My 11 year old son LOVES manatees and learned to swim (not an easy feat) just so he could have this experience. I did a ton of research on different tours, companies, etc. and could not be more thankful we chose River Ventures!!! The ladies in the front office, and their 4 legged helpers could not have been more friendly! Boat captain Emerson was great with a sassy dry sense of humor. Our guide Matt was just incredible! There were 6 of us on the tour, 5 adults and my son. My son was the first one in the water and Matt made sure he got in, adjusted his snorkel and brought him right over to meet his first manatee. Over the course of the tour, he continued to ensure that not only my son but all of us, had a great experience. Mid November is one of the best times to see manatees in Florida and there was no shortage of them on this tour! Both Matt and Emerson have a great deal of knowledge about manatees and other Florida marine life. Their passion for what they do is evident. My son has not stopped talking about this since our tour on Sunday. Matt & Emerson, thank you so much for making this such an incredible experience and a dream come true for a little boy! We will MOST DEFINITELY be back!