Great staff. Everyone is so friendly and knowledgeable about the manatees. 10/10 would go again.

What a great experience, definitely unforgettable. First of all, it was a first for us to wear wet suits. Boy, those are uncomfortable. Having to fit in something so fitting like you are a sardine in a tin box. Secondly they provided us with flippers and snorkels and masks, fun stuff, I definitely did not have practice with that. There were able 20 people on the tour. Not bad for a November day. We set sail about 5-10 minutes away first, and found a manatee, just one by himself. We spent quite a bit of time with him, and did get to swim with him and pet him and interact with him. The water here was not as clear. The water also was a shock to you bc it was cold even in a wet suit 72 degrees. You will eventually get use to the water. We then went to another set of water which was clearer, I got super close to a manatee to his face, so cool and unforgettable. At least, it was his face bc he pooped on the other end and got other people from behind. The last place that we went was the most memorable, beautiful water, tons of manatees everywhere. We actually used our flippers here, and right under neath us were manatee everywhere. they are harmless, you can touch them and interact with them every step of the way. I'm definitely doing this again!!! read more

We have been using this charter for a couple years now and we've always had a great experience. The captains are very friendly and knowledgable and make sure you have a great time. In addition to the manatee tours, they also provide scalloping tours as well. We highly recommend this! They take you on a 30min boat ride to the perfect spot for scallop hunting, show you what you're looking for and how to spot them, give you some good pointers on safety, and you're off. They also clean them for you and give you a huge amount to go home with! We did have an issue with booking this time though. We changed a reservation from 2 to 3 a few weeks prior and when we got there after our 1.5 hour drive, they still had us down for 2 and treated us like it was our fault. They had to call in another captain on their day off and made us feel pretty guilty about it even though it was their error. We've never had an issue with them before, but I recommend double and triple checking your reservation before you go. read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - Manatee snorkel tour - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Easily one of the highlights of my year, if not my life! Our swim guide Mak and boat captain Chad were superb, knowledgeable, and so friendly! We will definitely be back next time we find ourselves down in Florida. Do yourself a favor and book a manatee swim today, it will be one of the most magical moments of your life! read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - Manatees! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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I can't recommend a group higher than this group! My husband & I were hoping to go out for a late afternoon with our daughter (age 11) to see/swim with the manatees. We arrived late in the afternoon but they could not have been more accommodating! While it was too late to go out by ourselves by kayak, they offered to take us via pontoon boat. After a quick video on the do's and don'ts of swimming with manatees, they took the three of us out on their pontoon boat. The captain was very knowledgeable and shared his love for these amazing creatures w/us until we reached our destination. We reached Three Sisters where our captain instructed us that rather than go where everyone else was splashing around, if we were very calm & patient, we should quietly slide into the water right in our area as there was a manatee under our boat! we did and she came right out to us. We were a little nervous at first, but were coached and reassured by our captain the whole time as he encouraged us to scratch her under her belly. She was like a puppy dog and actually rolled over on her back like a dog wanting more belly scratches - it was amazing. They really are gentle giants! After about 20 minutes with her, our captain then recommended we venture into the reserve which was beautiful and full of life ... the whole thing was an experience of a lifetime made that much more special by the folks at Crystal River Manatee Dive & Tour. The facility had outdoor changing rooms, clean bathrooms, a picnic area with outdoor grills and a playground. Cute gift shop with fairly priced items so we could 'treasure' our experience. We WILL be back again in the future. read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - Maureen - our favorite! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

I was super excited about swimming with the manatees. I've amassed quite the collection of pictures of myself with animals over the years (elephant, tiger, koala bear, several fish, dolphin), so I was looking forward to adding a manatee to the list. I didn't get my shot...boo. First of all, it was extremely difficult to get through to book these reservations. My friend was finally able to get through (thanks HC!) after calling and calling and more calling over multiple days. Their voicemail box was always full, so it was impossible to even leave a message. Not cool. Just FYI...This is a 2 hour drive from Orlando and is a entire day venture. It rained the night before, so the lake was murky. We were able to see a few manatees here and there, and stayed out on the lake for a good 5-6 hours. The highlight was definitely at the end when our entire party (6 of us) were able to touch and hang out with the manatees, including a baby! If it weren't for that experience, the entire tour would have been a little bunk. Thanks to Captain Gene's pesistance (he was on a mission!), we had a decent tour. Peak season for manatee viewing is around September to December when the weather gets cold and they migrate to the lake because it's warmer there. I'd say go if it's peak season and the weather is clear, otherwise pass. Unfortunately, it's kinda up to mother nature on whether or not it'll be worth it and not really a reflection of the tour company. read more

