Super unforgettable manatee adventure with Tyler (our guide) and Michelle (our boat captain). We had two amazing and very different manatee encounters. Our first stop was near a sanctuary site in King's Bay that was absolutely packed with manatees that we could not see in the murky waters. It was an incredibly "up close and personal" experience--you literally could not see the manatees until they were right next to you. The location was the Three Sisters Springs. Here, the water clarity was phenomenal. We were able to see the manatees in their entirety--huge, graceful forms gliding, rolling and swimming past us. I would highly recommend this tour operator if you are looking for a great manatee adventure. read more

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This place has a decent bait shop and boat ramp. We often go here to launch our boat in Crystal River, because Pete's Pier is usually too overcrowded these days. I guess I should not be promoting the boat ramp because it's sort of a secret that a lot of people don't know about. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They also offer river tours to see manatees and King's Bay if you don't have a boat. read more

Plantation Adventure Center offers a wide variety of fun water activities. You can swim, kayak, or just ride a boat to check out the manatees and other wildlife in the area. Captain Mark was very knowledgeable and had much experience with the boat tour. We learned that just seven years ago, there were very few manatees coming into the Springs due to lack of vegetation. They started dredging the bottom and planting greens that the manatees liked to eat. Now, there are more manatees than you can count. There were several areas restricted for boats, kayaks and swimmers to keep the manatees safe. That's why it's very important to select an adventure company that understands the federal rules and regulations. Otherwise, you may end up with a hefty fine. We saw several manatees as well as many species of birds. The area was so beautiful, and I'm glad we got to check it out from a boats view. Next time I come back to Crystal River, I want to swim with the manatees;) read more

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Epic adventure!!! Such a memorable encounter with all these manatees wow! And Captains Dustin and John couldn't have done a more fantastic job! I was especially impressed with how they went above and beyond to make sure the manatees were safe and comfortable while still being able to give us such an amazing experience! Captain Dustin is a manatee conservationist - which I found very impressive - love how they protect these wonderful creatures! Making reservations online was very straightforward and easy. The office and launch point for the manatee trips is located in the grounds of the Plantation Inn on Crystal River - and since we booked a morning trip, we stayed at the hotel there and it made it so convenient! We just got up and walked over to their office/dock! But there's plenty of parking if you're not staying at the hotel. They easily found our reservation in their system and got us all set up. Since it was winter, they gave us wetsuits and we had our own water shoes. Captain Dustin took one look at us and gave us the correct size wetsuits on the first try haha!! He has a great eye lol! He also helped us put them on properly which was so helpful bc those things are hard to get into. We watched the safety video and learned about the rules we needed to follow to keep the manatees safe and happy. And then we got to hop onto our boat for the day woohoo!! A very comfortable pontoon with plenty of room for everyone. They provide the snorkel gear and even had prescription goggles for those with glasses - near and far sighted!! Above and beyond service!! Our fabulous captains kept us entertained in and out of the water - good laughs and great fun! Everyone in our small group got to have a personalized experience thanks to John and Dustin! They drove us all over the Crystal River to make sure we had maximum manatee exposure! We swam with so many gentle giants - what a day! Be prepared to get up close - bc the manatees aren't scared and they are quite curious! And apparently they love to chew on wetsuit strings and hair to "floss their teeth" haha! They're so gentle though - even though they're huge creatures, it's not scary at all. Such sweet beasts honestly! Absolutely adore them! And if you're not the strongest swimmer, don't worry - the wetsuits are super buoyant and the captains also have noodles to help. I brought my own GoPro but Captain Dustin also had his and did a fantastic job of grabbing photos and video as well! And you have the opportunity to buy a flash drive with ALL the footage from your trip afterwards and it's a very reasonable price - totally worth it! When our time in the water was up, the captains handed us large, soft towels and they even had hot drinks waiting for us!! We had a choice of hot cocoa, coffee, or a "manatee mocha" which was half cocoa half coffee lol...what a perfect end to a perfect adventure! I'd do it again in a heartbeat- such an amazing adventure!! Can't wait to come back and do it again! Huge thank you to Dustin and John for the incredible journey! read more

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Did the manatee boat tours with them and would highly recommend. The guides are great, very patient and informative. My group wasn't a large one was it was a very one on one experience with the manatees. Love the respect for them that they showed also. Great experience read more

