The BEST! Bird's gets you out early for the best opportunity to swim with manatee. They have been successful for decades for good reason

Hands down the BEST company in town! Thanks to Captain Andrew and crew for another great excursion. I joined my friends from Germany on a couple of manatee tours this week. As usual Birds Underwater were spot on! Manatees, donuts, hot chocolate ...doesn't get any better than that. If you are on the fence about this or not sure if your family will be capable, let me ease your mind a little. DO IT!! This is coming from a squeamish person that struggles with grass hitting my ankle in clear water! This company is the oldest in town to offer manatee tours. All the crews are very skilled, knowledgeable and genuine which makes a SAFE and fun environment for everyone. No matter your skill level or age, this company will work with you to make lasting memories! The website offers lots of great info about questions you may have. They supply the snorkel equipment and wet suits or you can bring your own. Changing cubicles are available on the dock. There is also a curtain on the boat if you wish to change into dry clothes. Be sure to bring a towel and sunscreen if needed. Remember that we entering their habitat and environment. For the best manatee encounter, stay calm, relax and just float!! We had a special appearance from the owner who "pulled" himself out of retirement to join us! Thanks Rob for your continued and trusted services to the community and many tourists to come. Oh yes....dive excursions available. read more

Thanks Rob, Captain Glen, and Michele with one L... We had an AMAZING time! Thanks for the laughs and an experience we'll never forget (and the hot chocolate ). - Your friends from Rochester (not Buffalo!) read more

I came back three years later in December, when there are more manatees in the springs. Another amazing experience with Bird's Underwater! Captain Paul and Rob were great. We saw so many manatees up close. We did the 11am tour and towards the end most of the other public tours were already done so we had three sisters spring almost to ourselves. It's definitely worth having Rob join to take pictures/lead you into three sisters. I love manatees and again Bird's Underwater didn't disappoint! read more

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What a fantastic day on the water! Captain Cody took excellent care of our party of 6, going above and beyond to ensure we had the best scalloping trip possible. I was contacted the evening before by Captain Cody, introducing himself and filling us in on what to expect for our day on the water. He had a cooler full of water and Capri suns and we were able to bring our own cooler of snacks, drinks etc. We left the dock around 7am (low tide) traveled several miles off the shore, anchored up and began our exploration. Scallops were pretty easy to find and we had no problem reaching our limit. After we finished up scalloping we were taken to a nice rock area so that we could explore sea turtles, snook, coral etc. Afterwards (so Captain Cody could finish shucking our catch) we went to Jurassic springs. This is fresh, cold water so we were able to rinse off all the salt. This is easily up there on my top 3 charters ever. My family and I will definitely return, I highly recommend these guys. read more

Bird's Underwater - Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Today was a totally awesome day!!! We showed up and didn't have a reservation. Terri told us not to worry and she would get us in if we could wait a couple hours. So while we waited my sons went kayaking. Once it was our time we boarded our boat with Captains Glenn and Matt. It was an awesome experience read more

And a good time was had by all! We had the 11:00am Manatee "Matinee". We checked in a little before 11:00am at the shop (as did everyone else), got suited up, briefed and headed right out to the boat. With everyone boarding eagerly, we departed promptly. Capt. Cody set out to the Three Sisters Spring area with info from the 6:00am swim and as soon as we got into place, there they were. Near the entrance to the spring were a mother and calf, as well as a group of three and others. The experience was wonderful. Passively observing, the manatees were inquisitive and came up to us. They are big, but so, so docile. We had a few areas we wanted to try so the next stop was the head-spring itself. It is 73 degrees and crystal clear. Swimming up the inlet to get into the spring took some effort, but it's doable, everyone did it. Once inside, it was magnificent. After that we stopped at a few more locations around Kings Bay and came upon manatees every time. We saw so many manatees that everyone had their fill. Three hours was just the right amount of time. We were definitely not bored or disappointed and quite frankly we were glad to be seated on the boat for a break. We headed back and upon arrival to the shop, swirling the waters below us were two 7 foot tarpon. Simply amazing. BTW boat riders (non-snorkelers) won't be disappointed either. There's plenty of sun, plenty of shade and top-side photographs compliment your in-water photos and video. Plenty of bottled water and light snacks on board as well. Look no further. Bird is the word. read more