Overall we had a VERY good time experiencing the manatees and would recommend this to anyone! Awesome trip that you'll remember. Concern: I paid for 6 people in our party consisting of 4 divers and 2 (+80yr old) observers from the boat. The weather was in the 50s, too cold for the 2 elder observers to attend on the boat. I paid for this about 1 week before our scheduled dive. I politely explained our situation to Bill (manager?) on the day of our dive, but unfortunately they require 48hrs to receive a refund. I felt I received a "too bad so sad" mentality, which didn't sit well with me...not much I could do about it though. Bill seemed to be a little sarcastic and brash, but I'm sure some enjoy that type of service. After the tour, I politely expressed this concern again, which was quickly dismissed with zero empathy. I understand operational efficiency and the importance of effectively staffing tours. However, each scenario should be looked at on a case by case basis. Maybe some sort of recovery could have been offered in this instance. Overall I know policy is policy, but I lost out on this one... read more

What an amazing and memorable experience to share with my BFF!!! Thank you for a great day. Everybody was informative and joyful! The staff made sure we saw manatees while directing us the right way (not the harm the manatees and the environment) to enjoy the experience! This is a must do for everybody! read more

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These people could not have been nicer, or more helpful or more accommodating. We we're a group of 10 and our guide Makayla and our captain Matt we're terrific in every way. We saw a ton of manatees and Makayla was very knowledgeable. We checked out several other companies before we settled on this one, and we're all super glad we did. read more

We had a great time swimming with the manatees. Our tour Guides Matt and Whitney were great. They were very informative and helpful. Our captain was Alex and he too was great. This was an amazing experience. We had a blast swimming with these sea cows. Definitely will be back again on our next trip to Florida. read more

Did not see any manatees my kids were super bummed we all were actually .I asked for a refund or voucher and I was told the owner would call me ..it's been 24 hours and I've received any phone call.don't waste your money read more

This was a wonderful experience. We went on a cooler day which resulted in seeing LOTS of manatees. It was so peaceful. Friendly staff made sure that you had the best experience possible! read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

First off, I have to say, this was one of my very favorite things I have ever done! The weather was nice and warm given late December. The water was beautiful and I had one of the coolest experiences with my friends, son, a manatee and her baby. The big downside was our swimming guide. I was there with my 8 year old son. While I admit he was splashing too much in the beginning adjusting to the noodle, snorkeling and cold water), she just wouldn't get off his case all day. At one point she told him to swim around other people to get a better look. So he swam around his aunt to stay close to us. She yelled out "you just never listen, you weren't supposed to swim that way, you were supposed to come this way". I told her that he was staying close to his aunt and we were all together. Another time we were close to 3 manatee, looking at them about 5 minutes. He was getting too close and tried to back up. One of the manatee swam away. (2 others were still there). She said "you know its your fault the manatee swam away". Later on, a few people were holding onto a dock. My son swam over there to get a rest as well. As soon as he grabbed on she shouted "that's private property, you need to let go. You really don't listen". A) others were hanging on and she never told them to get off. B) he was never told that it was private property that couldn't be held on to. This went on all day. She just wouldn't give the kid a break. At the end of the trip, we were all getting off the boat. There was another little girl on the trip who was in the water for about 10 minutes. The guide said to her "you were the best kid on the boat, unlike the other kid". We were standing right there. Just completely unacceptable behavior and comments. read more

Had a great time for a great price! Check out Groupon for a deal, and they told us they give deals to return customers too. Alex and Maggie were excellent guides, took us to a secluded spot with two or three manatees. We lucked out when the manatees started interacting with us- nibbling on arms and float noodles, coming up to us face to face. Maggie took some great photos that we were able to buy too. Such a rare and amazing experience to have! Our guides were able to answer every question we had about manatees as well. Only seeing a few manatees was fine with me, we came mid April and most leave as the water warms up. To see a lot more, come in winter months. Price included snorkel and wetsuit. Had to take a short walk to the dock, only a block or two. read more

