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VIP Heated Manatee Snorkel Tour: Affordable Luxury
5.0
921 Ratings
Crystal River
Experience the ultimate luxury of snorkeling with heated manatees in Crystal River’s Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Affordable prices, expert guides, and all-inclusive amenities.
Experience the ultimate luxury of snorkeling with heated manatees in Crystal River’s Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Affordable prices, expert guides, and all-inclusive amenities.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- River Ventures - Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals…
- River Ventures - Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals in a classroom type setting and receive tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. You will be taught the in’s and out’s of ‘passive interaction’ as this ensures that the animals enjoy the experience as much as we do! You will then be suited up and transported to the dock, where a Coast Guard certified covered pontoon will be waiting for you. This rich estuary will amaze…..birds, fish and wildlife abound! Submerge yourself in the manatee’s world! Finish your adventure by viewing your Captain’s photos back at our facility and be sure to visit our one-of-a-kind gift shop! Our well-informed staff will direct to other local attractions, restaurants and answer of your questions before you are on your way.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Use of equipment (mask, snorkel gear and wet suit)
- Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish
- Beverages (bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and adult)
- Professional guide
- Use of equipment (mask, snorkel gear and wet suit)
- Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish
- Beverages (bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and adult)
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and beverages (unless otherwise specified)
- Photo DVD (available to purchase)
- Towel and swimsuit
- Gratuities
- Food and beverages (unless otherwise specified)
- Photo DVD (available to purchase)
- Towel and swimsuit
Additional Information
Here’s an insider tip! Enjoy luxury at a budget-friendly cost! Our new season-heated, deluxe pontoon aspires to enhance your experience of viewing manatees by creating more intimate encounters! Witness the protected West Indian Manatee in the serene surroundings of Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Crystal River. Our licensed US Coast Guard captains…
Here’s an insider tip! Enjoy luxury at a budget-friendly cost! Our new season-heated, deluxe pontoon aspires to enhance your experience of viewing manatees by creating more intimate encounters! Witness the protected West Indian Manatee in the serene surroundings of Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Crystal River. Our licensed US Coast Guard captains and guides will lead you into the 600-acre spring water sanctuary for a chance to see and snorkel with these majestic creatures in the wild. All supplies, charges, refreshments, and drinks are covered.
- Adult pricing applies to all travelers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wetsuits are available in sizes from toddlers (2 years old and up) to adults up to 5X
- It is advised that you have your swimsuit on underneath your clothes for a quicker check-in
- Please bring a towel and a plastic bag to hold your belongings
- Children Under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
- Post COVID-19 Policy- We are mindful to thoroughly clean water vehicles between visitors.
Location
River Ventures
Southeast Kings Bay Drive
Please arrive at River Ventures 15 minutes prior to your tour departure.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(921 Ratings)
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Q3453fdannag
Nov 18, 2025
Bucket list item! - Captain JJ and Malia (sorry if misspelled) were amazing! There were 4.5 of us (my almost 1-year-old) and they were very accommodating to everyone on board. Malia made sure that each of us who were in the water were able to see the manatees and told us facts about manatees and the area. They even told the best dad jokes! Definitely would go out with them again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eli
Nov 17, 2025
Amazing experience! - First off, before we booked my wife coupled a couple times with questions. They were happy to answer all her questions and encouraged her to call back if she thought of anything else she wanted to ask. We arrived a little early, the lady at the front desk checked us in and answered any further questions we had. Everyone was extremely friendly and personable and made us feel welcome. Our Captain was JJ and our guide was Steve, both were awesome. Very eager to explain everything. The group we were with had a couple ppl that weren't very comfortable being in the water and they showed great patience, top notch ppl skills. As far as the manatees, we were lucky to find some right away and had an amazing time watching them float and swim around us. This is a place we will definitely be returning to next time we are in the area! Thank you again for amazing memories!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
985luxij
Nov 17, 2025
Great Experience with lots of manatees! - It was an amazing experience! I saw 9 manatees together and we were really close. Our guide Mike was professional and experienced in finding manatees, and the boat was comfortable with sofa and snake and beverage. Highly recommended this trip! (One possible improvement is that the picture quality could be better)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L3618oaabbyg
Nov 17, 2025
Most amazing experience ever! - We were lucky enough to have Natalie as our guide and Tanner as the captain and they were both AMAZING! They took us right to a spot where manatee were literally waiting for us to get off the boat. We were able to stay in that spot and we had manatee around us for the entire time we were in the water, including several babies.
We had 5 people in our private tour whose ages ranged from 8-71. Natalie was great at paying attention to everyone and making sure everyone had what they needed and were comfortable, no matter their age. When 3 of our family were ready to get out of the water, they got back on the heated boat with Tanner where they were given snacks and warm drinks. Tanner was amazing and talked to them while the rest of us stayed in the water. He was very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife there and was so patient to talk and explain things. He even gave great recommendations on what to do with the rest of our time in the area.
Swimming with manatee was a life long dream for one person in our group. I thought it would be something fun to do, but did not expect to have such an incredible experience. I would recommend this to anyone and hope to be able to do it again myself in the future. And when I do, I will absolutely request Natalie and Tanner!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rsw3705qk
Nov 17, 2025
Ohio sisters visit Three Sisters Springs - Piper and Captain JJ provided me and my sister with the most incredible experience of a lifetime!!! As Piper talked “baby talk” to the manatees, that was our cue to be sure to look in her direction, and success! The pictures and videos she took were amazing! JJ has exquisite knowledge of the history of Three Sisters Springs/Crystal River! We were kept warm and toasty after getting out of the water, and enjoyed hot chocolate and adult beverages on the way back. We booked 3 different tours in 3 days and this experience was by far the best!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kyram730
Nov 15, 2025
10/10 manatee tour - Liz and Garret were fantastic! We had so much fun and learned so much! They were amazing supporters for such a unique experience
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B9937joclairem
Nov 14, 2025
Great Tour you won't be disappointed - Fantastic trip, we were lucky enough to see multiple manatees. Mike was a super guide. This is our 3rd time with River Ventures and highly recommend them if you are thinking of a Manatee trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E9674nwkellyc
Nov 14, 2025
We went out on the pontoon their were snack and drinks hot cocoa they got us into the water and got us up close w Manate - This Manatee Tour was so amazing, magical, memorable and sooo cool!!! I have never gone into the water/ocean i was so nervous and scared but I wanted to doing something incredible with my daughter. The minute we showed upto river ventures we were greeted outside by Ms. Vickie and her pup she invited us in and told us all about the tours and manatees you could tell how passionate she was about it. Our guide Natalie Captain Tanner amazing personable professional funny made me feel so safe 😊 so knowlegable Erin and Krissy captain Jon and there was James who drove us I CAN GO ON AND ON! I will definitely be back and I live in Buffalo but im coning back and telling everyone to go to River Ventures by far amazing experience!!!! 👏
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ireneah1880pf
Nov 9, 2025
Amazing experience - What an awesome experience! The springs are lovely and the manatees were breathtaking. Thank you so much, Steven for the experience!! The captain was great as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I5443oameganh
Nov 7, 2025
So amazing!! - This was the best day of my life! Captain Garrett was amazing. He was fun and enjoyable at 6:30am and knew right where to take us to see the manatees. He spotted some along the way and pointed them out as well. We were there to celebrate my birthday and he truly made it special. Truly great day! Our in-water guide Maleah was also nice. She took some nice pics for us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