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Was in Tampa for a wedding and did this on our extra day. Super recommend! It can be expensive to rent a car and drive up from Tampa, and then even pay for the tour, but it was very worth it! We did the 11 AM tour and though it was warm out and midday, still saw a manatee. I was shocked how close to it we got, very majestic. The tour guides also gave great instruction and education; I felt confident we were safe and non intrusive. The boat ride was pleasant--the guides provide snacks, refreshment, information, and small talk. If I came back, I would try to make it out to the 6 AM tour. The tour guides could not stop talking about how amazing it is to be surrounded by the manatees! I also recommend bringing cash for a tip. A lot of people had underwater cameras but those don't seem worth it unless you happen to have a particularly good day where the manatees are in the super clear water. read more

Went to see the Manistee. Was so excited. Captain was very nice but experience overall was horrible especially after today's phone call. The spring was not clear as you see on the pictures on line. I'll post mine so you can see how murky it is. The instructor was constantly yelling at people to back away and someone made the comment that they were like magnets and people kept being pushed into them. Maybe the water flow? They should know that it's not the people's fault. Anyway. I got home and found I was charged wrong. I called and spoke to a woman who wanted me to give her my card#. I told her I don't do that over the phone. I told her that I know your can contact your credit card company with the date and the time and the batch number and the sales number all of which are on my receipt and do a credit from there. She didn't seem to know what I was talking about I think she was a young girl but she said she was a manager. I told her there is definitely a way to do this if she could please call her credit card company. She said that wasn't possible. So I had an idea and We agreed on her sending me some stickers in leiu of a $6 refund. She calls me back a couple minutes later and said that she is able to refund my credit card. She took my name address and phone number and I thought it was done. A couple minutes later from there I get a call from a gentleman who asked if everything went okay and I said well it was a little bumpy but it'll be fine and he said that I am no longer allowed there because of the way I spoke with the young girl. I said what are you talking about? He was told that I called her a b**** and a c***. I was completely blown out of the water. I told him that I don't use those words. He said he believes her. Wow. So this woman is starting to learn that she can lie to get her way in life. Wow. I'm just still flabbergasted and appalled. For her to make something like that up? What's wrong with her? Unstable obviously. All because I had to tell her how to process a credit card refund? Not cool. I wish I could remember her name. Angela. Tiffany. Something like that. read more

My mom and I had a wonderful experience on a manatee tour. Will be booking again next trip

Took a while to write a review because I am still processing the amazing adventure that I had in February. I am going to try to sum up my adventure in a few simple phrases. Got there early. Learned everything we needed to know to keep the manatees and ourselves safe. Got wonderful gear (although I brought my own wetsuit for comfort). Captain Loopy and Kim were the BEST and most knowledgeable tour guides ever. They taught us so much about manatees and their habits. They gave us advice on good eating in the area. I will be back for sure. This company is not only Professional, they are fun, and the most important thing... they make sure that you are respectful and safe around the incredible creatures. Five stars, wish there were 6. Please note... as a personal thought, if you don't feel comfortable in water and freak out around animals, please rethink doing this tour. These amazing creatures are gentle giants and deserve to be treated as much, so you need to be calm and quiet in the water. Please don't splash and be aware of your legs and arms in the water. read more

Anna and Ryland were amazing guides! The visibility wasn't good but they still were able to spot the manatees and give us a great experience. read more

We had a wonderful time with great guides! Very responsible visit with the manatees. So many manatees and fish! Manatees we're rolling over for belly rubs and hugging people. read more