Another great trip out with Manatee Tour and Dive. Last February, my boyfriend and I went out on a group tour while visiting from Los Angeles. This time we brought my mom who has progressive MS and my sister and her fiancé who live in Orlando. Seeing the manatees has always been on my mom's bucket list. I booked a private trip so that any issues with my mom wouldn't slow an entire group down. Austin and Alex were phenomenal! They were patient and kind and made sure that everyone had an enjoyable time. I can not recommend this place enough! From their management to shack staff to guides and captains. They are the most respectful company to the manatees as well which really makes me feel good. I urge anyone interested to support a company who supports and respects these beautiful gentle creatures. Thank you all!! read more

The captain Dimitri and Morgan were simply amazing and we had a blast with them! They were so informative, fun and great people to be on the tour with! I would definitely recommend them and the tour company! We were able to swim with the manatees and tarpin that were huge! My seven year old daughter had a blast! Wet suits were provided and the whole experience was amazing. read more

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I had a wonderful time. You could tell that Tonya and Bryan had a passion for these amazing animals. The manatees are just awesome. I would recommend taking the time to have this experience. read more

Had an amazing time with Shelly and Brian. Private tour was was definitely the way to go. The other tour groups had up to 12. Our small group of 6 really enjoyed the intimacy and one on one attention. Saw a mother and calf and a couple other manatees as well in a few different areas. They took pictures while we swam and included a DVD for us for as part of the package for no additional fee. Highly recommended and would definitely do it again. read more

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A friend & I went on a tour & had a great time! The check in process with Tony was seemless & we were fitted with wetsuits quickly. Missy & Shellie were great tour guides. Within 5 minutes of leaving the dock, we came upon a mother & calf manatee & swam with them for over half an hour. Then they took us to Three Sisters Springs, where we swam to the spring boil. They were professional, personable, & great guides! We'll be coming back for scallop season! read more

We booked a tour to snorkel with the manatees . The day before it stormed out . However even though it was chilly and still a litTle windy we decided to go because you can't get a refund. First off the building Was hard to find it said something about kayaks outside. When we get in we find out we have to walk 2 blocks which is fine however one person in our party is handicapped. My friend told them that before we booked. We were the only tour that went out that day.. I thought our tour guide did a Terrible job he did not give us any information when we were in the water about manatees I feel like if your going to be the guide you should have some knowledge about what your showing people. Nope didn't say a word to us out there. We were not asked if we would like pictures taken . It felt like they didn't want to take us out but did. Got back to place went in and went to the bathroom let the lady know there were no paper towels she said she knew they were having problems getting them . There is such a thing called a store go get some there for sanitary reasons. I would not recommend this place feel I did not get my money's worth feel like they should of gave us a refund the water was hard to see because of the storm . The guide kept askIng us if were ready to go in i think because he was cold however this was our tour . Very low class very disappointed wish I could get my money back. I have family that live here they will not recommend this place at all . I came from Utah my friends from Michigan we were so excited about this tour but very disappointed . Also gave us hot chocolate no trash can to put cups in . We booked this off the reviews . Our experience was terrible. Our tour guide was Joshua . Pattiebrown72@gmail.com read more

We came as a family with our own kayaks because next to this business is a public kayak launch. I went in to ask if I could rent a wet suit for my daughter, 3 years old, and was RUDELY told by the woman behind the counter she didn't want to rent to me, she wanted to save them for those that booked tours. They weren't busy at all. It would've been nicer to say, "sorry, we can't rent one to you, but we could sell you one" or something to that effect. The staff seemed embarrassed by her response. In contrast, another manatee company boat captain, that does business near the Days Inn, we met on the water offered us to tie up to him and even offered to let us climb onto his boat then step back into our own kayaks. A little kindness goes a long way. read more

Would've liked to have used this company since I purchased 3 Groupons for my family. After trying to book a reservation with them and being treated so rudely on the phone, I didn't want to give them my business. Here's the conversation: Me: " Hi, do you have Friday available for 3 people?" Man: "I do if you're paying cash, I don't if you're using Groupons." Mind you, there are no restrictions on the Groupons. He continues: "We're completely booked for the next 3 weekends (which is Friday - Sunday) for Groupons." So I make a reservation for middle of the week (completely inconvenient). He asks for the voucher numbers and I ask him to hold on while I retrieve them. He says, "I can't wait, I'm too busy. Call back with those numbers." On a side note, my husband was treated rudely, as well, when he called on a separate occasion. I got my money back from Groupon. read more