Adventure is an accurate description of this day! Set in the tropical outdoor beauty that only Florida can offer, this experience was one for the bucket list. The set up seamless. The employees direct every step for you so there's no need for concern with details that interfere with your fun. We suited up in the wet suits watched a short 9 minute video that schooled us on the do's and do not's of the adventure. Most important near and dear to my heart was the emphasis on respect and conservation of these magnificent animals and the environment in which they live. RESPECT was important to this group. You are instructed to freeze if a manatee swims in your area or even brushes you. There is no alarm since these docile creatures will not show any aggression. I was however a little startled when one came up beside me looking back at me with the same curious eyes I was giving him. Bring your children too!!!! There were lots of little ones there A great family activity!!! Morgan was our guide. This young lady was beautiful smart and in tune with nature. She truly had love in her heart for these wonderful works of God. She shares with us that part of the proceeds from sales are donated to various local causes for the manatee. She advised $50k had been donated last year for a 'Manbulance'. Amazing adventure beautiful setting and happy to be a part of financially helping these marvelous animals. Put this on your list! You will not regret it!!! I gladly give 5 stars!!! read more

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It's an ok adventure. The captain Aaron was unpleasant; he told me if I wanted to see lots of manatee you should come when it is not high tide. My opinion is if there are 1-2 manatee during high tide don't offer tours during those hours. I wouldn't want to go with Aaron again. His don't care attitude ruined it for me. Aaron is not a people person very rude. My boyfriend and I both felt the same. The lady Shelly who was helping with the snorkel was great, very nice, and calm. read more

Best manatee experience around. The customer service and guide experience far surpasses any other adventure company in the area. John & Leon were the best guides possible. Everyone got ample time to see manatees. We never felt rushed. Price was right. Bathrooms on site. Drinks & sunscreen available for purchase. Merch too. Wetsuits were top notch & absolutely worth it. The entire experience was phenomenal. John went above and beyond to make sure everyone was safe, felt comfortable and was exceptionally kind and knowledgeable. Our guides knew exactly where the manatees were and their knowledge made our experience incredible. Anyone can do this- from the super experienced to the brand new adventurer. 10/10 stars! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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In March we traveled to Crystal River, FL to celebrate my birthday and to see the manatees. It has always been on my bucket list. Our guides were Captain Michelle and Laura. They were fantastic!!! They took us all around the area, spotting and pointing out wildlife along the way. The manatees were sparse and the water was murky due to the recent hurricanes but they worked with other boat captains and still managed to locate them for us. Swimming with the manatees was an experience none of us will ever forget! I loved the small intimate group size and Michelle and Laura were awesome! Great personalities for this kind of adventure. They worked very well together and helped make us feel comfortable in this unique first time experience. This was something I would definitely love to do again, next time when the water is more clear. If I had the chance I would request Captain Michelle and Laura again! read more

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This is an excellent tour company. The boat was very stable at sea and the crew was absolutely fantastic. read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Came down to crystal river for some mantee seeing during our spring break and we're glad we choose plantation adventure center. Dustin and Dan were great tour guides. Dan with his knowledge and love for the mantees and Dustin being our ride or die captain of the boat. We had blast. Great hot mantee mocha too. read more

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Captain Loupy and Jessica kept our group laughing and entertained on the one hour pontoon boat ride we did in February 2021. We didn't see any manatees due to the warm gulf water that day, but had a great tour of the area. I just wish they had their facts about the large house straight - no, it's not John Travolta's home. It's a wonderful wealthy couple who donates time and money to Crystal River's charities. Also didn't mention anything about local boy who did well as a MLB pitcher, so I took a star away. Nice tour worth the price. read more

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We did the Swim with Manatees Adventure here and loved every minute. While it's true that the success of this excursion depends on how compliant the other members in your group are with the rules, Jake did a good job reminding and enforcing good behavior so as not to disturb the manatees. We got lucky and swam with a pod of 5-6 manatees. After this, they took us to 3 sisters spring which I found absolutely magical. That was a bonus I was not expecting. On the boat ride back, we were offered coffee or hot chocolate, which was nice. I would certainly return to swim with the manatees again. read more

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Our nonprofit organization, Children's Dream Adventures, recently sent a foster family on a vacation, and swimming with the manatees was one of the activities that they participated in. We would like to give Paul and his staff a huge thank you! We booked the family on a private tour and the Adventure Center at Plantation on Crystal River Resort gave us a huge discount! The family had an amazing time and highly recommends The Adventure Center at Plantation on Crystal River, as do I !!! read more

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Did a manatee tour with Captain Mike and Tyler. it was such a great experience. they were extremely accommodating to my young family Conditions were not ideal for the manatee but they worked extra hard to make sure we had the full experience and saw a lot of manatees. would definitely come back. read more