I saw at least 20 manatees. The captain of our boat, Captain Kip was awesome as well. Our guide named Guide Danny was also very helpful and good to hang out with. It was an incredible experience that most people only dream of seeing. If I came, I had a particularly great experience with Captain Kip as well as Guide Danny on the "Hank" Boat. Although I got no photos, some of the other people in my party did. I can't post them on here right now, But I may post them on here later to add to my review. Anyways, the manatee viewing and going to the Three Sisters Spring was beautiful and magnificent. Must do for people going to this area! read more

Three of my friends and I made an extremely impromptu decision by booking a manatee tour with Bird's Underwater. We are so happy we did! They taught us everything we needed to know about how to swim and interact with the animals. Our guide, Robbi was very knowledgeable and made us four inexperienced snorkelers feel safe while swimming with the manatees. He went above and beyond to ensure that we would see manatees during our trip. Fortunately, we were able to see and interact with many manatees! Bird's Underwater ensures that all tours will see a manatee, which is a guarantee that is evident that they maintain for every tour. Snacks and hot chocolate were given to us on the boat ride back, which was really helpful to keep warm and refresh us after swimming for so long. We would definitely take a tour with Bird's Underwater again, so should you! read more

We had a great time with Bird's! We took the 6am Saturday tour, and although the weather wasn't ideal for manatees (too warm), Captain Jay and Rob were determined! We ended up having a great encounter with a huge manatee in crystal clear water to wrap up the morning. Even though it was a struggle to find the manatees, Rob kept us entertained the whole time and Jay took great care of us. We highly recommend Bird's, and take the early tour! read more

Kayak rental online was super easy, then you show up and they get you right in the water! The guys were very friendly and gave us a map of some of the best places to find manatees. read more

This was our second trip to Crystal River to swim with the manatees, and our second time using Bird's Underwater. Repeat customer for a reason! These guys are simply the best. We planned our "girl's weekend" trip for the Manatee Festival weekend on purpose, because we wanted to combine a swim with the gentle giants and a fun festival. Then, since we were already there, we added a second swim on before we left for home. Both times we chose Bird's because, in all honesty, they are the only guided tour I would use. Saturday we booked the 11am tour and had the fun pleasure of being on Captain Paul's boat with Rob as our guide. All of the places were packed with people, with the combination of it being a holiday weekend as well as the Festival, and there were not many manatees to be found, however Captain Paul and Rob went out of their way to make sure we had an opportunity to swim with a few of these magnificent creatures. They are not only skilled at their job, but their sense of humor and interaction with their guests make it a trip worth booking again... which is exactly what we did for Sunday. We went back today for the 11am tour, and the weather was pretty rough and cold. There were definitely not as many people or boats out as there were on Saturday, but also the manatees were not as plentiful in the usual spots... so, blessed again with Captain Paul and Rob as our trusted leaders, we had an adventure instead of just a swim. Manatees are a wild animal and as such are not predictable (nor is the weather) and there of course can't be any guarantees on how many you will see or even IF you see any on your trip... however, our fabulous Captain and guide would not be happy until we found some manatees to swim with, and once again they did not disappoint! They took us around until they found a nice group of about 10 manatees that were much more interactive than the previous day, and it was truly a trip to remember. They are very attentive to the needs of their passengers... making sure they do all they can to warm them up on a frigid day, and most importantly making sure everyone came back to the dive center safely and in one piece. I was particularly impressed with the way they attended to one of the passengers who was having a difficult time in becoming overly cold, giving up their own warm jackets and going the extra mile to make sure she was safe and comfortable. Not only that, but upon knowing one of the passengers was celebrating a birthday, they took an extra effort by bringing a birthday donut, complete with a candle and leading the rest of the passengers in a rousing round of "Happy Birthday." There are plenty of companies that offer guided manatee tours in Crystal River, but there is really only one to choose, and that is Bird's. You won't be disappointed! We will absolutely be a repeat passenger on our next trip to swim with these amazing animals. read more