I would recommend this company if you want to do a swim with the manatee experience. They are a straight forward no frills boat but it will get you were you need to be to see the manatees. There were probably over 30 manatees in the area they took us. You also have to go at peak season and we went in January. However during peak season you have to deal with a lot of other people, other tour companies, boats and kayaks as well. Pros- Right on the water, drive right to the site, ample parking and restrooms on site get right on the boat and go right out. Easy to get through for us to schudle, friendly staff, lots of sizes of wetsuits (and you will need it even if you think you won't) Cons- Lots of kids on the tour, might be nice to have an adults only tour option, the kids were loud and manatees don't like loud so it took away from our experience. More education from the boat captain on what to expect when you got in the water and more education on how to interact with the animals. More reiteration needed on following the directions like don't walk on bottom because it will get murky, don't be loud or afraid because they don't like that. They said these things but I think they needed to be said about a dozen times for people to understand. I think you should use this company if you go on a manatee tour, just be aware of what you are actually doing and understand that you are swimming with an animal and you need to respect it in it's natural environment and most people don't get this. read more

Swimming with the manatees was a life dream for my wife, so when we went to Florida, she got us tickets to go on a manatee tour with Manatee Tour and Dive. We had attempted to schedule with a different tour company using a Groupon, but that turned into a nightmare. My wife did a little more digging and found this business. We are definitely glad she did. The staff here are helpful and courteous. They are very customer-focused. We had no trouble scheduling and getting the trip paid. We arrived early, a lot earlier than we needed to, but that was okay. They fitted us with wet suits, and being a big guy, I was pleased that they had one in my size. We can't say enough good about the boat captains. Two tours went out at the same time, and the captains worked together to find manatees that we could see and swim with. If you are going to do this, you know you can't chase them, but if you get near, they will often come up and visit as they are curious about humans and enjoy the attention. The first batch we ran into were very playful but did not stick around long, so we went and found another manatee. He was very patient and gave us a chance to photograph him and pet him. After the manatee, we went to the natural springs a little further in the inlet. The water was very clear back by the springs, and you could see fish swimming all around you. It was a nice, relaxing swim during the tour. I don't know if they do this all the time, but as we were packing up, they gave everyone a discount card for a future visit. Though reasonably priced, I would never turn down a discount should we come back again. read more

I don't even know where to start with this place. Before we even got there, we asked for a lot of specific information about this trip. My mother and I went here from Colorado specifically to see manatees. They DID NOT tell us the manatees migrate to Mexico during the summer, so there wouldn't be hardly any there. They told us the manatees would be all over the area. We wanted to get an underwater camera, but they discouraged us from getting an underwater camera because they had "photographers" taking pictures of the experience. Everything that could have went wrong, happened. First of all, my mother and I get there and rent some wetsuits. They were absolutely disgusting. Some had holes, deodorant stains, and we're just really old and dirty. We get on the boat, on time, at about 10:30. However, one of the families was late, so we waited for about 25 minutes in the hot sun, sweating in our wetsuits. You'd think they would have looked for them or gone without them, but our tour was cut short because they waited. Our tour guide wasn't very knowledgable...about anything really. He was also, apparently, the experienced "photographer". His name was Bill. We wondered around the bay for at least 45 minutes before even getting in the water. He stopped multiple times to take pictures of birds. We wanted to see MANATEES, not birds. It seemed like Bill was burning time. Finally, Bill sees a manatee. After he had left his diving equipment all over the boat, which he lazily requested we fetch and bring to him, he put his stuff on and told us to wait while he went to see if the manatee was approachable. Then he said he would come back and escort us to see the manatee in twos. He swims out to the manatee, and stays out there for 25 minutes. TWENTY FIVE MINUTES. While we watch him swim with this manatee from the boat, in the hot sun. He does not motion to us, he does not yell to us. Keep in mind, he had a snorkel, and was very near to the surface, so he could have called us over at any time. He comes back to the boat all excited, and mentions feeling like an "excited little boy" whenever he sees manatees. We are all upset and wondered why he didn't get us. "I thought you were behind me," he laughed and said. He keeps talking about the footage he took on his camera. This "amazing" manatee footage that we can buy from him for 26 dollars at the end of the tour. He said he had been taking pictures of us the whole time. He mentions how great this CD is the entire trip. Really milking it. After a while, we finally come across a manatee again. Everyone, anxious to see a manatee up close, rushed in the water. The family that was late elbowed everyone to get to the manatee. A little girl was pushed behind by a rude teenage boy, I had to pull her away from him so he wouldn't kick her. Our tour guide was too busy trying to swim with this manatee that he wasn't even paying attention to the group or controlling it. People kicked and pushed each other, splashing and yelling, and the teen kicked the manatee on accident. The manatee, scared and overwhelmed, swam away as fast as he could. I was disgusted by our group, but even more so by the tour guide, who was anxious to get pictures so he could sell us this "amazing" CD. We get back on the boat. Everyone is irritated as it is time to go back already. Bill stops the boat to take YET ANOTHER bird picture. We are all pissed. Bill promised when we got back, we would all be able to see the pictures on the CD to determine if we wanted to buy it or not. It was $26 after all. We went inside the shop, where a woman was arguing with a cashiers. They were trying to charge her $26 for pictures and $26 for a separate video CD. After about 20 minutes of the two older men cashiers fighting with each other and trying to figure out how to work the cash register, the flustered woman leaves. At this point there is a massive line inside this stuffy little store filled with cheap souvenirs. My mother finally got to the front of the line amidst the horribly disorganized chaos and was informed that no; in fact, we COULD NOT see our pictures. We didn't know what we were buying. My mother bought the CD anyway, which we were informed had both the incredible footage AND photos on, thanks to that woman who almost got ripped off. We go to my car and put the CD in my laptop. This was just the fucking cherry on top. Pics were blurry, there were pictures of the ground, or his hand, at one point the child had the camera and took pictures, and the "amazing footage" was a couple 12 second clips of a barely visible manatee. WHAT THE FUCK. Please don't go to this place. I'm sure there's a more professional company somewhere in Florida where you can observe manatees in a fun, peaceful environment. Not this total shit show I experienced today. I never want to go to Crystal Rivers again. read more

