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 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!
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.
Options
Daily Rate
Reviews
2,258 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent swim with stellar guides
sallyrD6281XE,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful tour with Topher and Kelly. They were super knowledgeable, friendly , fun, and patient and we saw several manatees.
Book with Explorida, you won’t regret it!
donnamU503VT,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing experience swimming with the manatees! Crystal clear water and great spots to swim with the manatees. Madeleine and Captain Chris were the BEST! They made our Christmas Eve swim with the manatees one to remember.
First-rate experience
D3397XUvictoriac,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a first-rate experience. The staff was so helpful and informative, it made our day easy and fun. The manatees were amazing to see up close. We noticed other tour companies near us, and by far this outfit stands out. Excellent boats and equipment compared to what we observed. Would do it again!
Excellent all round from start to finish
Lizsie,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent swim with manatees! A truly wonderful experience from start to finish. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and incredibly informative, and there was absolutely no pressure — we were given as much time in the water as we wanted. The team is clearly professional and very knowledgeable about manatees, it was obvious they genuinely care about the animals’ well-being. The visitor centre was clean, the equipment was well maintained, and everything felt well organized. An unforgettable experience that I’d highly recommend.
Best Crystal River Tour
Hannah P,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Took the Crystal River Manatee Tour last week with Guide Madeleine and Captin John. The friendly atmosphere from gift shop to water, wonderful views and fantastic experience was a lifetime memory. Madeleine went above and beyond to make sure all guests had a life capturing photo or two! Highly recommend!
Phenomenal Experience Swimming with Manatees
msturg29,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00As a family who visited Florida, but werent interested in the Disney Parks or Universal Parks, this was perfect. We drove 2 hours, leaving at 445A to get to the 7:30 tour. Not many people at this time. Were sure glad we did. While it was a bit chilly at 65, the wet suits kept us warm. We swam with and saw no less than 10 manatees including an inquisitve mother and child who hugged my wife twice. It was such a wonderful experience, nothing can compare to swimming with these gentle giants in the "wild." The staff was super kind, knowledgeable and just a pleasure to have guided us through this memorable adventure. Thank you!!
Joy in nature with manatees
R348AYnataliec,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the highlight of our family vacation. We enjoyed snorkeling in the manatee’s winter spot on a really cold day, so there was tons of them in the warm springs. Some manatee just slept, some floated around and others were very curious of us. John drove the boat and gave us great information. Madeline guided us in the water safely and calmly. I highly recommend this tour.
Dec 16, 2025
Tom D,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Explorida is very close to the manatees, ~10 min at idle. The water was murky at first. But as I got nearer to the springs, it cleared up. Well worth the $$. The picture package is only $35 for all downloads. The only negative is that Google Maps initially directed me to the wrong outfitter. If Viator had given me the business's name, it would have been no problem.
Fantastic!
amandawB8449GG,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic! Loved every minute! The staff was great and it was amazing to be in the water with so many manatees! The photos from our tour were great!
Family Manatee Swim Tour
kylebS4354PI,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This manatee swim tour was the highlight of our family vacation! Madeleine and Captain John made the entire tour great from start to finish. It was well worth the admission fee. They found large groups of manatees and we had a great deal of swim time with them. The boat was cozy with a total of 7 people and warmed up at the end with some hot chocolate. Our whole family would book this again in a heartbeat!
From US$74.00
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