Bird's Underwater - Beautiful gentle giants! Photo cred: @no_regurts_dive_team - Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

We followed the advice on the website to book an early morning excursion when manatees would be easiest to find and when we would be in competition with the fewest other tours (most seemed to leave an hour later). Less competition in the water from other tourists would also mean less kicked up sediment and better visibility. Unfortunately, an early spring sent most of the manatees back to sea by the time we arrived in Crystal River. Even so, Captain Paul quickly found us a mother, suitor, and calf to observe. Our boat with 8 snorkelers was the only one in the water with the three for twenty minutes, and the experience exceeded all expectations. The baby was inquisitive and engaged with our tour, and the mother swam back and forth trying to evade her suitor. Great shots even though the location where we found the trio didn't have the clearest water. Our guide in the water also took us to see the nearby spring with its noticeably clearer water and abundance of fish. An interesting sight even after the satisfaction of the manatee encounter. Captain Paul did what he could to find us more manatees and we got to see more of King's Bay in the process. A bit more tour-type observations, history, and points of interest would have helped pass the rest of time on the outing, but that's not really a complaint, more of a suggestion for making the trip even better. The hot chocolate and warm coffee definitely helped everyone stay warm and comfortable. Some useful tips for other travelers: 1. Leave your fins at home. You float with the manatees and let them come to you. Our guide specifically told us not to wear the fins we had brought. 2. Wear foot gear that will keep you warm in and out of the water. My 5mm scuba fin booties were perfect. 3. Saturday was a popular day for tour boats, even at 7am. Multiple boats surrounded single manatees. Weekdays should be less crowded, and with a concluding time of 9am for the morning tour, you can still have a full workday after. read more

We had a fantastic day with captain Paul and snorkel master extraordinaire Jessie! We had a mixed group of watchers and snorkelers they were both very knowledgeable and super kind. The shop was professional and accommodating. The whole trip was enjoyable and easy. We saw lots of manatees, going to quite places and spending time observing calmly. Most importantly they were terrific with our kids, making sure they were comfortable and relaxed. Amazing interactions, adventure, and a fun filled day. Highly recommend this shop and the team that took us out, terrific for all ages and all experience levels. Manatees are awesome and Bird's is amazing! read more

Bird's Underwater - Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

After looking for the perfect manatee tour, we eventually decided that Birds Underwater was the tour for us. We booked a private tour for our party of four and promptly got a friendly confirmation note from the team. We arrived at 7am on a cold(ish) November morning and were welcomed warmly by a smiling crew. We were given wet suits to keep us warm and to help us float as well as goggles and a snorkel. After watching a brief video explaining the dos and don't of interacting with manatees, we were greeted on board by Captain Mike and water guide Rob. We instantly had a good rapport going and they showed us a variety of birds on our way to the keyhole. What a friendly and knowledgeable crew. Once we got to the keyhole we had manatees all around us. Mike told us to keep close to Rob as he has a natural affinity with the manatees and they tend to flock to him. Mike wasn't wrong. The manatees love Rob's calm demeanor as well as nibbling on his beard. One member of our party couldn't go in the water and stayed on the boat and Mike gave her a lot of information and maneuvered the boat to places she was able to see the manatees from the boat. After about 30 mins Captain Mike took us to another spring that was much less visited by tour boats and we were able to swim with a mother and calf. We also saw lots of turtles and other grazing manatees. The package included hot and cold beverages, a big selection of breakfast items (mini quiches, potatoes wrapped in bacon, pastries and muffins), and fruit. What a great decision of choosing Birds Underwater among all potential tour companies. Next time we come back we will definitely book a tour with them again! read more

Matt and Sarah were awesome. We really enjoyed our time here. We highly recommend coming. Everyone was really nice and funny. They enjoy what they do. I will definitely be back. read more

