Fantastic trip with a very knowledgeable and professional crew. From check in to the boat ride it…read morewas safe and fun. We saw plenty of gators and learned a lot about them and the surrounding area. You can tell they love the lake and the animals. It is definitely worth the trip, we will be back.

Awesome experience.. everyone was super friendly.. awesome tour.. randy is an awesome guide and we…read morewere able to pet Luke their alligator..

Manatee Paddle truly went above and beyond to make our experience positive, exciting, and…read moreeducational. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine smiles, warmth, and encouragement. I was personally a bit nervous since I hadn't paddle boarded much before, but every step of the way we felt supported and truly cared for. Hearing about the family's passion for protecting the ecosystem and the manatees, along with all the helpful tips they shared to optimize our experience, was absolutely incredible. When we got to the dock, we were guided so kindly - Mike even held our shoes in his truck for us! When he noticed me struggling a bit, he took the time to give me multiple tips on how to better move in the water and maneuver the board, which made such a difference. We saw so many manatees, including mama and baby pairs, which was unforgettable. When we returned to the dock and shared how excited we were, Mike went above and beyond once again by recommending another nearby location we could walk to where we ended up seeing even more manatees up close and personal. I would 10/10 recommend Manatee Paddle to anyone looking for an incredible manatee experience. I am so grateful to Mike and his family for making our day so special. THANK YOU!!

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Paddle boarding with this crew in Crystal River was…read morehands down one of the best experiences I've had in Florida, and it's because of the people behind the business--Aidan, Mike, and Mandy. From the moment we showed up, they made us feel like family. Aidan was the first one to greet us, and right away you could tell how passionate he is about the river, the wildlife, and making sure every single guest feels confident before heading out on the boards. He has this calm, encouraging way about him that instantly puts you at ease--even if you've never stepped foot on a paddleboard before. He gave us tips, shared fun facts about the area, and somehow managed to keep the whole group laughing the entire time. Mike is the backbone of the operation--the guy making sure all the boards, paddles, and gear are in perfect condition, the one double-checking that everything runs smoothly so you don't have to worry about a thing. It's obvious how much pride he takes in the business, because everything is organized, well-maintained, and set up to give you the best possible experience. He's also just genuinely fun to chat with before and after you head out--one of those people who makes you feel like an old friend after five minutes. And then there's Mandy, who is truly the heart of the operation. She's warm, welcoming, and on top of everything. From making the booking process super smooth to making sure we had everything we needed for the day, she's the reason the whole experience felt so seamless. She checked in with us multiple times, gave us great local recommendations for after our paddle, and just made the whole day feel special. What really stood out to me was how much this team cares--not just about giving people a fun day on the water, but about the environment, the river, and the wildlife that call it home. They take time to educate guests about respecting the ecosystem, and you leave not only having had an amazing adventure, but also feeling like you've learned something important. I've been on plenty of tours and excursions, but very few have left me with such a lasting impression. These guys aren't just running a business--they're building memories for people, and they clearly love doing it. If you're anywhere near Crystal River, don't waste your time looking at other paddle board companies. This is the one. Between Aidan's energy, Mike's behind-the-scenes dedication, and Mandy's incredible hospitality, you won't find a better team anywhere. Do yourself a favor and book with them--you'll thank me later.

Thank you to Heidi and Andy for the awesome time! So special getting to swim with manatees, and…read morethanks for answering all my many excited questions!

This was our second time using Birds to swim with Manatees and we will choose them every time now…read more Had an amazing experience with Captain Misty and Guide Gina. Highly recommend the 6am tour as you get viewing time before it gets really busy. I really appreciate Birds Underwater as they do a great job educating you about the manatees and how to passively observe. Made the manatees more comfortable and as a result we got to have some amazing interactions with them.

Good morning, Yesterday, my son Lee, his fiancé Ashley and…read moremyself Theresa went on the boat tour through Kings Bay to see the manatees. Captain Marty, our guide, provided a beautiful history about how the manatees group together in the warm water at winter time. We also had the wonderful opportunity to see the manatees and a garr fish.. We all agree it was one of the highlights of our day.. Many thanks to Captain Marty for showing all of us a great time... Theresa from Vero Beach

I think it's important to note that there's a good change you will only see one or potentially none…read moreat all. The crew was extremely nice, but for the money, I would have done something else. We went into the cove area and there was 1 manatee that other boats were waiting to see. After one group left, we swam up, saw it for about 5 min before it swam off. That was basically the extent of it. I swam to see one of the springs. But for $500 for a family of 5; I wish there we could have seen others or at least tried to go and see other ones. It also would have been helpful if we could have had an option to cancel if they had tours that didn't see any or really low exposure that day (or been able to reschedule for a colder day).