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This tour was extremely disappointing. First, they didn't honor the Groupon entirely. The Groupon fine print says that the tour can be used on Sunday at 1PM and that you need to make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance. I made a reservation four days in advance, and when I called to reserve, was told there were no "Groupon spots" available but that they would honor the promotional value ($20; even though I was still within the expiration date) and I could pay the difference to the full price ($15, for a $35 ticket). Since I really wanted to do this, and I was taking a non-Groupon friend, I went along with this, even though I felt it was a misleading sale process to use Groupon and then decide that only certain "spots" were Groupon-approved. If that's the case, the fine print needs to read that way instead, and the company needs to determine which days and times are "Groupon Only". When we arrived, we were pleased with the cleanliness of the establishment and the friendliness of the guys behind the counter. They set us up with our wetsuits; we watched the mandatory "Manatee Rules" video, and off we went on to Captain Doreen's boat to go hopefully see some manatees. Upon boarding, Captain Doreen asked where everyone was from. On our boat, we had people from Winter Garden, Jacksonville, and Orlando; It felt like once she realized everyone was from Florida, she just turned off. There was little to no conversation, no good facts and information about the manatees. In fact, Captain Doreen did not seem interested at all in actually having us try to see multiple manatees. My friend had never snorkeled before, and even told Captain Doreen this, and received NO feedback or assistance beyond, put the mask on and breathe through your mouth. Someone spotted a manatee in the water, and Captain Doreen did all but tell us all to go chase that manatee. Since one of the rules in the video is not to chase them, I was upset. Plus, what's ONE manatee going to do when about 12 people come swimming at it...you got it, swim away. Doreen kept yelling from the boat where the poor animal was, so everyone kept swimming over to find it again... I actually asked Doreen if we were going to "...chase after this one the whole time, or go try to find some others..." Her response was that it's the off-season so we're basically lucky to find the one.So of course, we didn't really get to experience any connection with that manatee. So back on the boat, and then it happened again. Someone spotted one, and everyone jumped into the water and away the manatee went. I felt sorry for the poor animal - I didn't get in the water that time, just watched from the boat as the poor thing tried to swim away from the herd of humans chasing it. Then, we were back on the boat. There were two people on our boat in street clothes, who didn't get in the water at all. After we'd chased the manatees, we just boated around for a while, and when someone asked if we were going to try to find more manatees, Captain Doreen informed us that this was the "sightseeing portion for the people who decided not to swim". Excuse me? I did NOT pay for a sightseeing excursion - seeing the pretty HUGE houses on the shore is lovely, but I do not need to see them from three angles as we show off the area to the people who weren't really participating in the experience. I, and I'm guessing a majority of us on the tour, would have preferred to at least attempt to find more manatees. I realize it's the off-season, but I know the manatees are out there. I've done a tour (with a different outfit) that was much more entertaining and fun. This one paled in comparison. I won't use or recommend this company. read more

