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This three-hour snorkel tour in Crystal River allows participants to swim with Florida's resident manatees. All necessary equipment, including wet suits, masks, snorkels, and fins, is provided. In-water guides ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for both snorkelers and manatees, enhancing your interaction with these gentle creatures.
Tours operate rain or shine, with covered boats to provide shelter. On colder days, hot chocolate is available to keep you warm. After the excursion, you can purchase a flash drive with video footage of your adventure, capturing your unique encounters with the sea cows.
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Reviews
We had an excellent experience and really appreciated the manatee mocha afterwards. The wetsuits were essential for buoyancy and warmth, allowing us to relax without too much paddling. We encountered several manatees and got close to observe them feeding, though it would have been nice if the water had been clearer, but that was beyond our control.
The manatee tour was quite enjoyable. I brought my 16-year-old son along, and the American Dive Center proved to be well-organized and knowledgeable about the local area. By the end of March, many manatees have already left the bay and springs, though there are still a few present, unlike in February when they are more numerous. Had we gone on April 1st, more search areas would have been accessible because protected spots, like near shorelines, would open up. Wearing wetsuits is essential. Our guide was right in the water with us, helping to track the manatees and guiding us on where to look, even leading us to a mother and her calf. The water was murky, but we could still get a close view of them. While it’s tempting to touch the manatees, it’s important to respect their space. I recommend opting for the morning tour as it seems the manatees are more active then; some participants had no sightings during the previous afternoon's outing. I would definitely consider returning, perhaps earlier in the season.
Swimming with manatees, encountering three dolphins, an alligator, and enjoying a spring was incredible. Bree and our in-water guide, along with Taylor as our captain, were knowledgeable and entertaining throughout.
This was a really enjoyable experience, especially for families with children. The tour lasted just over three hours, and we were provided with wetsuits, masks, snorkels, and even hot cocoa. We had an incredible time.
This experience exceeded my expectations! The captain's humor was enjoyable, and our guide expertly located the manatees while ensuring we didn't disrupt them. There was a lot of swimming, which we anticipated. We truly had a wonderful time and would certainly recommend American Pro Diving Center for anyone's manatee excursions.
Bree, our water guide, along with Captain Taylor, were both knowledgeable and entertaining as they expertly located manatees. They ensured our large group enjoyed a wonderful experience, allowing everyone to engage with the manatees at their own comfort level. Our children chose to stay on the boat, and Taylor kept them entertained while we enjoyed the water. The trip was relaxed, providing ample time to float and truly appreciate the moment. They demonstrated a strong commitment to respecting the manatees and their habitat. Bree captured fantastic photos of our group alongside the manatees, and we even spotted a mother and baby feeding together during our swim. Overall, it was an excellent experience.
This manatee tour exceeded my expectations from beginning to end. As a local, I’ve done several tours, but this time I visited with family from Michigan. They met the needs of both swimmers and watchers in our group, though the price difference was minimal. The location is beautiful, right on the water, featuring a clean and well-stocked gift shop with reasonable prices. We were greeted promptly and signed waivers, but it would be helpful to do that online beforehand. The facilities were spotless. Our guide Dani was fantastic, fitting us for wetsuits; mine felt a bit off compared to other tours, but everyone else looked great. After a brief orientation video that could also be done online, we boarded the boat. Dani and Captain Steve were both very entertaining. Dani especially went the extra mile for my scared little cousin, encouraging her, and she ended up loving it. A huge thanks to Dani for that and for providing delightful photos on a cute flash drive.
Booking through this service turned into a complete nightmare. My initial reservation was cancelled without any notification. Fortunately, I checked the night before and found out about the cancellation. I rebooked, only to find that our reservation had been switched to a different vendor without informing us, which meant we ended up at another manatee tour company. This caused us to delay the boat departure. The staff there explained that when using third-party apps, they don’t receive your contact details in case of changes. However, the manatee tour itself was exceptional, and both the captain and guide were highly personable and accommodating.
The tour was incredibly well-organized, with Captain Glen and our Manatee swim guide, Ross, providing a memorable and amazing experience. While in the water, Glen guided us throughout, explaining how to interact with the animals and where to find them. I particularly enjoyed seeing a large snapping turtle. We explored two more diving spots, including a hidden spring area with clear waters, and observed beautiful birds as well. I plan to return earlier in the year for even more manatee sightings. Ten participants made for an ideal group size on the boat.
What a fantastic experience! The guides are exceptional and ensure that you’ll definitely see a manatee, even during the off-season.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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