This was on my boyfriend's bucket list, and between 4 or 5 companies, I chose Gulf Coast Expeditions based on the small group (6), the amount of time spent, and the price. You definitely get what you pay for, and a very personal experience! Ron is a very experienced captain and we felt safe and informed. Lauren has dedicated time to learning about manatees and how to make this experience wonderful for everyone. She always let us know why we were in certain areas and tried to get maximum exposure to manatees, including putting me in place to take a picture with one! She was a lifesaver for fixing my snorkel mask too!
If anyone is looking for a company to swim with manatees, THIS. IS. IT!! We warmed up with dry towels and hot coffee on the trip back, what an amazing experience!