This was a family trip with 6 adults and 3 children under the age of 10. Capt. Alex and Capt. Morgan made it fun and educational. We got up close and personal with the manatees and we got lots of good gopro videos! It was a wonderful day. Thanks so much! read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - Preparing to meet Momma arrowhead (Manatee) - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Our family of 5 did the private tour today 8:00 a.m. with Captain Bill and our guide Matt! It was awesome!! Capt. Bill made sure we abided by all the safety rules on the boat. Matt was so cool and amazing. He got each one of us close and took amazing pictures. Super fabulous experience. Everything was clean, from the wetsuits, changing rooms, office, boat, snorkels/masks and shop. Would totally book with this Manatee Tour and again! read more

This was a groupon find. We drove from tampa and it was overall a good time. The first time I called to book my appointment the gentleman was kind of rude so I just called back because of his attitude. We got there early as instructed and were given out wetsuits. We went to the bathrooms and changed. A few minutes later we watched a video on the laws out in the water. We loaded up on the boat and he took us out a little bit and we hopped in the water. For a while we were swimming with a mom and her baby. Soon we spotted a third manatee and we were with the three. He then took us to the three sister springs and we got to swim there. The water was crystal clear and a bit chilly but at the same time really refreshing. When were done swimming he took us back. They have a store with snacks, towels, shirts, jackets and other manatee goodies to take home. There also a shower and restroom area. read more

So I recently did this tour for my first time. I did read a few reviews before going but I decided to make my own judgement. I can say a few things I noticed about this place: As far as the guy on the phone/front desk, I have noticed he isn't exactly the friendliest dude in the world and he wouldn't win any customer service awards, however, it wasn't enough to deter me from trying the place out. I do think they should hire a female customer service rep to handle front desk and phone so they don't lose business, because this guy might need a break from that. We couldn't even rent a kayak from them because the guy just wasn't doing it, even after we asked and looked very interested in giving them our money. So we left and rented kayaks somewhere else. As far as the tour, we went in early July, and because of that, there weren't that many manatees out in the water. In fact, we saw one. Please keep that in mind when you come. The manatees do not want to be in that cold spring water (a constant 72). It doesn't sound cold, but when you jump in, everyone's common reaction is CRAP it's ICE COLD. Especially if you compare it to the 90 degree weather we get here on the regular. In the winter, 72 will seem warm compared to 50 degree air temp so that's the best time to go. Plus, the manatees will be out in the waters near the springs at that time. Since it is summer time, our capt. didn't take us out to three sisters springs, just hunters springs, and through some canals that have mostly upper middle class homes on the waters edge, which isn't all that exciting to look at. So for the most part, the tour was boring. So if you're coming from far away, i highly recommend you do not do this tour in the summer, you will be wasting your money. The company does have a groupon for half price the tour, and I am pretty sure they put that up because it's summer and they know there won't be any manatees out there. So, if you're doing a summer tour, get the groupon. If you came here to see three sisters springs, I highly recommend renting a kayak and going there yourself instead. read more

The Tour boat driver kept on nagging me the entire time not to use my feet to swim, because it might impact manatee showings. So, I deliberately fell back from all the other swimmers, and swam by myself.... and she still reprimanded me. I honestly don't know how to propel myself through the waters with my hands (and not use my legs).... for being a 210lb man? read more

We had captain Glenn and Captain Kate. Great people (REALLY GREAT). Everyone was patient and kind and full of information. I don't have a single negative thing to say. Worth every penny and then some! Please tip your captains!!! Seriously, these people know their stuff and are excited to share it. I've wanted to do this for almost 20 years and now I hope we can come back one day. Soon read more

