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.
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
What‘s Included
Safe USCG Certified Boats
Bottled water
In-Water Gude/Photographer
Wetsuit
Snorkel Gear
Float Noodles Provided
Photos and videos available for an additional fee at the end of your tour.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,401 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Just Book it NOW
Valorie R,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00AMAZING experience. Our Captain and guide got us out on the water and with manatee immediately. We saw and swam with several manatees it was an unforgettable experience! Do this for sure!!
Fun get away
Chad C,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was a fun trip. The crew was very educational.
Awesome!
957brianah,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was great! Walter our boat captain and grace the guide were so helpful in explaining everything and made sure we were comfortable! We got lucky and saw managers in the springs! Grace made sure to take lots of photos and we had a great time! Recommend!
Love it!!!!
Amneris S,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing Experience. Staff was amazing and very knowledgeable. Meghan was very patient and took my 5 year old on her shoulder while in the water to help him out for a bit. I recommend this company 100 percent for the ultimate manatee encounter experience.
Life changing experience with the people that care about their customers and the manatees themselves
Bob S,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Went out this morning on a guided tour to see the manatees. Madeline, a guide was very friendly with a bundle information and interesting facts! Dominic was the captain, very informative and did a great job along with Madeline to spot 2 manatees for us! We got up close as Madeline and Chloe guided us, it was amazing!! Can’t say enough about Explorida!! They are so conscientious about the Manatees welfare and provide a wonderful film explaining how to have Manatee Manners. Their shop is friendly, clean and provides many fun gifts and souvenirs all centered on a Manatees theme! What a wonderful experience all around with Explorida, everything is top notch!!
Best experience ever!
Voyager44935160622,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the best experience ever. Very informative about the Manatees and area. Very friendly staff. They even take pictures for you. Swam with the manatee the entire time and it was amazing!
Amazing experience we won’t forget
Laura O,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Megan and captain Walter were great at finding resident manatees. Very knowledgeable and patient with swimmers , as were the manatees ! Megan knew just when to get the best photos, especially when I can nose to nose with a manatee coming up for breath.
AMAZING! Even in June!
Abby C,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow what an amazing time! We were greeted by manatees within less than 10 min of being on the boat. Meg was our guide and did a wonderful job. They were very understanding with my little ones. Afterwards, my daughter forgot her swimsuit. They called to make sure that we knew. When we got back they had the cutest little gift bag for her (it was her 7th birthday). Thank you so much!!! This was an amazing experience.
Do it
941richiep,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an awesome experience! I would definitely do it again, we have a lot of fun and it was peaceful at the same time.
Fun visit. Definitely worth doing.
matthB4305CQ,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had a very good time. We didn’t realize when we booked the trip that the majority of the manatees had migrated out already. The tour folks did a great job though. We did find one within 5 minutes of leaving the dock. The pictures of the super clear water and lots of manatees are from the winter.
Related Experiences
Operated by Explorida