An awesome experience with tour guides who genuinely care about both protecting the manatees and making sure you have a great time. I had a wonderful time doing the manatee tour. It was both informative and fun! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Amazing!!! So enjoyed our adventure on the river and a big Thanks to Captain Morgan and Mark for that experience. They are both very knowledgeable and passionate about these incredible gentle giants. We ventured out early early morning and it was so worth it. We were surrounded by so many Manatees and it was an experience I will never forget. During our trip, Captain Morgan was engaged in rescuing a Manatee that was in distress. She was able to save the Manatee and care for it. This trip did not disappoint and looking forward to going again. read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Michelle & Cory were great tour guides! Lot's of fun. The water was a bit murky, and we expected to see more manatees. The USB with photos and videos didn't have everyone - so wasn't worth the extra $$$ for the photography. Regardless, it was nice day in the water. read more

Went swimming with manatees and it was a perfect experience. I have anxiety and was worried about feeling trapped out there but the boat ride was short and I was kept busy. Ryan was great at getting us to stay together and had a very calm voice when giving instructions. I'm not used to snorkel breathing so there were some moments I was freaked out. read more

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Mark & Laura Great staff. Great location. Great experience. This was our third time swimming with the manatees at Plantation Adventure Center, and we brought along my parents, sister and her friend this time around. This swim was the best one yet (the colder the better)! We got so many manatee kisses and cuddles. 10/10 recommend. You're missing out if you skip swimming with the manatees and if you skip going with the Plantation adventure center. read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Manatee - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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One of the best adventures that I have ever had... Ever! The guys running the tour were outstanding And they completely delivered on all the promises. We got up and close to a number of manatees and they actually nudged us, came up underneath us and fulfilled a bucket list goal!!! If you ever get the chance to do this, drop everything and go do it!!!! read more

Love this place! First time ever renting pontoon boat there, but was easy, great experience. Really helpful. Brand new boat. Had a great day on the water. It's a great place stay, hang by pool also. We'll be back. read more

What an amazing experience! Captain Morgan is literally a manatee whisperer. She had them all coming up to her, and as a result, our group of 6 on the boat got plenty of up close encounters with these lovely creatures! Yay! Thank you to Captain Morgan and Captain Christian for our fabulous morning in the water. read more

Such an incredible morning with Captain Misty and Captain Laura! We saw so many manatees and a cute baby one that was nibbling on everyone and giving us kisses! It followed us all the way back to the boat! So cute! Then we went to Three Sisters Springs, which was so beautiful with the most clear water! Spotted a baby and mom manatee there! This excursion was worth every penny and we are so glad we went with Plantation Adventure Center. The extra thick wet suits and the hot chocolate on the boat were an added perk we appreciated! Also, Misty took a ton of great photos with her GoPro and the $42 flash drive was totally worth it to preserve this fun memory! Highly recommend this tour! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Baby manatee! - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

I had such an AMAZING time with Captain Misty and Steve! I went out on the 7am tour. It was early but this is the recommended time if you want to see the most manatee. I arrived at 6:45am and it was 32 degrees out! Don't freak out! You get a wet suit and the water is so so so warm (72 degrees on the day I was there). We watched a quick video and boarded the boat. Our group was 10 people; I think the max number they take out per session is 14. The ride was about 10 minutes out to the spring. We were given snorkels and a noodle (if you wanted one) and one-by-one got into the water. There were manatees everywhere from the moment we anchored the boat. I was very nervous at first since they bumped into and surrounded you! Misty had a GoPro and took videos and pictures during the tour. You are also allowed to bring your own. We stayed in the water for about 1.5 hours. When we got out, Captain Steve had towels and made us hot chocolate/coffee for us. It was much colder coming out of the water than it was going in. When we got back to the dive shop, Misty put the videos and pictures on a small TV. We were able to purchase a flash drive for $42 if you wanted to bring them home. We were able to change and dry off in the bathrooms. Showers and lockers were also available. I would highly recommend this experience and company! The crew was very experienced and made sure that we had a great time! You won't regret it! read more

Fantastic and easy! We took our 5 year old son for the 6:45 AM guided manatee tour. Capt. Mark Denver was very knowledgeable about the history of the bay and recent eco clean up efforts. Capt. Cory Bronson helped our group find a sweet mama manatee and her babies! He also captured some amazing pics! If you are on the fence, go for it! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - A beautiful mama manatee enjoying breakfast! - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Captains Ross and Mike were amazing. They are very experienced and did a great job showing us the manatees. They are very patient and answered all of our questions. I would highly recommend this company and crew. read more

