Small Group VIP (Heated in Winter) Manatee Snorkel Tour
Description
We will let you in on a secret! You can get the high-end experience, with an affordable price tag! Our new heated (during winter), luxury pontoon aims to amp up the manatee sighting and deliver a more personal event! Observe the endangered West Indian Manatee in Crystal River’s idyllic Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your US Coast Guard licensed captains and guides will take you into the 600 acre spring fed refuge waters for viewing and snorkeling with these slow moving wild giants. All equipment, fees, snacks and beverages are included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals in a classroom type setting and receive tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. You will be taught the in’s and out’s of ‘passive interaction’ as this ensures that the animals enjoy the experience as much as we do! You will then be suited up and transported to the dock, where a Coast Guard certified covered pontoon will be waiting for you. This rich estuary will amaze…..birds, fish and wildlife abound! Submerge yourself in the manatee’s world! Finish your adventure by viewing your Captain’s photos back at our facility and be sure to visit our one-of-a-kind gift shop! Our well-informed staff will direct to other local attractions, restaurants and answer of your questions before you are on your way.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Adult pricing applies to all travelers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wetsuits are available in 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 a plastic bag to hold your belongings
- Children Under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
- Post COVID-19 Policy- We are mindful to thoroughly clean water vehicles between visitors.
Reviews(1,064)
River Ventures Small Group VIP Manatee Swim Tour — A Truly Unforgettable Experience Booking directly with Vickie Hall was the perfect start to our adventure. She was absolutely amazing — patient, kind, and incredibly helpful as she answered every question and guided me toward the package that would give my son the best possible experience. We were paired with Captain Mike and Guide Crystal, and they were phenomenal. Both were professional, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable about the area. Because we love nature, we asked a ton of questions about the marine life and land animals around the bay, and they were happy to share their expertise. Thanks to their understanding of the bay and its wildlife, we were swimming with manatees in no time. Crystal was especially wonderful in the water. She explained clearly how to safely observe and swim with the manatees, making sure we respected their space while still enjoying every moment. She also captured countless videos and photos — memories we’ll treasure forever. This experience exceeded every expectation. We will definitely be booking with River Ventures again.
This was the best experience ever! From James who drove the bus and called us to confirm our reservation the day before, Nat who was our tour guide and Captain Emerson who drove the boat. EVERYONE was so friendly and knowledgeable not just about the Manatees but the other wildlife we saw while touring on the boat. We all had amazing conversations and got to see not just Manatees but small alligators and a wide variety of birds and fish! We highly recommend booking your tour here and asking for James, Nat and Emerson (but everyone is friendly as well). They made my birthday so incredible and we will definitely be back!
Awesome experience. We went in the guys checking us in were great. Our captain Emerson(Amazon) and our guide Nat were awesome. Went above and beyond. Really knowledgeable and took us to great spots to see manatee and to see the natural springs. 10/10 would recommend. We will be coming back in the winter.
Amazing experience. Captain Mike guided us through the waters nicely pointing out nearby sights while guide crystal spotted us a manatee right away and swam with us to get the absolute best views
Captain Mike and guide Crystal were fantastic. 10/10 recommend.
Used Claude to recommend the best company. River Ventures was chosen. Wade and Shawn were our outstanding captain and guide. Exceptional experience. Swam Near Mommie and Baby, several other lone Manatees, and watched safely from boat a pod of males chasing a female for mating. Very comfortable boat, great conversations, hot chocolate and snacks. Even alcohol drinks but declined since still morning. Very clean shop and equipment. Great recommendation for coffee shop since we arrived so early. Actually accommodated us by leaving a bit early and we were the only clients - ended up being a private tour. Highlight was when one Manatee gently brushed against me while swimmming towards me (felt like a very large dog brushing against your leg) . These creatures are much larger than they appear from the shore but beautiful and so gentle. Appreciate River Ventures efforts to protect and safeguard these wonders.
We can’t say enough about Piper and captain Lacey. Lacey was knowledgeable and brought us right to the spot and stood watch the entire time, making sure to point out any and all manatees. Piper was INCREDIBLE. She was fun and truly loves the animals and is clearly committed to their protection. We had an amazing time and received pictures we will treasure for the rest of our life.
Crystal the guide and Capt. Mike were both awesome. Highly recommend!
My family and I had such a great time on our tour. We knew we were at the end of manatee season, but our guide, Sheila and our boat captain, Wade were so amazing! Honestly, all of the employees were great. We were able to spend our time with a mom and her baby, we got a peek into the craziness of mating season 😂, and we saw lots of other wildlife too. Really cool experience. We would definitely recommend River Ventures Tours to family and friends.
So much fun! Captain Garrett and our guide Piper were amazing! Piper is a manatee whisperer. Capt Garrett navigated us to great spots. They both had so many other fun facts and taught us about other Florida wildlife and fish. Very fun tour! We will be back and requesting them as our guides next time too!
