Small Group Manatee Snorkel Tour with In-Water Guide and Photographer
Description
Crystal River is home to beautiful fresh water springs, a large variety of wildlife, and or course our most famous residents - West Indian Manatees. During the Summer months, the Bay holds approximately 75 to 80 resident manatees. Each winter between 700 and 1000 manatees migrate here seeking out our three first magnitude spring systems, each with a constant temperature of 72° to 74° F (23° C). Even in the warm summer months, Crystal River has a local population of 70-100 manatees that remain here year round. Due to efforts by many local, state and federal entities, our manatee population is thriving. We feel that an in-water swim experience is an important part of this education and conservation effort. Our team of highly trained in-water guides ensure your experience with this cherished and threatened species is handled with the utmost care and respect by encouraging passive observation. With only 6 passengers per boat you are guaranteed a special small group interaction.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please Note: Children 6 and under must be under adult passenger supervision at all times. Children six (6) and under must wear a life vest at all times when the boat is in motion.
Reviews(624)
The manatee experience was absolutely phenomenal. Understanding that August is not peak season for manatee, we decided to go now anyway. Tyler, our guide, and Michelle, our captain, pulled out all the stops to find use several resident manatees, including a mother and calf. Despite the slightly murkey water, we were able to see several manatees in their natural habitat. Michelle was up high on the boat spotting the manatees and calling them out to Tyler, who then guided us to the optimal viewing position. Both Tyler and Michelle were extremely knowledgeable and competent and the entire trip was conducted safely while minimizing stress on the manatees. Overall 5 stars...6 if they'd let me rate it higher!
Thank you so much for this incredible review — and we’ll happily take those 6 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🩵 We especially appreciate you mentioning that you came in with realistic expectations for an August manatee tour. Summer is a completely different experience from our winter manatee season. Our resident manatees are spread throughout Kings Bay, the water can be a little hazier, and finding them sometimes takes patience, teamwork, and some seriously good spotting skills! It sounds like Captain Michelle and Tyler made a pretty great team! 🥰 Michelle using her eagle eyes from the boat while Tyler guided you into the best viewing position is exactly the kind of teamwork that can turn a summer search into an unforgettable encounter. And finding several resident manatees — including a mom and calf — is such a wonderful summer surprise! 🥹🩵 Most importantly, thank you for recognizing the care our crew takes to conduct our tours safely and respectfully while minimizing our impact on the manatees. We believe the very best encounters happen when we allow these incredible animals to simply be manatees in their natural habitat while we quietly observe. Thank you for trusting Salty Siren with your August adventure and for recognizing Tyler and Captain Michelle’s knowledge, patience, and hard work. We’ll be sure they see your kind words! Come back during winter someday and experience the completely different side of Crystal River’s manatee season with us! 🧜♀️🌊 — The Salty Siren Crew 🩵
Wow , just wow . We had the privilege of being looked after by Tyler and Michele . They were absolutely fantastic- very professional, friendly and took great care of us both before , during and after our trip . Highly recommend using Salty Siren for a fabulous Manatee experience , the memories of which will stay with you forever! Thanks guys .
Thank you so much for this incredible review! 💙 "Wow, just wow" is exactly what we hope every guest feels after spending time with these amazing gentle giants! We'll be sure to share your kind words with Tyler and Captain Michele—they truly love what they do, and they'll be thrilled to know they helped create such a memorable experience for you. From the moment you arrive until you head home, our goal is to make sure every guest feels welcomed, safe, and cared for while enjoying an unforgettable encounter with Crystal River's manatees. Thank you for recommending Salty Siren Tours and for supporting our small, family-owned, veteran-owned business. We hope the memories (and hopefully lots of great photos!) stay with you for years to come, and we'd love to welcome you back for another adventure someday! 🧜♀️🐢🌿
We booked the small group tour and ended up having a private tour as no other people booked that trip. Tyler, our guide, is extremely knowledgeable and shared great information about the manatees. He was helpful with everything and took great pictures and videos for us. Captain Michelle was wonderful, knowledgeable, and helpful. During the summer there are fewer manatees in the water so we were happy to find one to view. These gentle giants are so special and I'm thankful that we had this experience. When booking with the Salty Siren Tours and Charters, be sure to request Michelle as your captain and Tyler as your crew. You won't be disappointed!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! 💙 We're so glad everything worked out and that your small-group tour turned into a private adventure—that's always a fun surprise! We'll be sure to pass your wonderful compliments along to Tyler and Captain Michelle. They both have such a passion for sharing the natural beauty of Crystal River, and we're thrilled they helped make your day so memorable. Tyler loves teaching guests about manatees and capturing those special moments, while Captain Michelle always works hard to find wildlife and ensure everyone has a safe, enjoyable trip. Summer is definitely a different experience than winter, with our resident manatees spread throughout King's Bay instead of gathered in the springs, so we're delighted you were able to spend time with one of these incredible gentle giants. Every encounter is unique, and we're honored you chose to share yours with us. Thank you for recommending Salty Siren Tours and for supporting our small, family-owned, veteran-owned business. We hope to welcome you back—whether it's for another manatee tour this winter or even a scallop charter this summer! 🧜♀️💙
There are four tent sites. All others are for RVs. The campgrounds were clean and I really appreciated the quiet. Campers were considerate of others. Each bathroom has a shower, which is nice. We enjoyed the swimming pool and free breakfast each morning.