This was a great dive shop. We did a drift dive down rainbow river and our dive master showed us all sorts of things. I've done this dive before with another operator but didn't have so many things pointed out and shown to us. The manatee experience was also top notch. I will be diving with them again. Bird's is the place to use! read more

We went today and it was POURING rain the entire time and freezing cold(50 degrees). Now this may sound like the beginning of a bad review, but we still had an amazing time! The cold weather drove all the manatees to the Three Sisters Springs which had warmer water. The water was actually warmer than the air. So don't let a little rain stop you from going! TIPS: 1. Go early it's less crowded 2. Eat before - donuts and coffee there, but if you want something else. 3. Bring underwater camera 4. Stay by the guide so you can get in video 5. Be sure to go to the back springs and don't just stay in front area (more manatees in beginning, but in the back springs the water was super clear). Be sure to look up and take pics of this area, it's very picturesque. 6. Bring plastic bags to keep things dry 7. Bring WARM clothes (including socks) to change into after swim. Esp in Jan-March 8. Cash to tip guide We had John as a guide and he was so friendly and hilarious! He had us laughing the entire time. Cons: you are kind of on your own after you jump off boat. This could also be a Pro if you enjoy exploring on own. PS. They had wetsuits for all sizes. We had some plus size people and skinny people and they managed to give us all the right size. read more

I went with Bird's since they have one of the earliest start times, and I wanted to get good viewing opportunities and avoid some of the crowds. All of that worked out. Our captain taught us a ton about manatees, and when we arrived at the sanctuary the only two boats there were from Bird's. By the time we left, eight or ten boats were dumping people into the water. So go at 6am if you can. When we first arrived most of the manatees were sleeping, so I thought the trip might be a bit of a bust; one big cow cruised by close to me which was kind of cool, but then things were quiet for a while. Then the calves woke up. As predicted, they were quizzical and curious, and a couple of them nuzzled my face (!) checking out my snorkel mask. The experience really made the trip. I'm not sure what else Bird's could improve on; they had a knowledgeable staff, they were friendly, and they delivered on what they promised. read more

Steve and Jon are the bomb! Let me tell you that I cannot swim. But it turns out that I can float. Steve was our captain and was great at explaining all things manatee so we are prepared. Do not touch manatee. Do not chase manatee. Do not Hover over manatee. But Manatee will come and touch you if you are quiet! Jon was the best. Let me tell you that Jon was super patient with me and my partner who cannot swim either and he grabbed me by that floating noodle and pulled me to a manatee who was friendly and swam around me and you are allowed to touch them if they let you touch them so it turned on its cute baby manatee belly and let me scratchies it! Super cute. My partner was even more scared of water than me and he clung onto the boat but the manatees were so friendly that they came to him! SUPER CUTE! SUPER FUN! Jon also took the best pictures ever. Buy them. $35? Worth it and it came in the cutest manatee jump drive. Best souvenir ever. read more

Fantastic!! It was raining, and we weren't sure if the tour would be canceled. We were the only two on the boat, and our guide Andrew took amazing care of us. It was fun, informative, and snorkeling with manatees was just great. I would highly recommend Birds Underwater - we had a great experience! read more

Best Manatee Trip EVER! Went on the 6:15 tour, and even though it is very early (for me) it was the best snorkeling experience that I've ever had. I went with my family in December, and we are from Michigan, but the rest of our group was from the south and they thought we were crazy for wanting to stay longer in the water with the manatees. If I can, the next time I go I would not mind just being dropped off and spending the whole day in the water and swimming back. It is that amazing! This needs to be on your 'bucket' list indeed! We will be doing this again, many times, in the near future. The staff at Bird's is the best and they are always top notch. read more

Very friendly staff who went out of their way to make sure we could swim with the manatees. Comfortable wetsuits and snorkel gear. Nice hot coffee and cocoa and snacks on the trip. Brittany was getting a lot of love from the manatees. Which was nice because she was our tour guide in the water and so we got a lot of love too. Manatee nuzzled my wife and held both my wife and my daughter. A little awkward for me but it was fun to watch. JK. Super Job captain Paul. Captain Paul is much better than Captain Steve. Actually, I don't know that. Captain Paul told me to say that. read more

