Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
{#
#}
/ Person

Manatee Snorkel Tour from American Pro Diving Center

4.5 (136)
Crystal River, US
4.5 (136)
Crystal River, US
Share
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
Product photo
/ Person
1

Your Product

Select participants
Adult (1-99)
Min: 0 Max: 15
You should select a minimum of and a total maximum of
At least one participant is required. Please adjust and try again.

Free cancellation up to before the experience starts (local time)

Book Now, Pay Later - Secure your spot while staying flexible

Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Crystal River, Florida and swim alongside the gentle giants of the sea. American Pro Diving Center offers an unforgettable manatee snorkel tour for both swimmers and riders. Equipped with wet suits, masks, snorkels, and fins, adventurers can get up close and personal with Florida's resident sea cows. Dive-masters ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both manatees and people. Capture the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime encounter with our guided tour video available on a flash drive after the tour. Rain or shine, our covered boats provide comfort, and on chilly days, warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. Join us at American Pro Diving Center, the most exciting place in Crystal River, where memories to last a lifetime are made.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Swim with resident sea cows
  • Explore the clear, teeming waters
  • Friendly staff guides and instruction
  • Fun for the whole family
  • Create great memories that last a lifetime
  • Use of equipment (mask, fins, snorkel gear and wet suit)
  • Beverages (hot chocolate in the winter)
  • Professional in water guide.
  • US Coast Guard certified captain.
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks.
  • Flash drive (available to purchase)
  • Five dollar marina parking fee.
  • Towel and swimsuit.

Popular Hotels Closeby

More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the wonders of Florida's crystal-clear waters with the Manatee Snorkel Tour from American Pro Diving Center. This unforgettable adventure allows visitors and locals alike to get up close and personal with the gentle giants of the sea - the resident sea cows, or manatees. Dive into the captivating underwater world of Crystal River, Florida, and create memories that will last a lifetime. American Pro Diving Center is a renowned five-star PADI dive and snorkel facility, providing top-notch equipment and expert guides to ensure a safe and exciting experience for everyone.

What to expect?

Embark on this incredible manatee tour and prepare to be amazed. Start your adventure at American Pro Diving Center, where you will be greeted by friendly staff who will guide you through the check-in process and provide you with all the necessary gear. Learn about proper manatee etiquette and behavior during a comprehensive presentation. Then, join the in-water guides for a short drive to the docks, where you'll board a covered boat and head out to the spring-fed waters of Crystal River. Whether you choose to snorkel or ride the boat, you'll have a unique opportunity to encounter these magnificent creatures up close. The Dive-master guides will ensure your safety and enhance your experience, making sure both manatees and humans have a memorable time. After the tour, return to the center to return your gear, browse souvenirs, and watch your adventure on the big screen TV.

Who is this for?

The Manatee Snorkel Tour is suitable for all ages and is perfect for families, solo travelers, and groups of friends. Whether you are a seasoned snorkeler or a first-time explorer, this tour caters to both swimmers and riders. The experienced in-water guides will provide assistance and ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident during the tour. This experience is for nature lovers, animal enthusiasts, and those seeking a unique and educational adventure. Don't miss the chance to connect with these gentle giants and gain a deeper appreciation for the marine life that calls Crystal River home.

Why book this?

This Manatee Snorkel Tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the beauty and grace of Florida's resident sea cows. The expertise and professionalism of American Pro Diving Center guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants. The covered boats ensure that the tour operates rain or shine, and even on colder days, hot chocolate is provided to keep you warm. The use of top-quality equipment, including wet suits, masks, snorkels, and fins, ensures that you are fully equipped to explore the underwater world. Additionally, the chance to purchase a flash drive with a video of your tour allows you to relive the magical moments long after the adventure is over. With its combination of educational presentations, skilled in-water guides, and unforgettable encounters with manatees, this tour is a must-do for anyone seeking a unique and awe-inspiring experience in Crystal River, Florida.

