Tours and Tickets
Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer
5

Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer

By Plantation Adventure Center
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Floridaā€™s Crystal River, with its warm springs, is one of the best-known spots for viewing and snorkeling with manatees. On this small-group manatee adventure you swim with West Indian manatees on a boat tour that gets you up close and personal with these friendly mammals. All snorkeling equipment and wetsuits are included, as are warm drinks and dry towels for maximum comfort.
from
HK$789.48
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 1-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Swim and snorkel with the gentle West Indian manatees in Kings Bay
  • Small group tour allows for face-to-face interaction with the manatees
  • Wetsuits, mask, snorkels, towels, hot chocolate and hot showers available
  • Guide photographs your experience, with photos available for purchase

  • Use of Full 5mm wet-suits (for extra warmth), Mask & Snorkels
  • Coffee, Hot Chocolate, bottle water
  • Towel Service
  • US Coast Guard certified captain and Professionally Insured in water guide!
  • Boat Coats for cold mornings!
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • DVD or Flash Drive (available to purchase)
  • Swimsuits

Meet your guide at Plantation on Crystal River for a brief education session at the dive shop to go over the rules of swimming with manatees and learn the best ways to approach the animals in the water. From here, a US Coast Guard-certified captain leads you out into Kings Bay. Once manatees are spotted, your guide leads you into the water where you have the chance to swim and snorkel alongside the gentle giants. Your guide photographs the highlights of your swimming with manatees experience, and photos are available for purchase after your tour. Only six people per boat guarantees a more personalized experience and all snorkeling equipment is provided with the tour. Complimentary dry towels, boat coats, hot chocolate, and coffee keep you warm on the boat. The tour ends at the departure point.

Start:
  • 9301 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429, USA
    Departure Point: Plantation on Crystal River Address: Plantation Adventure Center
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, weā€™d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 62758P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Wet-suits available in children's size 6 up to 3XL
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This experience requires good weather. If itā€™s cancelled due to poor weather, youā€™ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, weā€™d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 62758P3

