Deluxe Manatee Swim Tour

Overview

Your Deluxe Manatee Swim Tour provides a unique opportunity to view Florida's Nature Coast. CRWS is a proud member of the Save the Manatee Club Guardian Guide Program - promoting passive observation and responsible eco tourism. Your tour will take you past a state Archaeological Park, a State Nature Preserve and to a National Wildlife Refuge. You may view up to 57 varieties of birds, river otters, deer, pigs dolphins, a variety of fish and turtles besides the opportunity to swim in the area of the gentle giants manatees.

City: Crystal River

Tue 24 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $91.10

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Sep

Starting at $91.10

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Bottled water

Tour escort/host

Driver/guide

Use of Snorkelling equipment

Live commentary on board

Local taxes

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to tour!
Wear bathing suits for your arrival
Bring Towels & Sunscreen.
Bring clothes to put on once done swimming that may get wet, but will keep you comfortable for the return boat ride.
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
While we have always maintained a sanitary work environment, we have increased our cleaning efforts to comply with DAN recommendations fully. Divers Alert Network (DAN) – https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/news/dan-encourages-divers-and-dive-operators-to-properly-disinfect-dive-gear

What To Expect

Crystal River Watersports

The address is our marina/dive shop and here you will get ready for your boat tour and manatee swim.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (183)

Indymomma2

Oct 2019

Just spent 4 days at Disney World and the Manatees won as the highlight of our trip. We got to see a mama and baby up close and another female that had just come in from the gulf. The ride out through the nature preserve was fun and Captains Jon and Don were very knowledgeable. The pictures are amazing. I highly recommend buying the USB of pics. My 8 and 11 year old boys can’t stop talking about this experience. Absolutely breathtaking. It brought me to tears.

Response from Host

Dec 2019

Aren't the manatees absolutely amazing? Disney is great, but I think the manatees are the real magical creature of Florida. Once people look into their eyes, they fall in love with our giant, adorable sea potatoes. Many people don't realize how gorgeous the Nature Coast of Florida is, and the route our boat takes between the Archaeological Park and the Crystal River Preserve is beautiful. You never know what you will see on any given day, but it never disappoints. We are so happy you and your sons had a great time. Thank you so much for choosing us at Crystal River Watersports for your tour, and for writing a review for us.

MarkLovelock

Oct 2019

The experience that Crystal River Watersports provides is amazing. Being able to swim with these creatures in their natural habitat was great. Being able to do it with my young family and feel completely at ease and safe was next level. Captain Haley and Don absolutely made the excursion for us. Not only were they engaging and fun, but they were also professional, and extremely knowledgeable about the animals, the area and even the ongoing sustainability projects that their company is participating in to help enhance the manatees environment. I'm sure that swimming with the manatees would have been a neat thing to do with a run of the mill place, but I thought that Haley and Don really went the extra mile for us. My parents (who did not swim) couldn't stop talking about how knowledgeable and friendly Haley was while we were all in the water. She even took incredible care of my daughter when she was uncomfortable with her mask and wanted to get out and stay in the boat. Haley immediately got her a new mask, made sure it fit and that she was comfortable and convinced her to get back in. This literally saved the day for my daughter. Don was also great with the kids. He made sure they got close to the animals, while reassuring them that they were safe. He also took some wonderful pictures that we will be printing for sure when we get home. All in all this is a really cool experience, made even better by an environmentally responsible company that provides great customer service.

Response from Host

Dec 2019

Thank you Mark, The staff at Crystal River Watersports are all so happy that you and your family enjoyed your tour with us. We all feel really lucky to be working at job that we love. The manatees are just amazing, and being able to share the incredible experience of swimming with them, and learning about them is both enjoyable and fulfilling. Jacques Cousteau once said that "People protect what they love". If we can give people the chance to be close to a manatee, look in it's eyes and fall in love with the huge, gentle and peaceful mammal, then that means that we have given the manatee another defender/protector for the manatee and its home. As one of only two companies that have earned the Save the Manatee Club's Guardian Guide designation, we are committed to protecting the manatee, and also help our guests learn more about the manatees, their environment and the eco-system in our part of Florida, which is the largest wintering area for manatees in the world. The greatest thing is that by maintaining the rules that protect the manatee, we are also providing the best experience for our guests. We have found that passive observation means that the manatees are more likely to be comfortable with our guests and are much more likely to act on their natural instincts because they do not feel threatened or crowded. We really appreciate our guests commitment to the manatees and their protection and are delighted that everyone in your group enjoyed the tour. We will make sure to let Hailey and Don know that you enjoyed the trip.

Tina M

Oct 2019

Captain Haley and Don were so professional and fun! We learned so much today, and were able to experience yet another great trip with Crystal River Watersports! Thank you, we will be back again soon- The Mason’s

Response from Host

Dec 2019

Dear Tina and the rest of the Mason family, The staff and owners of Crystal River Watersports can't tell you how much we appreciate your continued support. Although swimming with the manatees is often viewed as a "bucket list" item, many people completely fall in love with our gentle giants and the one time visit becomes multiple trips to swim with these amazing animals. When our guests come back more than once, they get a better understanding of the manatees and our unique eco-system here in Crystal River. Our captains and guides attend multiple training sessions each year, and assist with manatee heath assessments and rescues. This means that they not only can help the manatees, but also so we can share our love and knowledge with our guests and the experts. Thank you for inspiring us to do better, and for visiting us once again. Sandi