Manatee Tour And Dive - These two manatees were playing tag around our group. - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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This was my second time going on a tour with this group. My first experience was absolutely incredible, so I got some friends of mine to join in this time. I told them we had to go now in January because that's when the most manatees would be out. So we bought our groupons, booked the date, and drove out an hour and a half. We get there and watch an instructional video, then they tell us there that today we can't touch any manatees. I was just there a few months earlier and we were allowed to so this threw me off a bit. We went out to a tiny spring to practice snorkeling and while there we get to see one manatee. Captain then says this is probably the best experience we will have today, which made me question if we'd get out in the water again. He then drove us to the busy parts where there were a lot of other boats, snorkelers, and manatees...and unfortunately wouldn't let us off the boat. Then we got to the spring that was roped off cause there were hundreds of manatees. He stopped the boat so we could see, but wouldn't let us get out and said "The view is better from up here". I really wanted to get an underwater perspective, it was something I was looking so forward to. So it was pretty much a sightseeing tour of manatees and we got to watch other snorkerlers get a hands on experience that was very much lacking in this trip. If I had known this company was trying not to do as much interaction and it would be this way, I wouldn't have bought the groupons. My friends were a bit disappointed too. I more than likely won't go back despite the great first experience. read more

The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable! Even though it was off season we were able to find a manatee. Overall we had a great time! read more

This was the first time for me to go scallop diving. I reserved the last spot on the boat and was so thankful for that, as opening day (7/1/17) is always a sell out crowd so to speak. There was 8 of us total and there was plenty of room on the boat for us all. The boat had plenty of storage for everyone's snacks, drinks, lunch, dry bags etc... Captain Charlie was knowledgeable and got us to the location of the scallop grounds quickly and that is when the fun began! We limited out and everyone got their fair share of fresh handpicked Scallops! Even if you do not like Scallops, you should go anyways. Think of it like Easter egg hunting! Additionally, who doesn't enjoy a nice boat ride, snorkeling in crystal clear water, and stocking up on one of my favorite things to eat in the world? The reservation was easy to make, the office is literally a 4 minute walk to the boat dock, and they made everything super easy for their customers. I will back for sure! Thanks Again! read more

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Great check-in for the manatee tour and snorkel trip. Getting quickly fitted with the wet suit was a pretty smooth process. We forgot to bring an extra large duffle to put our clothes in - recommend adding to your packing list with waterproof camera. The tour was smooth and our guide Alex worked hard to help us see the manatees. Capt Brian was great at answering manatee and birding questions. Warm hot chocolate was a nice treat at the end of the tour (especially considering it was colder that day - though the water was refreshingly fine). We would come back again - everyone works hard to bring smiles and educate us on how to observe the manatees. read more

This is possibly the coolest thing I have ever done! My husband and I took 5 of our kids and we all loved every minute. Captain Casey was knowledgable and so friendly. They were very focused on telling us what was acceptable and unacceptable behavior in the water and did a great job preparing us. We found a groupon add which gave us bogo on adults and $10 for kids. Seeing the manatees up close was amazing. You cannot understand how big and gentle they are until you are within inches of one. Captain Casey was very understanding with the kids, and was continually pointing us in the right direction as to where the manatees were. You need to be a good simmer and not afraid of water to enjoy this tour, kids under 10 might get scared and have trouble being quiet. Using the snorkel equipment and not kicking is also very hard for them. Two of our kids (ages 8 and 9) got very scared, but enjoyed watching from the boat. The rest of us enjoyed it and can't wait to come back in winter when there are hundreds. read more

The trip includes the wetsuit and snorkel gear. Definitely go in January to see the most manatees but try for the morning group, because it was very busy in the river when I went. The kayakers and other passerby were disturbing the manatees and many swam down stream to other areas. (We still saw plenty). Our captain, Casey, was great and very knowledgeable. He and the company truly care about the ecology of the river and the manatees. They taught us proper etiquette and how to swim without disturbing them. The company also takes awesome video and pictures to purchase for $25 at the end. I will definitely be back! read more

Bryan was our captain and Missy was our dive guide. They were awesome! They did a great job pointing out all the wildlife and finding manatees for us in different locations. Both of them were extremely helpful with my 6 year old and were very patient with her. I highly recommend Manatee Tour and Dive. They are kind, caring, professional, and family friendly; at the same time, they make sure the kids don't mess it up for those of you without kids! I came here back in June (without my 6 year old) and had an equally amazing experience. read more

If there were more than 5 stars to give, I'd give them. Chad and Matt are a dynamic duo! Safely got us to the manatees and got us perfectly situated in the water for some up close and personal interactions!! Definitely want to come back during peak season! read more