peak season. I am no expert, I think that season is mid November through February- google this to fact check me here 🙂

2. Your tour time will not be the full time in the water- there is preparation for the trip that is a part of the experience of the tour. Your 3 hour tour will not be 3 hours in the water, but they will get you in the water for as long as possible.

3. They have a great wildlife display they walk you through at th beginning of the tour. The more recent time we came it had been damaged after hurricanes Helene and Milton, but the first time we came this display was wonderful. Then, they have you watch a required video on safety for the manatees. Be respectful. Stay off your phone. Pay attention. These animals are protected and it is a privilege to be with them.

4. Wetsuits - this is the worst part of the tour. But, a necessary evil. They have incredibly size inclusive wet suits available so do not worry. Getting these on is a special slice of hell- but they will keep you warm and buoyant, so suck it up buttercup- the rest of the tour will be a magical time!

5. They take you on a small shuttle bus just about 3 minutes up the road to the marina. Then you get onto the boat and get a coastguard mandated safety brief. Please remember, they are doing their jobs to ensure you are safe, and so are the manatees!

6. The moment you get into the bay and springs, the staff are looking for manatees. The first trip we did not have an in water guide and visibility was pretty low- this was in June. In late October, there were more manatees and the water was very clear the day we went. Weather and other factors change visibility quickly- this is a natural habitat so be patient. The in water guide is an extra $60 for the guide and to have them take pictures. This is worth EVERY PENNY !! Our guide Jess was WONDERFUL!! Ask for her!!

7. They will pass manatees if there are other tour groups with them- this is to be respectful to the other companies and the manatees. Be patient, if they can get you next to the manatees they will, and they will get you into the water by one as soon as possible. Nature makes this hard sometimes.

8. Follow the rules, don't be an ass. My experience has been that they are experts and everything they tell you to do leads to the best experience possible.

9. They have a changing room and showers to get dressed before and after which is nice.

10. Leave everything in the car. They will hold your car keys, but only bring in what you ant to bring on the boat with you.

Overall, this is a fantastic company. They cannot guarantee nature for you, but they will do everything they can to give you a great experience. And pay the money for the in water guide/photos!