Great operation!!! Staff was incredibly helpful and knowledgable. We first went on a manatee snorkel with another operation in town. It was rather disappointing. After a bit of poking around, Bird's Underwater was exactly what we were looking for. Very laid back and welcoming operation. Rhonda, our captain and guide was top notch. No doubt about it. Next time we are in town, there is only one shop we will use - Birds Underwater! Thank you to the staff of Birds Underwater for the great experience! read more

Donna our guide was great! We took an afternoon tour January 18 and saw at least 30 manatee, and several nursing babies. I have been on a fair amount of snorkel tours in the US, Mexico and Carribean and this is the ONLY dive shop that has several Prescription masks to help those of us with bad eyesite. Thanks a bunch! Well worth it!! read more

Best scalloping adventure I have been on!!!! Tons of scallops and laughs! You will not be disappointed!! The staff was wonderful, friendly and fun. Our captain took us to the best spots to find the scallops. It was a great family adventure we look forward to doing again next year! read more

Bird's Underwater - Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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This place is amazing! Even in the summer where manatees are hard to find, they made sure we were able to see some. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place! read more

Ever want to snookel with manatee. These giant gentle playful animal concentrated in Crystal River Florida, they need & love the warmer water. Birds offer some of the best guided tour to experience them. Join the very early 6am tour during winter time and you will have lots of play time with them and even inside 3 sisters springs. I went last month and wasn't the optimal season, viz was poor to average. Inside 3 sister, water was crystal clear all time, basically the spring water flushes everything out, so it's always clear. Apart from take tourist snokel, Birds' also teach and take divers to experience cave diving. I didn't have time to do that but definitely will next time. Highly recommended. read more

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The best way to see manatees is to rent a kayak, wetsuit, and dive belt from Bird's. Paddle out to see them from Bird's dive shop. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent that too. Bird's gave us a multi-day discount on the equipment and we floated the Rainbow River per their recommendation on day two. Excellent trip! Saw Gators, turtles, birds, swamp things, and other critters. Buy a kayak rack from Dick's Sports and drop your Kayak in next to Swampy's on the Rainbow River. Paddle upstream to Rainbow Springs where the River starts. Much better to go by kayak or SUP instead of tubes. Enjoy! read more

Had a fantastic experience with our family taking the manatee tour. Capt Paul and our guide Rob took great care of us, very professional and you could tell they were true conservationists. We were the first out to a wonderful spot on the river where we had a great view of a large group of manatees. Rob and Paul were very knowledgeable and respectful of the manatees environment which I appreciated. I would definitely go back for both the manatee tour and hopefully a dive trip, next time, as I'd know everything would be top notch. read more

We went on the 11am tour today and thoroughly enjoyed it! Our guide (Paul) was very knowledgeable and funny. The front to back experience was great: they fitted us in last minute; provided wetsuits and snorkels and fully explained the "dos and don'ts" so we were confident getting in the water. We swam with four manatees and were very impressed. The team are very conscious of minimising the impact to the manatees and their environment - we even managed to plant some underwater grass to encourage further growth. Would definitely reccomend to anyone! read more

Rented kayaks for Manatee watching. The staff was great, provided us with a map and great directions. Great days on the water

I went out early in the morning and my captain was very helpful and he had brought us donuts and hot chocolate we found a lot of mangoes and swam with them and one came up and kissed me in the face and it really started my New Years trip out right Captain Rick was very very helpful! I would recommend this trip to everyone read more

GREAT experience. Extremely kind, knowledgeable, and respectful staff. While other tourists are are misbehaving and mucking up the waters, Bird's knows what is the right thing to do. I've been here twice and would go anytime to swim with the manatees! read more