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Small Group VIP Manatee Pontoon Tour in Crystal River

Small Group VIP Manatee Pontoon Tour in Crystal River

Overview

We will let you in on a secret! You can get the high-end experience, with an affordable price tag! Our new heated (during winter), luxury pontoon aims to amp up the manatee sighting and deliver a more personal event! Observe the endangered West Indian Manatee in Crystal River’s idyllic Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your US Coast Guard licensed captains and guides will take you into the 600 acre spring fed refuge waters for viewing and snorkeling with these slow moving wild giants. All equipment, fees, snacks and beverages are included.

City: Crystal River

Fri 15 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $101.38

Make a reservation

Fri 15 Nov

Starting at $101.38

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Use of equipment (mask, snorkel gear and wet suit)

Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish

Beverages (bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and adult)

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Adult pricing applies to all travelers
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wetsuits are available in sizes from toddlers (2 years old and up) to adults up to 5X
It is advised that you have your swimsuit on underneath your clothes for a quicker check-in
Please bring a towel and a plastic bag to hold your belongings
Children Under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
Post COVID-19 Policy- We are mindful to thoroughly clean water vehicles between visitors.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands

What To Expect

River Ventures

Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals in a classroom type setting and receive tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. You will be taught the in’s and out’s of ‘passive interaction’ as this ensures that the animals enjoy the experience as much as we do! You will then be suited up and transported to the dock, where a Coast Guard certified covered pontoon will be waiting for you. This rich estuary will amaze…..birds, fish and wildlife abound! Submerge yourself in the manatee’s world! Finish your adventure by viewing your Captain’s photos back at our facility and be sure to visit our one-of-a-kind gift shop! Our well-informed staff will direct to other local attractions, restaurants and answer of your questions before you are on your way.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (565)

Debra C

Apr 2018

We booked this VIP manatee tour for the first day of our vacation so we'd have the best chance of seeing a manatee on this trip. Although we knew that early April was not the best time to go, as most manatees have left for the warmer gulf waters, we were encouraged by the fact that all the tours were still running. This tour operator has a very smooth operation, from booking to goodbyes. We were shocked at how quickly they sized the 6 of us up and got us into wetsuits. Our guides, JJ and Tanner, were excellent with all three generations of our family and provided us with a wealth of information about manatees, good instruction on how to behave near them, and fast assistance whenever we needed it. Although we only saw one manatee, and the water was somewhat murky, we all thought it was extremely exciting to be in the water with it for a good long time. Our guides pointed out a number of interesting birds too. They were not only knowledgeable, but very friendly and they made the trip a lot of fun. The second part of the trip, to Three Sisters' Springs, was also excellent; we enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear water, and JJ got some amazing underwater shots of those of us willing and able to swim down with him. One of the hidden perks of this tour was the fact that he took a lot of really great photos throughout the trip. We were under no obligation to buy them, but they were so good and so reasonably priced that we couldn't pass them up. The boat was well stocked with snacks and drinks (including hot cocoa for those who were cold.) All of this prepared us well for the rest of our trip. We were staying in a house on a canal in Homosassa where we were able to kayak to a river where the water was very clear and shallow, and we were lucky enough to be able to watch up to 4 manatees there every afternoon. On our last day, we got up the courage to get into the water to watch them. I'm sure we would not have done that if we didn't have the experience and knowledge gained on this tour. If you've never seen a manatee outside of an aquarium, I would highly recommend this tour even if it's a little late in the season.

Anonymous

Apr 2018

Captain Wade and Jay were knowledgeable about the river, its habitats and the Manatees. Their passion and respect for the river and manatees was visible snd genuine throughout the tour. Our swim with these gentle giants was beyond our expectations. We appreciated the tutorial provided before heading out onto the water providing us information on the manatees and reminding us that we are visitors in their home. We will totally book another tour with this company .

Ronald S

Apr 2018

These guys are the best! All the way from the booking experience to the actual tour, they exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Gloria, was energetic and eager to please. You could tell she was passionate about what she does. Captain Laura was awesome. She was great with my son, and worked really hard to find manatees. We ended up seeing scout twelve manatees, including one that hung out right at the boat and literally played with my kids. These ladies made a great team. We definitely recommend these guys. We are coming back next year, and we'll definitely be using River Ventures.