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Manatee Swim: Family-Friendly Private Tours
5.0
774 Ratings
Crystal River
Experience the thrill of swimming with wild manatees on our small group, family-oriented tour. Enjoy a private and stress-free experience with our experienced guides. All gear included!
Experience the thrill of swimming with wild manatees on our small group, family-oriented tour. Enjoy a private and stress-free experience with our experienced guides. All gear included!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Nature’s Discovery Manatee Tours - Enjoy complimentary photos from May to November! Climb aboard our cozy passenger vessel for a personal snorkeling adventure with the Florida Manatee! Journey through the picturesque King’s Bay in Crystal River, Florida, as we search for the wild Florida Manatee.
We specialize in family-friendly small group and…
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Nature’s Discovery Manatee Tours - Enjoy complimentary photos from May to November! Climb aboard our cozy passenger vessel for a personal snorkeling adventure with the Florida Manatee! Journey through the picturesque King’s Bay in Crystal River, Florida, as we search for the wild Florida Manatee.
We specialize in family-friendly small group and private manatee snorkeling tours. Upon arrival, guests will meet their in-water tour guide, who will escort them to the boat and capture photos throughout the experience!
During the boat ride, our knowledgeable in-water guide and captain will educate guests on the correct way to snorkel with these protected creatures, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all ages! Once a manatee is spotted in our expansive 600-acre Bay, guests will disembark to snorkel with the manatee. Our guide will lead guests to the manatees and take underwater photos during the entire tour. Guests are welcome to bring their own camera equipment or simply relax and let the in-water guide capture unforgettable memories!
What's Included
- In-Water Tour Guide
- Wetsuits
- Bottled water
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package Included from May-November
- In-Water Tour Guide
- Wetsuits
- Bottled water
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Photo Package Included from May-November
What's Not Included
- Gratuity for captain and guide
- Towels and bathing suits
- Gratuity for captain and guide
- Towels and bathing suits
Additional Information
Complimentary Photos from May to November!
Our owner-operated tours are dedicated to providing small group, family-friendly excursions!
Our locally owned business operates vessels with a maximum capacity of 6 passengers, ensuring a private experience for you and your loved ones! Our tour guides boast extensive experience working with guests of all ages…
Complimentary Photos from May to November!
Our owner-operated tours are dedicated to providing small group, family-friendly excursions!
Our locally owned business operates vessels with a maximum capacity of 6 passengers, ensuring a private experience for you and your loved ones! Our tour guides boast extensive experience working with guests of all ages worldwide and specialize in family-oriented groups to offer you the highest quality experience swimming with wild manatees! As a small tour company, our guides can work closely with you to ensure a fun, stress-free experience that you deserve. If your group is smaller, you can rent the entire boat for a more private experience!
As a small, locally-owned company, quality is our top priority, and our experienced crew will ensure that you and your family have the best possible experience with us!
All necessary gear is included for your convenience!
- THIS EXPERIENCE CAN ONLY ACCOMODATE 6 PERSONS MAX!
Location
Nature's Discovery Manatee Tours
Southeast US Highway 19
Meet us at our shop location fifteen minutes ahead of your tour time to get checked in and suited up with wetsuits!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(774 Ratings)
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Adventurer2257
Aug 1, 2025
Family memories viewing these amazing creatures - My family had the best time yesterday with Captain John and Jayden. We were able to see three manatees! The tour was relaxing and professional and I am happy to have had this amazing experience. I would definitely recommend this company and would love to do it again someday.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sherpa151744
Jul 27, 2025
Book here for a tour that’s all about you – not the crowd - Very personal tour, they put real effort in spotting manatees, which are not that numerous in summer, to make sure you have a great experience. Also you get to make choices what you want to see (chrytal clear springs, more manatees). The tour guide Amanda and her captain are easygoing folks you’ll feel comfortable with right away.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heidi981
Jul 26, 2025
Amazing experience - the envy of our friends! - John, our boat captain, and Karizma, our hostess, in water guide, and chauffeur, were fantastic!
We booked the 10:30 trip and left at 10:29 for the short trip to the docks. Although the trip could have up to 12 ppl, we had a private trip. Quite impressed that they still ran the trip with just the 2 of us.
Anyway, once at the docks, we met up with John who took us to the boat and got us set up with masks, a safety briefing, and then we headed out in search of the manatees. Within a short time, we found other boats with large groups (glad we were not with them - too many people) in the water. We got in line and another boat with a "smaller group" was kind enough to let us join their group.
Once we could move in to see the manatees, Karizma, was amazing. She reminded us what we needed to do, guided us toward the manatees, and took great shots while we relaxed and followed the manatees. In fact, she did way more than the other group's guide did for them and she helped their group too!
We were in the water for about 45 minutes and really enjoyed our time. I am not sure where else you can get SO close to a creature in their natural habitat! What an experience!
Karizma took great photos and she emailed them to us before we even got changed and left the building. Even better, the photos were included in their very reasonable price! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! My husband and I highly recommend Nature's Discovery
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rogier
Jul 25, 2025
What an experience!! - Swim with manatees in Crystal River today, what an experience!! We met a mother manatee with twins, which turns out to be very special. Usually there is only 1 young. What relaxed animals, but immensely large, especially through diving goggles 😅
Review provided by Tripadvisor
385cindik
Jul 23, 2025
- We had a wonderful experience! John the captain and Jake the tour guide were so knowledgeable funny and friendly! They made sure that we found and swam with the manatees and we got to swim for an hour side by side with one! We ended up seeing 3 manatees in all!! Best experience ever!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_p
Jul 20, 2025
Amazing Manatee Experience! - This was an amazing experience for our family! Captain Evan and lead swimmer Sam made this trip so great. Their knowledge and friendliness was much appreciated especially having our younger kids with us. They keep the groups small and intimate as well as include video and pictures. Will definitely be back!!
Review provided by Viator
Dawn
Jul 16, 2025
Hangin loose with the manatee! - The activity was extremely engaging and the tour guides made sure that everyone felt comfortable as they entered the water. They gave clear expectations and it was a total chill environment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
99trentc
Jul 9, 2025
Amazing - We got really lucky and swam with around 5 manatees it was amazing best experience yet! Really cool tour guide with awesome staff!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_s
Jul 4, 2025
July Manatees - Was a fun trip. Finally got to see a mother and baby up close and got some cool pictures of manatee and also cool pictures of kiddos in springs! Jake and Karizma were great! Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Eikeraft
Jul 24, 2025
Disengaging and non-communicative experience - We booked a semi private manatee tour for 2-3 hours - we are a family of 4 with two children aged 14 and 11. We have tried manatee tours in crystal river before. The reason for the lower rating was because we unfortunately found the crew disengaging and the experience rather stressful and with a feeling of being constant behind the other groups in the water.
Due to high tide and less clear water we stayed in a side river very close to the dock. There were several other boats and our captain and swim guide decided to drop us off rather far away from the few manatees which were shared by the groups, which meant we had to swim fast and rather long distances to keep up with the manatees, and always behind other groups. The swim guide was non-way communicative and often left us behind - as our 11 years old daughter could not keep up. Two of us saw the manatees in full and two os us only a tail vaguely in the water. We missed a more communicative and proactive crew who could tailor the experience to two children and make sure we - at some point - had the chance to be first in line to see the manatees.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