We had a wonderful time with Bria. She was a great guide and ambassador for Rainbow River wildlife…read moreand natural springs information. She was supportive when I needed her help. We had a great paddle today. I will be back and recommend you to others.

Very nice, perfectly positioned, clean, well kept and comfortable kayaks. Nice set up for parking,…read moreentry and exit. Awesome guide map. Scenery looked very similar to the mangroves I kayaked in Key West. Water not as clear, but it's beautiful. Will do this again!

Garrett was a blast! We are just coming into the warm season and most manatees are back in the…read moregulf, he still got us to 7 manatees, 2 gators, and we caught a dolphin in kings bay towards the end. He gave us plenty of time to look for things to come up out of the water which was great for my 2 year old. Boat was shaded and was enjoyable even with a small child. Other tours wouldn't let me book because she was under 3- we brought our own lifevest but they did also have some on board that were her size.

Thank you Piper and Wade (best guide and captain combo ever!) for an experience my wife and I will…read morenever forget! Amazing! We learned so much and got to go face to face with a big old male. Piper's encouragement and direction kept us calm when things got exciting! Would recommend to everyone who loves nature. Also the office staff were gracious and made great recommendation for lunch at a local deli. 100% glad we chose these guys.

My daughter and I went on the Sunset Dolphin Cruise and absolutely loved it! All aspects were…read moredelightful: the dolphins showed up for us, the sunset was gorgeous, the ride was gentle and Jodie and Ed were informative guides to the area, which I've never seen before. I recommend this cruise to everyone, Sara

This is one of our favorite experiences of this vacation. We saw manatee, dolphins feasting, and…read morelearned so much while still just having a great time in the boat. We're glad we took this tour early in our vacation. The knowledge she gave us served us well for the rest of the trip.

I was raised in Florida, moved to North Carolina in 1995. I've returned almost every year to visit…read morefamily and I've always wanted the manatee experience. Found Capt Erika! She was the best! Down to earth, but professional and safe. My husband was hesitant about getting in the water so I was the first in, Erika spotted a Mama & calf. I got in and Mama was very friendly. But it took a few rounds for baby to come see me. But oh boy when he did, he was like a little puppy! Rolling & wanting me to rub him. We played for a long time, he followed me to the boat and then found Mama. It was lunch time for him. So darn cute. I really could have stayed there all day! Worth every penny! We will be back soon, maybe to try scalloping. Thank you again Erika! David & Donna Kimbrough

Captain Anna is nothing short of exceptional! She's great with the kids and definitely knows how to…read morefind and interact with the manatees. We went in March when there were fewer. She still scouted out plenty for us to swim alongside. She is 6th generation in this area, so she's also a plethora of history and information (which I LOVE). We absolutely loved her!

We had a fantastic time. What a great tour. Laura, our Captain, shared so much knowledge. She made…read morethe trip amazing. Tonya and the rest of the group were wonderful. We even scheduled another tour on Friday with them. Can't wait to go swimming with the Manatees!! Highly recommend this company.

100% am amazing tour! Captian Mark really knows his craft! All the staff were patient, kind, family…read moreoriented and worked together to bring these up close, very personal, and incredible experiences to us! We were a party of 6- two boys 13 and 11, my husband, self, and Dad in the water, my Mom observed from the boat. We had the best time, I mean- MANATEES!

We have not done an airboat ride on the river so this trip we decided to do this. We had a great…read moretime with our guide. He was very good at spotting the gators and other critters along the river. He had a nice commentary and useful information about the history of the area. The airboat was very loud so it was quite difficult to hear everything he said. Our guide even gae us a nice run on the river with a bit of a splash/spray as he made the turn! Definitely saw lots of gators this trip. After the trip, you are invited to visit the main shop which was also the check in area for an opportunity to hold a real life baby gator! The gator was rather soft on the belly side. Was a fun trip. The day was not too hot so it was very enjoyable.

10/10 captain frank absolutely killed it gave us a little history lesson and a bit of a comedy show.read more