This was my first time going on a manatee tour. Captain Mark and Dive Master Ryan were a dream team! 5/5 stars! I booked the semi-private tour for the second trip of the morning. They were very thorough in instructing guests how to safely view the manatees without being disruptive. They found several areas with excellent viewing opportunities and we even had time to go for a swim in the crystal clear springs area. Mark and Ryan made the trip really fun! I absolutely plan to book another trip on my next visit. read more

Love love love this team!! Captain John and Dustin are US Coast Guard master dive instructors and made this adventure a day to remember for life! The warm suits kept us dry and floating making the trip so comfortable! They literally take you by the hand to see these magnificent sea giants while respecting their natural habitat and their privacy. However, it's obvious that several of the manatees know and love Captain John and came up and hugged him and wouldn't leave his side! Young and old they make this trip fantastic for everyone making sure you have plenty of time to experience this once in a lifetime experience. The hot chocolate, towels and video afterward top it all off and makes it extra special!! It's refreshing to have individuals in the customer service space go over and above. Thank you for an awesome day!! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Amazing! Made our trip worthwhile. Scalloping with Captain Dustin and AJ, took the water tour, and rented paddle boards. I highly recommend the adventure Center. You do not have to be a guest of the hotel ( I don't recommend the hotel). read more

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We had an amazing time with Captain Loopey and Jessica. They love the animals and were really helpful and informative. Did I mention fun too? One of the best things I've ever done. Also would recommend a private tour. read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Me and a manatee - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Did a manatee snorkel tour with John & Dave. Everything was really nice. The guys were great. So knowledgeable and really aimed to give the most out of the tour. We were given wetsuits before leaving. It was a cold morning so thankful to have these. The boat had an enclosure so we were not exposed to the elements on the chilly morning. They took us to Kings Bay and made sure there were not too many other tourists present before having us get into the water. We were given snorkels and masks and helped into the water. John accounted for us the entire time we were in the water. Every so often he would pull you into the right direction as the tide/current has you moving all over the place. We were in the water for a couple hours. John took many underwater pictures and videos which you could purchase at the end. We saw so many manatees and it was cool how they came right up to you and weren't afraid to push past you. There were several times where we were face to face. It was an excellent experience. After exiting the water, we were offered towels and hot chocolate or coffee. I will definitely return to do this again. read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Swimming with manatees was definitely the best decision I've ever made in my life, and I'm so glad I did it here. Captains Lance and Memphis were wonderful, and the whole experience was great, from our extra thick wetsuits that helped with buoyancy, to the great pictures and videos that Captain Lance captured on his GoPro. After seeing other groups with tons of people, thin suits & noodles (which just make you splash around and scare manatees away), I was so grateful I picked the Adventure Center. I was warm in my suit even in the early morning. They split us into two smaller groups so we each got ample time with manatees and it wasn't super claustrophobic being in a huge group. They prep you with rules for manatee interaction (basically, don't be a jerk). Lance had lots of great tips for how to encourage manatee interaction (hint: be like a manatee and stay still!) and would bring us face to face with willing manatees if there was one nearby that wanted to interact. He also told us lots of facts about manatees and other fish in the environment. Once you were still, these wonderful playful animals would come up to you, rub against you, try to eat your hair, and hug you. It was the best. It helped that we went on a cold day, since there were lots of them resting in the springs. So if possible, go in chillier weather! Overall I highly recommend this experience and crew. I hope to return to do it again someday! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Swimming with manatees! - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

So I was kayaking as one does in crystal river near kings spring. When a women with a northern accent started yelling "Hey, kayakers " multiple times, then proceeded to yell at us "you're to close to the buoys, which have the text (CLOSED nov 15-march 31), she said "you cant go in those." We were 10-15 feet away both kayak's headed directly to the public vessel owned by the state that had manatee information. She was extremely unprofessional and it came off unsettling to be yelled at by a stranger when we were trying to respectfully enjoy nature. We shrugged it off as a rude busy body, we then watch her get in the water swim towards another boat and proceeded to yell back and forth to her boat. A big rule of manatee engagement is to be quite and no yelling, manatees are skittish and it scares them when loud noises happen. I really hope she gets a new training regimen as it was a terrible and unsettling encounter today. We met another boat, who was polite and informative they didn't give off any bad vibes. read more