    Reserve your spot

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    About the operator
    Donā€™t take it from us ā€“ hereā€™s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Plantation Adventure Center
      4,346
      United States
      Joined in December 2011
    • Katy L
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent for families! Friendly and knowledgeable staff
      Once in a lifetime trip! Everything was well organized and our guides had a wealth of knowledge about the area. We saw lots of manatees and our children (8 & 5 yrs old) had a blast, the water was calm and clear, no problem for the kids. They had hot drinks waiting when we got back on the boat and took excellent pictures for us! Reasonably priced for what we received and highly recommended for families!
      Written 18 March 2024
    • sebiannt
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      amazing experience with Kendra
      It was amazing. Staff is great. Awesome captain and the Divemaster kendra was just lovely. :) saw 3 Manatees and I loved it
      Written 18 March 2024
    • Nxacevedo
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great manatee experience!!!
      I had a great time today swimming with the manatees. Our guide, Melissa Stiegler and the boat driver (I forgot his name) were also very great. They worked well with each other and both made sure we all felt comfortable and happy. They both had a great sense of humor as well and made our time more enjoyable. The highlight of the whole experience had to be when we got a clearer view of the two manatees in the Three Sisters Spring area. As soon as we were all in the center of the spring area two manatees that were being rehabilitated into the wild and were tagged in order to help see their locations came out of their closed off sanctuary area into the middle of the spring and we all got a perfect clear view of them just swimming along and then they went back to their sanctuary area shortly after. That moment made the whole day for our group and we were all satisfied. Thank you for a great manager experience today.
      Written 17 March 2024
    • PHeijerman
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very nice šŸ‘ŒšŸ»
      Very nice boat trip around the Kingsbay area. We had a nice day on the with a little breeze to cool down šŸ˜‡ Even spotted a bold eagle šŸ¦…
      Written 17 March 2024
    • Bonny D
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful ride
      Beautiful boat ride, excellent personnel. Very knowledgeable staff that made the tour fun. Unfortunately, the weather (unseasonably hot) made it very difficult to find Manatees. Spotted a few, but the water was so murky they were hard to see. Overall, I'd like to try it again if I'm here during colder weather.
      Written 17 March 2024
    • 244briannan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Experience with Amanda & Mark
      Amazing experience! Our guide & photographer was Amanda and our boat captain was Mark. They were both amazing. Such patience with my kids, caring and kind souls who clearly love their work and the precious manatees. Highly recommend. I signed up with this company due to their guide Kendraā€™s social media presence documenting these animals and am very happy with the decision!!
      Written 16 March 2024
    • sgregory711
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful experience
      Our dive master Laura and boat captain Aaron were great. They went great places. Weā€™re very knowledgeable about the wild life and ecosystem of the area. They explained how to behave in the water to encourage a good result from the manatees. We also got to go to three sisters springs - which was amazing. It was just a wonderful experience and would love to do it again on a future trip
      Written 15 March 2024
    • DayTrip671922
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bucket List Item Completed!
      Just returned from our trip to Tampa and can't say enough about our tour experience at Plantation Adventure Center. Dave was our boat captain and Tristan was our Divemaster/Photographer--they were phenomenal! Due to the hurricane last year there weren't as many manatees as we had hoped to see but Dave and Tristan went our of their way to get us to as many spots as possible to catch some sightings. We loved every minute of our experience and are planning a future return so that we can do it again!
      Written 15 March 2024
    • Emma N
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Had a great time!
      Came for spring break and had so much fun! We saw about five manatees when we went and the water was crystal clear in the spring! The guides are great and make sure you see at least one manatee during your trip!
      Written 14 March 2024
    • smithkate14
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Celebrating 22 Years of Friendship!
      We are three friends celebrating our 22nd year of friendship! Ryan and Mark were beyond fabulous. We saw three manatees up close and a baby rescue! We cannot recommend this company and experience enough. Also, they have 5mm wetsuits and they were a game changer in the colder weather!
      Written 13 March 2024
    • pzkat
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Friendly staff, wonderful experience up on the water
      We had a great time on the early morning semi-private tour. It was beautiful to start out before sunrise and watch the sunrise from the water. We were able to tour the bay and swim in the 3 sisters springs and see these gentle giants up close and personal. Our guide was lovely and knowledgeable as was our boat captain. Warm drinks and parkas on board made for a cozy and comfortable experience. The staff couldnā€™t have been friendlier. Would highly reccommend!
      Written 13 March 2024
    • johntJ1322QJ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome Manatee Tour!
      Awesome tour with Kendra and Cory. Highly recommend! Manatees were incredible and the tour was flexible to allow us to stay with the manatees since they were in a crystal clear location.
      Written 11 March 2024
    • B4938VKamyj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Private Manatee tour well worth the price
      I went with my best friend on this trip. She has been a lover of manatees for most of her life. Her enthusiasm for them is contagious, and I have now been a fan for many years as well. We agreed that once we were retired we would ā€œswim with the manatees.ā€ Retirement came, but so did COVID. That caused a delay, but finally the time was right. Being retired librarians we did our research before we picked a place. Once we discovered the Plantation we knew our search was ended. It had everything we wanted. Easy to get to, beautiful grounds, tranquil setting, pool, hot tub, restaurants, and a manatee tour operation right on the grounds of the resort. We booked it, and we were not disappointed. The dive shop and dock were just steps from our room. That made things so easy for us. I had booked us a private tour because I have Parkinsonā€™s and didnā€™t want to spoil anyoneā€™s trip in case my symptoms flared up. Not to worry, everything went just fine. I will say though the private tour was worth every penny. Ryan and Laura were our Captain and Dive Master and I simply canā€™t say enough good things about them. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. It was easy to see that they both loved their jobs, and that made for a terrific experience. My friend and I knew is was the end of the season, and that we wouldnā€™t see many manatees, but the ones we did see we had all to ourselves. So, if you are looking for a memorable experience amid beautiful surroundings, this is the place.
      Written 11 March 2024
    • 895sherryk
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome manatee experience!
      Captain Laura and Captain Dave were AWESOME! Had a great experience with them. Saw three manatees and got amazing photos of our group and the manatees. Both captains were a lot of fun and very knowledgeable. They were very respectful of the manatees as well. I will do this tour again when I return!
      Written 11 March 2024
    • haileyw694
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Manatee Snorkeling
      We saw one Manatee but that DID NOT take away from our experience! Captain Mike and Orville were absolutely amazing. Knowledgeable and personable. Great guys. My only complain was that trip advisor sent us to the wrong address, the golf course up the road. Luckily we got directions and made it on time! Over all, 10/10 experience.
      Written 10 March 2024
    See all 4 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles683 reviews
    Excellent
    673
    Very good
    5
    Average
    3
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    0