Good to know

During the Manatee Snorkel Tour, be sure to bring your own towel and swimsuit, as well as any necessary personal items. Food and drinks are not included, so feel free to bring your own refreshments or purchase them at the center. Please note that there is a five-dollar marina parking fee. The tour itinerary is flexible, allowing for a customized experience based on the behavior and location of the manatees. The professional in-water guides and US Coast Guard certified captain ensure your safety throughout the tour. Remember to smile and enjoy the experience, as the guide will capture the highlights on video, which you can later purchase on a flash drive. Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of Crystal River and create lasting memories that will transport you back to this incredible adventure.

Reviews

Customers who have embarked on the Manatee Snorkel Tour rave about their experiences. They express their awe at the opportunity to swim alongside these majestic creatures and describe the tour as educational, well-organized, and unforgettable. Many highlight the professionalism and knowledge of the in-water guides, who made them feel safe and comfortable throughout the tour. Customers also appreciate the attention to detail, such as the availability of hot chocolate on colder days and the option to purchase a video of their adventure. Overall, reviewers highly recommend this tour to anyone seeking a unique and awe-inspiring encounter with Florida's resident sea cows.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Your Itinerary

821 SE US Hwy 19

American Pro Diving Center

Crystal River

Three Sisters Springs

Hunter Springs Park

Pete's Pier

King's Bay Park

Reviews

(136)

4.5 (136)

jennifertN6268GC

We had a great time and Austin and the team were great. We saw a few manatees and it was a fabulous experience. We highly recommend this to anyone.

O8864KZdouglass

John & Bruce were great. We had a party of four ranging 13 to 70. They were very accommodating to all of our ages. They knew their facts and made the trip fun and interesting. They made sure everyone saw the manatee a few times.

aleeng2023

Just ok, water murky , few manatees, could have been better, guide took few pictures , although water n manatees not in his power to be better

J6903RHmelindam

Great company and great people! Worth the trip. Enjoyed seeing the manatee even though it was a bit cold on the day we went.

