I've always wanted to swim with manatees, and this trip was a fantastic opportunity to experience incredibly close encounters with them. Captain Ron and first mate Lauren were both amazing-- funny, friendly, informative, and super helpful. There are far fewer manatees to see in the Crystal River area later in the season,, so I wasn't hopeful about even spotting any. But Ron and Lauren were relentless in tracking them down and guiding us in the water to get the best view while still maintaining "manatee-friendly" rules. Coming almost face to face with a manatee feeding on the grassy bottom was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!