Such an amazing tour! Loved it. Seen at Three Sisters in June
Thank you so much! 💙 We're so glad you had an amazing time with us. Summer in Three Sisters can still bring some incredible wildlife encounters, and we're thrilled you got to experience it. We hope to see you again soon! 🧜♀️🌿
We had a great time with our guide Aubrey and our captain Randy. They wete both very knowledgable and msde surecwe jad sn excellent experience while protecting the manatee and makingcsure wecdidnt fo anythingvwrong. We saw several manatees while in the water and from the boat, even though the water was a little stirred up. It was a great experience and we hope to do it again in the winter when there are more manatee around.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time with Aubrie and Captain Randy. Providing a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience for both our guests and the manatees is always our top priority, so it means a lot to hear that their guidance helped you feel comfortable and confident while interacting with these amazing animals. Even when the water conditions aren't perfect, it's always exciting to be able to see manatees both from the boat and in the water, and we're so glad you were able to enjoy several encounters during your tour. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Aubrie and Captain Randy—they'll be delighted to hear them! Thank you for choosing Salty Siren Tours & Charters. We truly appreciate your support and would love to welcome you back this winter when the seasonal manatee population is at its peak. We look forward to sharing another unforgettable adventure with you!
First off the staff was great! The tour was disappointing because the water is very brown and murky. Visibility is very low we did see manatees, and got close but it takes time to track them. I bought this package because it came with a photographer we got no pictures with manatees. That was disappointing, we just left feeling like it wasn't the experience we were hoping for. The pictures are misleading. Swimming in brown water was not on my bucket list. Do your research and ask questions. I was looking forward for this excursion for weeks and I was ready to go mid trip. Its not a majestic because scenery i was hoping for......
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate your kind words about our staff and are glad to hear that our team helped you see manatees and get close to them during your tour. We're sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. Crystal River's water conditions can vary significantly throughout the year and are influenced by weather, tides, wind, rainfall, and manatee activity. During the warmer months, manatees spend much of their time feeding in bay grass areas rather than congregating in the crystal-clear spring heads that many visitors see in winter photographs. We strive to be transparent about seasonal conditions; we post regular updates on social media, have addressed clarity in our blog on our website as well explaining that winter conditions are more conducive to seeing manatees in the springs. We understand that the reality of the experience may not have matched what you were hoping for, but we appreciate your understanding that these are wild animals in their own natural habitats and they dictate where in they bay they wish to go. We are especially disappointed to hear that you were unhappy with your photo package. If you have not yet received all of your photos or feel there may have been an issue with your images, please contact us directly at: 352-794-1479 so we can review your tour and see if there is anything we can do to help! We appreciate your suggestion for future guests to ask questions and research seasonal conditions before booking. We always encourage visitors to reach out to us directly so we can provide honest expectations based on the time of year and current water conditions. Thank you again for choosing Salty Siren Tours & Charters. We value your feedback and wish you the very best on your future travels.
Had a great day swimming with manatees with Salty Siren! Learned information and guidelines about manatees before heading out on the boat that brought us right to the manatees. Enjoyed swimming with them and seeing them up close. The crew was very helpful and a pleasure to talk with. The photos, videos, and drone footage made great souvenirs to remember the day. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 We're thrilled to hear that you had a great day swimming with the manatees and enjoyed learning about these amazing animals before heading out on the water. Education and conservation are such important parts of what we do, so we're glad you found the information and guidelines helpful. It sounds like you had some fantastic manatee encounters, and we're so happy our crew helped make the experience enjoyable both in and out of the water. We'll be sure to share your kind words with the team! We're also delighted that you enjoyed your photos, videos, and drone footage. Capturing those special moments allows guests to relive their adventure long after their tour is over, and we're glad you'll have those memories to look back on. Thank you for choosing Salty Siren Tours & Charters and for recommending us to future visitors. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable manatee adventure in Crystal River! 🧜♀️💙
We had an amazing experience! I highly recommend them. It’s a family run business and they have their heart in sharing about the manatees & teaching you about the conservation of them. I am a novice at snorkeling & it worked out fantastic! This is a life time experience you don’t want to miss out on!
Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation! 💙 We are truly honored you chose to spend part of your adventure with our family-owned team here at Salty Siren Tours! Sharing our passion for manatees, conservation, and passive observation means the world to us, and we love hearing that it made your experience even more special. We’re especially happy to hear that as a first-time snorkeler you felt comfortable and had such a fantastic time! Our crew works hard to make sure guests of all experience levels feel safe, relaxed, and able to fully enjoy these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Thank you again for trusting us with your once-in-a-lifetime manatee experience — we hope to welcome you back to Crystal River again someday! 🧜♀️✨
Came in to Crystal River from NY with the sole purpose to swim with the manatees. Tyler was our guide that day, along with captain Ed. I can not say enough about how awesome this was. Tyler was very friendly and super knowledgeable. He went out of his way to give me the best experience possible. Definitely recommend. One item checked off my bucket list, can't wait to do it again.
Thank you so much for making Salty Siren Tours part of your Crystal River bucket list adventure! 💙 We’re honored you traveled all the way from New York with the dream of swimming with manatees, and we’re so happy we helped make that dream such an unforgettable experience! Tyler truly loves sharing his knowledge and passion for these gentle giants, and we always works hard to help guests have the best possible encounter while respecting the manatees and their habitat through passive observation. It means the world to hear that their efforts made such a positive impact on your trip.