188kimberlyc

We went March 15. I'll start with the positives, which were: Captain Ryan; the clean and beautiful dive shop and gift shop; the boat driver; the cute video taken of the dive experience. I took off one star for the very unpleasant Captain Rodney and one star for the misleading description of the tour. Our group kind of had two captains: Captain Rodney gave the speech back at the dive shop and was on board one pontoon, and Captain Ryan was onboard the second pontoon. Our group included many children, and so it was important that the welcome speech/instructional video be understood by them. Captain Rodney made coded jokes about "marinating" and the government controlling us, when what he meant was, "don't pee in the wetsuits" and "the government requires us to send flippers out for every diver, but you are not going to wear them." Bizarrely, he also stated to this group of children that seatbelts in automobiles cost as many lives as they save. He harassed a 12 year old member of our group who only wanted to watch from the boat, "Children don't get to make decisions!" and "why you are even in here [the equipment room]!?" This was a far cry from the tour description that states people are welcome to stay on the boat. Rodney spent much of the time in the water scolding the group in general for not following passive observation techniques, which was not only ineffective at getting kids to change their behavior, but also stressful for those of us who were following the rules. I did not observe him addressing specific people, he was just kind of shaming anyone within hearing distance. It's a difficult task to correct the behavior of kids you don't know, while in the water, without knowing their names. A more effective technique than scolding would have been emphasizing and insisting beforehand and during the swim that adults stay with their children, perhaps by holding their hands. That's what I did with my son. Every child there had a parent with them, and Rodney could have leveraged that to get better results. "Supervise your children" was mentioned in the intro video, but it should have been called out at the shop and on the boat. I also think it would have been beneficial for Rodney to demonstrate proper use of the pool noodle, with an actual pool noodle. The video did not show anyone using a noodle, and it's possible children did not understand what a proper position looked like, especially if they haven't snorkeled before. To future travelers, I advise: practice floating properly in the water with your child and the noodle right off the boat, before you head over to the manatees. The reason for the second star being removed was the poor water visibility and the fact that we saw very little of the manatees in the water. Now, I completely understand that the dive shop has no control over the temperature in the Gulf of Mexico, water visibility, or the behavior of manatees! My point is that the tour description was misleading for the reality of a mid-March tour, when the gulf is warm and the manatees have left the river. To call this a Crystal River dive trip was misleading. The staff were well aware that the manatees had already left the springs for the Gulf. I think that once the manatees leave the crystal-clear waters of the spring-fed river, this is an entirely different tour, and should be described and advertised as such. Our boat did not go into the Crystal River, and visibility was about 6 feet (that's being very generous). I asked the boat driver what body of water we were in, and she said "King's Bay." That's what it was, and it was nothing like the Crystal River, which we have been in before. Not only did this severely impact the ability to view manatees, but also it made the mandated passive observation techniques very difficult. At one point, Captain Rodney indicated in the water that he had a manatee right in front of him. By the time I got close enough to see it through the murky water, I was very very close to it, and could not stop my forward motion, so I floated right over it. Divers are not supposed to do that. When I got myself turned carefully and slowly turned around, I could not see it again. So I floated over a manatee for 2 seconds. That was the extent of the in-water "manatee viewing." Many in our boat had a similar experience. Honestly, it would have been much more pleasant and fruitful to stay dry in the boat and see the manatees from there. (The 12 year old had the right idea.) I must note that there were many other tour companies out there, and many, many other people diving with manatees in the bay, so perhaps their having a much smaller group size made for a different experience for them, if they were able to stay closer to their guide and not get in each other's way? (Note: we chose to go in a group with a large group of other families we had a loose connection to, most of whom we didn't know. Pro American Diving Center did not choose our group size, but it was definitely too large. They should have split up our pontoons instead of tying them together and looking for manatees in the same area. That WAS in their control.) To future travelers, I would recommend: Before you get your hopes up to see manatees, check out the temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. If it's above 68 degrees, use caution. You may be taken to the murky bay, because the only manatees left in the area are out there. And choose a tour with a small group size. Of note also is that the wetsuits were pretty damp and smelly when we put them on (we were first group of the morning), which is pretty unpleasant, but I would not have mentioned that if it weren't for the other problems. A moment of high praise for Captain Ryan. I could tell he felt our disappointment, and in my opinion, he felt bad about it, but this was not his fault. He was so informative and charismatic. Notably, he gave the boat-sitter no crap at all for not wanting to get in the water. He shared personal encounters with manatees, ecology of the area, birds of note flying and nesting near us, etc. He also explained to us why the water was so murky (a storm surge in September stirred things up and killed the naturally-filtering eelgrass). He did his best to gently correct the splashing and incorrect use of the pool noodle by a child in the group who had been left behind as his parents went way ahead to look for the manatees. He managed to provide guidance without scolding. The boat driver was pretty quiet but very pleasant. She let me get back in the water to pee after I got my wetsuit off. I could not have waited til we got back to land! Thank you boat driver, and I'm sorry I can't recall your name now!

F9153KLannal

The staff and guides are amazing, kind, and welcoming. The trip was amazing. I recommend 10/10! The shop was great too. I will be back to float rainbow river.

MACTN12

Let's start with the crew both at the office and our Captains Rodney and Austin, they were all helpful, knowledgeable, and most of all courteous and friendly! We (you) are not guaranteed a sighting, but we scored big by taking the 8:30 trip. A few dozen swam around us along with a close-up encounter with one. Highly recommend! We will be back next year.

Diane_H

Our tour guides were friendly and fun. They gave us all the information we needed. We had a fantastic experience with the manatees.

Mikel M

Water temps were not very cold buy capt. John and capt jerry worked extra hard to find us some manatees. They would not give up. Excellent experience from start to finish. Definitely reccomend.

Steven_B

John and Jerri were the best. Great education about the manatees and they worked hard to find them for us. Great day on the water!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-05-20 06:27
Price breakdown
    Total
    Sorry, you just missed out!

    This is a popular product and the date you are looking for just sold out.