This tour fulfilled a dream I've had for a long time. Capt. Mark and Diver Jake were really great guides and very personable. After a brief orientation and suiting up in our wetsuits, we (4 + the guides) headed out to Kings Bay. They quickly found a lone manatee and we entered the water which was about 4 ft. deep. The guides mentioned that in the spring-time most of the manatees are found solo as this one was. It was just grazing on the eel grass and cruising. We were instructed how to swim with little motion because the manatee tend to swim off otherwise and in the calm water it was not too difficult to keep around or just over the gentle giant. I smiled so big a little water trickled into my mask, but no problem. Then another manatee showed up for twice the delight. One of them swam up close to me and we were actually face-to-face (well about a foot apart) for a moment. That was a 'wow' among many 'wows'! The guides told us about how the community came together about 10 yrs. ago, realizing their economic base was fishing and manatee swimming tours, and they made serious conservation and protection efforts that allow the manatees (and fish) to thrive there. They still plant grass where needed and make sure it's clean - sort of like tending a garden for the manatees. BTW, these guides use 5mm wetsuits which makes it very easy to float (like a skydiver as they said) while we saw other groups that, in addition to the wetsuits, needed "noodles" because their suits were too thin alone. Our guides really knew what they're doing, made us comfortable with their clear instructions and have good, clean equipment and boat. Additionally, Jake took photos and a video that included us and the manatees so we have that to bring home and show others as well as a treasured keepsake of a very special experience. I took the photos below. I highly recommend this small group tour and hope to return sometime to do it again. Thank you Mark and Jake!