Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer
Overview
Just like our regular tours, you can swim alongside manatees for even longer. Only 6 people per vessel allows for a more personal experience The price includes all equipment, full 5mm wet suits, mask, snorkel, towel service, hot chocolate, coffee, hot showers, boat coats and heated changing facility.
What's Included
- Boat Coats for cold mornings!
- Use of Full 5mm wet-suits (for extra warmth), Mask & Snorkels
- Towel Service
- Coffee, Hot Chocolate, bottle water
- US Coast Guard certified captain and Professionally Insured in water guide!
- Gratuities
- DVD or Flash Drive (available to purchase)
- Swimsuits
Meeting Location
9301 West Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 34429, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Crystal River offers the best location to see and interact with the Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, also known as gentle giants. Unlike other areas of Florida, the federal government allows for "passive observation" in the water between manatees and people in Kings Bay. This allows face-to-face interaction with manatees. We provide pre-tour education on passive observation and how to get the best experience during the tour. We also offer a hotel package including accommodations and breakfast with your Florida manatee tour.
Swimming with the manatees and exploring the greater Kings Bay estuary and springs is extremely popular. Manatee tour experiences are best done by snorkeling while wearing wet suits, making the interaction as silent as possible. This way the manatees are more inclined to approach and get close. We maintain new suits and snorkel gear, all included in our manatee tours, as well as full-service facilities for changing. Your in-water guide will be taking videos and pictures of your manatee experience, which will be available for purchase at the dive shop. All our tour boats are fully enclosed in the winter time to protect you from the wind and cold. We provide coffee, hot chocolate, water and dry towels on every tour.
Summer VS Winter
Manatee tours are temperature driven. The colder it is the more manatees we see, and the closer they are to the springs. During cold days in manatee season (November 15th to March 31st) Kings Bay could have over 700 manatees. Please keep in mind that even inside manatee season we may have warm weather (summer like conditions). We see manatees in Kings Bay year round. To some this is their home and they'll stay here their whole lives. In the summer months, and anytime we have warmer weather, the temperature of the water outside the springs increments. This makes the rest of the bay more appealing to the manatees. The 20 to 40 manatees that stay here year round don't move together, so they'll spread out in the 630 acres of Kings Bay. This is a wildlife experience determined by weather, tides, time of the day, and the behavior of all visitors. When we have "summer like" conditions you have the opportunity to see manatees in their natural habitat, and it is important to have realistic expectations. We are always happy to answer any questions about what you could expect inside or outside manatee season.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wet-suits available in children's size 6 up to 3XL
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(8)Q: Will I get seasick on Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
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Activity code: C-62758P3
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.97 out of 5 stars based on 729 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.
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If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy.
Feb 2023- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT).
- Boat Coats for cold mornings!.
- Use of Full 5mm wet-suits (for extra warmth), Mask & Snorkels.
- Towel Service.
- Coffee, Hot Chocolate, bottle water.
- US Coast Guard certified captain and Professionally Insured in water guide!.
- Gratuities.
- DVD or Flash Drive (available to purchase).
- Swimsuits.
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025The minimum age to participate is 1. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Boat Coats for cold mornings!
- Use of Full 5mm wet-suits (for extra warmth), Mask & Snorkels
- Towel Service
- Coffee, Hot Chocolate, bottle water
- US Coast Guard certified captain and Professionally Insured in water guide!
- Gratuities
- DVD or Flash Drive (available to purchase)
- Swimsuits
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wet-suits available in children's size 6 up to 3XL
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
- Operated by a business