    Paul J
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2022 ā€¢ Family
    First time we have ever swam with the manatees, Captian Mark and Diver Tim made it such a great experience. Tim was very patient with my 7 and 10 year old in the water. Captain Mark was able to answer any questions or concerns we had. Such a great time, we will definitely be back!
    Written 13 April 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Chad B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021 ā€¢ Family
    Had a great time on this trip. Todd and Dustin did everything they could to accommodate us and ensure we had a great experience. They made sure we saw and wer able to get photos of the manatees. They were even great with my daughter that was getting use to snorkeling. Would definitely go back again.
    Written 1 April 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sarah
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022
    Once in a lifetime experience, 100% recommend! Our divemaster Jake was excellent and very respectful of the manatees. He got us so close to them we were almost hugging! He also took amazing pictures we will cherish forever. Do not miss this opportunity you will not regret it!
    Written 5 February 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    A5176GMsusanr
    Sharpsburg, GA1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2020
    Fun Fun Fun. What an amazing time swimming with the manatee's. Captain John and Dustin were great tour guides. They were so knowledgeable about manatees and the area around Crystal River. They suited my group and I up with top of the line high quality wetsuits. we watched a video about rules and laws about manatee's. and off we went on an adventure of a lifetime... It was my birthday and what a day. Highly recommend this tour and Adventure Center at Plantation on Crystal River
    Written 13 November 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    JR
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022
    Being able to get so close to these amazing animals was awesome. Our Captain, Eric, and our in-water dive master, John, made sure our group was not disappointed. Not only did we get close to the manatees, we also spent time with a playful young manatee that was unforgettable. My husband was not able to be in the water due to mobility issues, but, Eric made sure he felt included and entertained as well.
    Itā€™s very clear Eric and John are passionate about giving clients an excellent experience as well as educating everyone about the manatees and their beautiful environment.
    Written 3 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    thank you so much for taking the time to write a 5 star review! Were so glad to hear everyone had such a great time!
    Written 11 December 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    SharonMichael L
    Madeira Beach, FL1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2020
    My husband and I swam with the manatees under the guidance of Captain Dustin and Captain Mike in early June. They took us for a swim at 3 Sisters Spring and it was very refreshing and nobody was there - go early in the morning!! Captain Dustin was very patient at getting the right pics with the manatees. Thank you!
    Written 15 July 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Kendra W
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    Our Day out with Dustin and Christian was exceptional. We were able to see a mother and baby manatee in a small cove. Momma was resting but baby was playful and engaging. Our view was clear after the instruction of how not to stir up or damage the environment.
    We continued our time with some important sights and local history. The perfect ending was snorkeling and swimming over the springs.
    Dustin was so attentive to get awesome group photos of each family/group. The day was a priceless adventure!
    Written 25 July 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lindsea by the sea
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2021 ā€¢ Family
    The guides had an awesome disposition and were very calming and made sure you have a good experience. Very calm and enjoyable. They really make sure you get to see a manatee. You feel like you are out there for a very long time, not rushed. Loved swimming the sisters springs too.
    Written 24 June 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Wendy S
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2021 ā€¢ Family
    Laura and Memphis were awesome today!! We saw 4 manatees on our trip. We even saw a mom and her baby and swam with them for 30 minutes. Laura made sure my super scared daughter had an amazing experience. Thank you Plantation Adventure for a once in a life time experience
    Written 26 March 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    HockeyDanceMom14
    Philadelphia suburbs6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    This has been a dream of mine, husband - not so much. We thoroughly enjoyed our excursion! Dallas and Steve were excellent! It wasn't that hard to wake up for the 6:30 tour as we were so excited. Saw so many manatees! The thicker wetsuits were great and helped us to float (the pool noodles are always a plus as well). Dallas is the manatee whisperer! He made sure we all had very interactive experiences with the manatees -- they are silly looking beautiful creatures. Loved it so much i'm sending my son and his girlfriend next winter! Thank you again for an unforgettable experience!!
    Written 10 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Small group Manatee Tour with In-Water Divemaster/Photographer provided by Plantation Adventure Center