We came to Crystal River specifically to swim with the manatees. We were also staying at the Plantation Inn, which does offer packages. We were there mid July 2017. If you are staying at the Plantation Inn, you can't beat the convenience and location of this dive shop, which is right next to the inn and also on the water. So the manatee watching experience was pretty good. We were on the first trip of the day. It was a nice ride out to the viewing area, which turned out to be in the waterways/canals behind the homes on Crystal River. After the captain scoped out the scene with the other boat captains, i.e. where the manatees have been sighted, we moved in to our place in line and got into the water. I'd say they were at least 6 other boats vying for prime viewing spots. All the boats and crews did a good job of keeping things from getting chaotic, and our crew was no exception. Not only did we swim with manatee, but we got up close and personal with a baby manatee. The baby was the size of a large adult hog. The adult manatees, quite a bit larger. Very peaceful and docile. One thing I noticed, is that many other groups were swimming with noodles. I asked about why we were not using them, and it was because the wet suits used at Plantation are a thicker variety, and the extra flotation is not required. So that's a plus for a warmer experience, as the spring fed river water can be chilly... But if you want to swim down in that thicker wet suit, well you better have good lungs and a better kick. On the way back we stopped for a swim at Hunter Spring. It was a nice stop, as were had more room to move around. In the canals it was rather cramped, but this was quite nice. Oh, and can be an observer on the boat, if you are not one for the water. It's still going to cost you something, but not as much as the swim with the manatee experience (since you won't be needing the wet suit, mask and snorkel). Which reminds me, no fins as they really kick up the sediment which would make viewing a drag. Even without the fins, the soft bottom get stirred up quite a bit at times. The dive shop itself is on the small side, but seems to have all the essentials, and few non-essentials (manatee plush toys, t-shirt, etc.) too. Bottom line: My bottom line is going to a pro tip, which will come as no surprise to anyone living in this area. You can easily do you own manatee viewing, and save a bit of money. There are many public areas to access the water, either with kayak, inner tube, or even stand-up paddle board. Now there are best times of the year for this, so do your research. If we were to return to the area, we'd Airbnd a place to stay, maybe a place with SUPs and/or tubes, and enjoy the area on our own. PS. I see all the other 5 star reviews, but I don't think I have enough to go on to say that it's "As good as it gets." I don't know what other tours might offer, and I have no cost data. That being said, we have no complaints about the experience. As mentioned, if your staying at the inn, you can't beat the location. read more

Cory and Christian were awesome! We have never done anything like this before so we were somewhat nervous. But the leaders were great and made us feel very comfortable. I felt very confident in their experience and awareness in/on the water. It was absolutely wild getting into the water with WILD ANIMALS but we were able to get used to it pretty quickly and we just had a great time. I also want to add that we are both overweight (2XL M AND 3XL F) and not super active people usually and we're a little worried that could cause problems, but we got into the wet suits very easily and did not struggle getting on/off the boat and in/out of the water. We will definitely be back! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Us on boat - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Captain Loupy & Mermaid Jessica were amazing! Because the gulf temps warmed up we were told there could have been less manatees in the springs, but that did not stop us from seeing these magnificent creatures. We went to Three Sisters Springs and luckily the spring had just opened so we were the first to go through! It was amazing! The water was crystal clear in the beginning but got more murky as swimmers kicked up debris. After seeing the other pontoon and tours we were so glad to have chose Plantation Adventure Center. The 5 mm wetsuit allows you to float without a noodle. Hope to return again one day! read more

Plantation Adventure Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Whether a Florida native or visitor, Plantation Adventure Center hosts a variety of activities that create lifelong memories. Whether renting your own pontoon, participating in a group excursion, or a sunset cruise, PAC offers something for every interest and group size. Today in our group excursion, there were participants from Sweden, Michigan, and other parts of the US. I have been a customer for over a decade and have yet to experience anything less than excellence. Prices are competitive to the competition (though PAC has the highest quality wetsuits, equipment, boats, etc). Great shop with a variety of boating necessities and novelty products. Staff enjoys what they do and it shows! Great website that explains what adventures are offered. Make the most of your life, create that special memory! read more

I decided to swim with the Manatees for my birthday this year. I am super excited that I chose to go with Plantation Adventure Center at Crystal River, for my experience! Captain Dallas was an AMAZING guide! He was very knowledgeable, funny & patient. He also made sure that everyone had a chance to see the animals, in a safe/close distance, and continually asked if he missed anybody on seeing the animals. He really was making sure everyone had a great experience! Captain Memphis was our driver, he was friendly and drove the boat smoothly. They were a great team to be with on this trip. I am not a great swimmer but, with help of our wet suits & I used a pool noodle, I was able to float comfortably and really enjoy this experience. I didn't feel rushed and I am so glad I got to do this. I would definitely do this tour again! It was awesome! read more

We would recommend. The boat was enclosed with plastic, which made it much warmer. They also gave us parkas to wear after coming out of water, which was a nice touch. Captain Kip & Misty were awesome. Only downside was we were hoping for more pictures of us. The entire group was only four and we only got a handful of our two. Kind of expected more for being out there for a couple hours. read more