The 'OG' Manatee Snorkel Tour with In-Water Guide/Photographer
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Join River Venture’s 5-star crew and dive into the ‘OG’ swim with manatee experience with our HD photographer. Our full service, one-stop shop can guarantee manatees and more!
The ‘OG’ of Swim with Manatee:
Dive into the world of manatees with the largest and most experienced center in Crystal River and Homosassa – since 2004!
Manatee Guarantee Optional Upgrade($):
No manatees? No worries, we’ll refund you.
Tour options for any budget:
Save money or splurge, we have a tour for you.
Manatees, Dolphins & Airboats:
Combo-Tours, book for the manatee and stay with the dolphins
Over 5000 5-star reviews online!
Need we say more?
Your A-Team:
Expert guides, pirate captains, underwater photographers and booking wizards
Eco-Edutainment: In-classroom presentation. Learn from our passionate guides.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Adult pricing applies to all travelers
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wetsuits are available in all sizes from toddlers (2 years old and up) to adults up to 5X
It is advised that you have your swimsuit on underneath your clothes for a quicker check-in
Please bring a towel and warm clothes to change into after your tour.
Children under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Mask, Snorkel & Full-length Wetsuit
Bottled water
In-water Guide & Photographer
Hot Cocoa
USCG Master Captain
Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish
Gratuities
Photo Package
Towel and swimsuit
What To Expect
Dive into the 'OG’ swim with manatee tour at River Ventures’ full-service, one-stop adventure shop. Join our 5-star crew load up on manatee facts while our photographer captures your adventure in HD. Meet and greet the most experienced Crew in town at River Ventures Tour Center. Learn about USFWS Manatee Encounter Rules and get fitted for a wetsuit in a classroom setting. Board coast guard boat with full isinglass enclosure during winter. Cruise Kings Bay, Three Sisters Springs and more while searching for manatees. Swim with Manatee while Guide captures your experience with top-of-the-line HD action camera. Return to Tour Center, sip on coffee and hot cocoa while shopping for souvenirs /photos. Expectations & Conditions We prioritize both the satisfaction of our customers and the safety of the Crystal River manatees. It is crucial to maintain realistic expectations when engaging in encounters with wild manatees since we cannot control their behavior or migration patterns. Each trip is distinct, offering a unique experience for every individual. For detailed information on current conditions, we encourage you to contact us directly.
Options
Guaranteed Manatee Swim Tour
Including a Manatee Guarantee: Upgrade now to eliminate the risk of not encountering a manatee. No manatees? We'll fully refund you!
Manatee Swim Tour
3 hour Group tour: Dive into the 'OG’ swim with manatee tour at River Ventures’ full-service, one-stop adventure shop.
Reviews
2,269 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Everything was amazing!!...
Cylee C,
Jul 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00Everything was amazing!! Great tour guides! Would highly recommend!! Brought our kids! The loved it!!
What a great experience
tara w,
Jul 2, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had a wonderful time snorkeling with manatees! Our trip leader was Mike and our Captain was Brian. They did a fantastic job of making sure we had a great and safe experience. We were in awe of these beautiful creatures. Make sure to bring some extra spending cash, because the gift shop is absolutely adorable!!!! And also reasonably priced. Make sure to buy one of those locally handmade clay manatees…<3 I wish I had purchased more of them!!!
Amazing!
Jennifer C,
Jul 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00Captain Bryan and Mike were amazing! Got some very good swim time with the manatees. Great experience
100% Do not recommend
Wendy S,
Jun 15, 2025
- Viator
2.00Don’t waste your time or money. Make sure to purchase the guaranteed tour for a few extra bucks—because if you don’t, and you see nothing (like we did), you’re out of luck. No refunds unless you pay for the upgrade. We spent nearly the entire tour circling around and saw just one manatee swim by from a distance. At the very end, the guide suddenly said there was another one nearby and rushed us into the water. He swam ahead of everyone, and the manatee supposedly swam off—no one in our group actually saw it underwater. The snorkel gear was useless. The water was murky—you could barely see your own hands, let alone a manatee. Total disappointment. Gave bait and switch vibes. Oh, and it was blazing hot. They had bottled water, but didn’t offer any until the last 15 minutes of the tour. Real thoughtful.
Don’t hesitate, BOOK this...
Amber L,
Jun 9, 2025
- Viator
5.00Don’t hesitate, BOOK this experience NOW! So glad we did this, Captain Wade and Guide Natalie were a great team! They trained us well, were very thorough, and made us feel VERY SAFE! This is something almost anyone can do.
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