Manatee Swim Tour with In Water Photographer
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Our Manatee Swim tour at Explorida was Voted Trip Advisors 2022 "Top Ten Bucket List Experience in THE WORLD!" Swimming with the manatees is a once in a lifetime experience so do it right! Dont cram into a small dive shop. Spread out and enjoy plenty of space at Explorida! The Explorida Adventure Center offers a large, top notch facility that is climate controlled with indoor changing rooms for your privacy. Our boats are U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified, which means they are allowed to carry more than 6 passengers, have all necessary safety equipment, and are in tip top shape. Dont get stuck on a clunker! Book with Explorida! We are dedicated to the customer experience and will not disappoint! Let us prove it!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Level One Snorkel Experience Recommended
Infants are still considered to take up a seat on a USCG Inspected Vessel. You must pay full price for an infant.
Children Under The Age Of 3 & Pets/Service Animals Are Only Permitted On Private Tours
This is a wildlife encounter, and due to the unpredictability of Mother Nature, conditions vary daily. If you have any questions, feel free to call
In order to maintain operational efficiency, we require a minimum of three guests per boat to operate. Guests may purchase additional tickets if the capacity is not met, which will be reimbursed if another group joins.
Trip Advisor is a third party booking system designed to reserve tours with Explorida Adventure Center. Visit our website for more information and to connect with Explorida directly.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Safe USCG Certified Boats
Bottled water
In-Water Gude/Photographer
Wetsuit
Float Noodles Provided
Snorkel Gear
Photos and videos available for an additional fee at the end of your tour.
What To Expect
Hop aboard one of our safe, comfortable, and clean US Coast Guard certified vessels where you will join your Master Captain to embark on your journey into the Kings Bay refuge waters. Our master captains are trained to find manatees on your manatee tour, even in the offseason, and will deliver the best manatee tour in Crystal River, FL—every time. You will be paired with one of our expert in-water guides who will be with you every step of the way to assist in making your manatee tour safe and memorable. Your in-water guide will also serve as your professional photographer to capture your manatee swim memories, and those photos will be available for purchase upon arrival back to our facility. For this tour, all required gear is included at no additional charge.
You can swim with manatees in Citrus County, Florida. Swimming with the manatees is a privilege that is unique to Citrus County, which is why the small county has earned its world famous title of the ‘Manatee Capital of the World’. Nowhere else in the world can you legally swim with the manatees in their natural habitat, as you can do with us! When looking for things to do in Florida, add swimming with the manatees to the top of your list, and let Explorida be your guide!
Options
Daily Rate
Reviews
2,233 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Once-in-a-lifetime-experience
Claudia S,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took a manatee-tour and snorkeled with Ben an Capt‘n J.Q. It has been wonderful to meet these lovely creatures in their habitat. Thank you so much for guiding us! Claudia & Janet.
Once in a lifetime manatee encounter
Golourdesduarte,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was my second time swimming with manatees on an Explorida adventure, and I loved it! Although it took us some time to find manatees, Ethan and Captain GQ made sure we had an incredible experience. Once we finally spotted a manatee, we were pleased to find that her very playful calf was also nearby. We were able to passively observe these gentle giants and got some amazing images as well. Ethan and Captain GQ were also so knowledgeable about the area and wildlife, giving us fun facts along the way. 10/10 recommend!
Definitely recommend!
ryanmZ464UM,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was so amazing ! The tour was great and we saw a bunch! Definitely recommend! The group that ran the tour was incredibly knowledgeable
Amazing experience
Joanna J,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fabulous experience. Really welcoming staff when we arrived. We had captain Kelly & guide Ethan, & they were both so lovely. One of our kids was a bit nervous about getting in the water & they were really helpful & supportive & she managed to get in & enjoy the experience. We got to see manatees in really clear water & spent a really good amount of time with them. The experience is not rushed at all & they made a real effort to make sure we got the most from it.
There were 4 of us (me,...
SARAH B,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00There were 4 of us (me, husband, sister, and brother-in-law). This was our first time snorkeling and my husband was having issues (afraid he would disturb the manatees), Captain John helped my husband with the snorkeling anxiety and he even got to experience springs the rest of the group did not experience. Our guide Meg took us to several spots to watch the manatees, including Three Sisters Spring. We had a great time and highly recommend Captain John and Meg.
Great experience!
heatherbN8704ZU,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00GQ and Faith were awesome! We had a great time! Faith is great with the camera! We highly recommend this experience. Thankful for being so mindful and respectful of the maters and their survival.
Experience of a lifetime!
167kendral,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain John and Guide Ethan were amazing! We had a great time and got to see three manatee. We even saw a mom and baby nursing! It was incredible to experience. They walk you through what to do to get as close as possible to the manatee without getting in their way. What a cool experience! The whole team was super nice and we had a really great day!
A special moment
sarahbX4547YH,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a unique experience, a real jam glass moment. Meg was a fantastic guide and GQ a very good captain. A lot was explained and the mood was relaxed. When we saw the Manatees we were well guided and had a great encounter in the water. Meg took beautiful pictures
Fabulous First time Experiance
GoPlaces30703797102,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our captain Kelly went above and beyond making sure her guests would be able to swim with Manatees before prime season begins in mid November. Madeline, our expert diver/guide did a fabulous job getting 9 first timers in position to actually swim above those gentle mammals. You could see the hair on the bodies and hear them chomping sea grass! It was a wonderful experience with Explorida!! Thank you Kelly and Madeline!
Manatees 😍
courtneysM2685IN,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a great time and saw a couple different manatees. Ethan and Gavin were great! We will definitely be back sometime and will request them again.
From $74.00
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