Swim With Manatees In Crystal River, Florida

Overview

Our guided "Swim With the Manatees" tour is our number one attraction. You get the opportunity to experience manatees up close and personal in their natural habitat on colder days. Manatee season runs from November 15th through March 31st each year. We have amazing local guides who know our waters very well so you could spot several manatees in the right conditions. The colder the temperatures, the more manatees you will see. On warmer days/weeks, some tours get zero manatees because it is a natural environment and they are not always around to see. The manatees head back out to the Gulf of Mexico where the food supply is more bountiful for them. You will learn the right way to interact with these amazing animals through passive observation and learn all about our ecosystem here in Crystal River.

City: Crystal River

Tue 19 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

Tue 19 Nov

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Private transportation

Use of Snorkelling equipment

Wetsuit

Life Vest

Kayak or Paddleboard

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Moderate physical activity is required to kayak/paddleboard and swim with the manatees.
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
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (37)

ericaO8163JM

Jan 2021

5 stars is the max I can give because trip advisor said e said so. It does not do this family operation justice. They are phenomenal My wife booked the trip so I was not sure what to expect. The building is lightly colored and Inviting. As soon as you walk in you are greeted with a heart felt hello, not a scripted one like you get at major chain stores/restaurants We had a reservation and Jessica got us all squared away with a smile. She was our assigned guide and I could not imagine anyone else for future outings. Jessica showed a level of passion, love and knowledge of not just the manatees but the entire ecosystem that is infectious I could not help but ask more questions. She was happy to answer and share every step of the way. She was an absolute delight and I highly recommend her for any future outings. There are quite a few options when searching the area for folks who offer similar experiences but I can guarantee you stick with Paddles Outdoor and you will not regret it. O yeah and Jessica made sure we got to see manatees too that for me was just icing on the cake for this amazing family operation

Response from Host

Feb 2021

THANK YOU ERIC!!!!!! Your review absolutely hits home as to WHY we started our business. We are family-owned and operated, as you know, and our team really takes on the same mindset from top to bottom. We all know that it is our GUESTS that drive the business, not the employees. We are truly lucky to have the ability to meet people from all over the world and show them what makes Crystal River a special place to visit. We feel that Jessica is amazing, just like you stated, and we are extremely grateful to have her on our team. Thank you so much for recognizing her in your review because she takes great pride in representing Paddles Outdoor Rentals. Please come back to visit us again soon and thanks again for your awesome review :)

blossompas

Jan 2021

We had an amazing time! From start to finish everyone was so professional friendly and knowledgeable! We were a group of 11. Hunter aka “Tyler”😂 Was the best. He answered my million manatee questions, made sure we abided by the rules and also made us laugh! The pictures he took were crazy good! Thank you for helping me check off a bucket list!! It was seriously one of the best things I ever did! I wish your company nothing but the best with great success! You deserve it!

Response from Host

Feb 2021

Wowzaaaa!!! Sounds like we wish we would have been on that tour as well lol.... We absolutely get so happy when we read such great reviews about tours that our guests take with our amazing guides. PLEASE come back to visit us again the next time you're in the area. Thanks again for the well wishes and see you soon :)

Bran F

Jan 2021

Ever have a baby manatee give you a kiss? How about having a 1000 lb adult swim under you so closely it’s hairs brush you? Mom-stop Jess guided us on our kayak / swim. She stressed passive swimming and avoiding disturbing these amazing creatures. But they are curious creatures if you don’t act the fool. We wil never forget this experience and urge everybody to do this at least once!

Response from Host

Feb 2021

Sound like you had an awesome experience with Jessica and the curious manatees. Please come back to visit again soon and thanks for taking the time to write your review :)