Classic Crystal River Manatee Swim Tour with Free Photos
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
This amazing snorkeling experience is only available in Crystal River, Florida!
This is the only Coast Guard-certified vessel that includes free photos at the end of your adventure! Avoid $10 parking fees and $5 marina fees that get added on once you arrive. Avoid paying $50 for the photo package at the end of the trip or companies that charge extra for their snorkeling equipment and book with us at Nature's Discovery Manatee Tours!
Get remarkable up-close encounters with the magnificent Florida Manatee! Experience the "true Florida" with a snorkeling experience that your family will never forget!
Manatee Season is from November 15-March 31 but we are able to run incredible swim tours throughout the year! Children aged 3+ and Adult tickets are the same price. If you would like to bring children under 3 years old, you must book private. Call us for private tour pricing!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wetsuits fit from Child 2 to Adult 6x
THIS EXPERIENCE CAN ONLY ACCOMODATE 12 PERSONS MAX!
Not recommended for travelers with weak knees: guests must use boat ladder
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Avoid the hidden fees and book with this family owned-and-operated snorkeling adventure of a lifetime! We provide everything from the gear you'll use, parking and even free photos at the end! Up to 12 may join in on this epic excursion throughout the King's Bay Manatee Refuge. Hop aboard The Manatee Duchess and search for the incredible manatees that call our area home. Learn more about our town and wildlife during your search for manatees as your in-water guide and captain educate and instruct guests on how to conduct ourselves in the water. Manatees vary in numbers throughout the year, so sometimes it takes five minutes and sometimes over an hour to find one in our 600-acre bay. When we have found a manatee, swim alongside the graceful and impressive manatees while your in-water guide takes photos and assists guests who need any help. Guests will snorkel in a calm and quiet manner, assisted in floating by the wetsuits and swim noodles provided with your tour. Reminder: this is a natural experience and, while we are able to find manatees year-round, conditions vary day-to-day. If you have any questions about conditions or the experience feel free to contact us.
What‘s Included
Free Underwater Photo Package! (Up to $50 value!)
Small Groups
Use of Snorkeling Equipment and Wetsuits ($25 value!)
Hot chocolate on cold days
Admission to Pete's Pier ($5 value Per Person!)
Free Parking ($10 value!)
In-water guides
Gratuity for captain and guide
Towels and bathing suits
Options
Classic Crystal River Manatee Swim Tour with Free Photos
Reviews
177 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Awesome experience!
FloydHayes,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an excellent experience. The staff were exceptionally polite and helpful, and provided excellent instructions for all of us participants to follow. I enjoyed snorkeling with about 15 manatees for about an hour. It was awesome experience!
Great Experience
Nikki F,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time with Jaydyn and Cap John. Everything was on time and Jaydyn made sure he found a great spot for all of us to see manatee. The experience was unforgettable and we will be back with more family.
Great Family Experience
karenfZ7314NP,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great tour with Captain Mack and Hudson. Knowledgeable nice and thoughtful young men who really enjoy what they do and answered as many questions you could ask. My family really enjoyed the tour, they were able to seen many manatees and thought it was great to be bumped by them. I stayed on the boat and was able to get some great pictures.
A mandatory experience
Salkleskuiskles,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great experience, the guides very careful with nature, we enjoyed very much from the smallest to the oldest of us. Thank you to all the team!
Once in a lifetime!!!
emilykD9256FE,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had an amazing time snorkeling with the manatees on Crystal River! John was our captain and Jaden was our guide - they both were so kind and energetic, informative and helpful. Jaden was such a calming presence in the water, the manatees flocked to him and therefore us! This experience was above and beyond!
Best time ever!!!
Cindy R,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was Awesome!!! Great Guide (Jaden), Great Captain, very organized, family friendly, no rush, very relaxing, saw lots and lots of Manatee 😊 Highly Recommend!!
Freezing but amazing
Theresia N,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Hudson & Jake were amazing! We were there on Jan 18, with rain, wind, freeze warning, all-around miserable day. We had the 10:30am tour at around 50 degrees. But there were so many manatees! Hudson & Jake kept the mood light as we shivered (:
Best day ever!
LoveTravel520434,,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Oh my gosh! What a memorable day with the manatees! Our guide, Caleb was so friendly and knowledgeable. He was very forthcoming and made the day not only educational, but very comfortable as well. Captain John took us out to where the manatees were feeding and resting and he was also very friendly. We found a small group very quickly in nice clear water. After about 45 minutes, we were all getting tired but we hung on a little longer because it was so amazing we didn’t want to leave. Thank goodness we stayed, because a few minutes later, an adult male floated towards me and gave me a kiss on the cheek! A few minutes after that, he did it again! I was absolutely thrilled! A moment I’ll never forget! Thank you for a once in a lifetime experience!
VERY easy going/laid back experience! GREAT staff (Stephen)!
Sue S,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00You meet at their shop (very welcoming staff), change into a wetsuit (plenty of changing stalls), they'll drive everyone to the pier to the boat via van (not even 2 minutes away). From there, the boat (pretty decent size) will take you to go see the manatees. Captain was very sweet as well. They give snorkel equipment & a noodle to stay afloat. Once they see a manatee, you get off the boat & into the water. The water (to me & my friends) was a bit cold (70's) despite it being warm (80's) outside but you do get used to it...(kinda). The experience itself was a bit anticlimatic in my opinion as you just float and watch until the manatee comes up for air. Stephen did say that they're less active in the "afternoon" (we did the 10:30am session) and they sleep majority of the time. Stephen was nice enough to take us to different areas to spot different manatees. We got to see 4 different ones! He & the captain gave us a lot of information about manatees which was nice as well. It definitely is a once-in-a-lifetime experience as we were literally face to face with a manatee. The hot chocolate at the end was the cherry on top ! However, I do wish we were out there for longer... we were only in the water for about 1-1.5 hour (the experience is listed to be about 3 hours but we finished everything within 2). I also wish that the photos that were taken were of us WITH the manatees not just one or the other (like an actual pose with a manatee individually; most of the photos were just of the manatee...).
Peaceful & amazing manatee experience
Leslie A,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Pleasant, low key & peaceful activity. Caption John & Hudson the guide were friendly & professionals. Appreciated the respect they showed to the manatees, other boaters/swimmers.
From US$76.95
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Operated by Nature's Discovery