This company took very good care of us and made sure we had the best experience. Juan and Ralph are knowledgeable about the manatee and wildlife in the area It was a very chilly morning but they made sure we were comfortable with blankets and hot chocolate! They take care of the photos which means we were just able to take in and enjoy our time with the manatees. read more

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Great experience and knowledgable friendly staff. Gorgeous day and boat was clean and safe. read more

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The mangroves here are probably our favorite spot to paddleboard. Super clear waters about 67° year round. With some sub tropical scenery and wildlife read more

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The absolute BEST boat tour agency in the area! Thank you to Susan, Sandy, Mike, and Captain Jeff for such a wonderful experience! We were visiting to see the manatees and had out of town family visiting us before we left and wanted to do something relaxing, such as a sightseeing boat tour. We found Crystal River Watersports and called them up to see what their next day availability was. Thankfully, they had our preferred time slot available, AND they are dog friendly so our small dog could join us. We booked their Private River Cruise Boat Tour ($260 for up to 6 guests and lasts approximately 3 hours), and it was AMAZING! Jeff was our captain/guide. He has all the qualities one would hope for and more. He was incredibly knowledgeable, very friendly, and had a great sense of humor. One of the many things we enjoyed him sharing with us was that Crystal River Watersports is one of the first companies that adopted and adheres to the standards of the Guardian Guide program, which emphasizes quality eco-tourism to ensure the manatees' survival, conducting tours on the manatees' terms, and the sustainability of the industry. It was apparent how much Captain Jeff loves and protects these wonderful creatures and the waters they share. We felt in very good and responsible hands with Captain Jeff and the Crystal River Watersports company as a whole. We saw multiple manatees on our tour along with different birds and one alligator, too! Jeff knew all the spots and history of the area, and he made our tour the highlight of our visit to the Crystal River area. We felt extremely gifted to have had such an amazing captain and guide. The manatees, Crystal River, and the surrounding waters are extremely lucky to have such an amazing and dedicated steward on their side. Thank you Crystal River Watersports for providing such a responsible and phenomenal service to the area and its visitors. read more

Crystal River Watersports - A mermaid (manatee) came to say hello to our boat! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Came here with my girlfriend on our recent momcation to Tampa and had a blast. What an adventure! First time kayaking for me and I'll definitely do it again. 3 sisters spring was absolutely beautiful and we need to come back when the manatees are there. Customer service was great and 3hrs was plenty of time for us to explore, kayak, swim, and return. Highly recommend, especially for the price and experience. read more

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This is a must go! There are many opportunities to see manatees in Crystal River, but I believe this company is the best. It says you will be with them for three hours but part of that three hours is an incredible river tour the boat captain and our manatee swimming guide were so knowledgeable about the area and everything we were doing. They answered everyone of our questions and even helped us with the selection of local restaurants and things to do around the area. Although there were not very many manatees available to see because of the time of year, they knew exactly where to look and our tour was amazing when we got to swim next to a mama and baby manatee. Like I said, there are many opportunities to go see manatees in Crystal River but if you do your research, you'll find that this business gives you more bang for the buck read more

We loved Captain Stefanie and guide Kat!!! We had an amazing morning tour!! It was extremely informative with the ecology of the area, we got a great education about protection of the manatees and we had a wonderful sighting of a huge pod that we got to swim with and among. It was a wonderful experience!!! read more

The swimming with the manatees is such an experience. Our captain Juan kept us clear of crowds as we swam up close and personal with a manatee. Our guide Ralph made sure to keep us engaged and informed while in the water. Both had wonderful knowledge of the manatees and the surrounding environment. We really had a great time! read more

This place was easy to find with the instructions within the app. We showed up and signed the waivers and then they got us into our wetsuits. I suggest you wear your bathing suit only under the wet suit depending on the temperature one the day/water. Bring a towel and maybe some dry clothes for when you get out of the water or get back to the gift shop. Bring some cash for tips. They have cash app and Venmo just in case you don't have cash. Our cap'n was Jim, who is a real cool guy and our guide was Leah who is also cool and both were very knowledgeable about ALL the wildlife and environmental questions our group had. Everyone here is very nice and really really care about the manatees and it shows. We watched a little video before we departed on what not to do if you encounter a manatee. Pay attention so you don't hurt or scare the manatees. We got on the boat as a group of 6 people. It was nice that they do small groups because it makes it more intimate and less hectic when you encounter a manatee. The boat ride was about 25 minutes to the viewing area. We found three manatees munching and crunching on the sea grass. We put our snorkels on and slowly got in the water to not disturb the sediment which decreases visibility. That's one thing I would say is very important. Be mindful of swimming too hard or touching the bottom with your feet because it stirs up the bottom sediment which decreases visibility. The manatees will also stir up the sediment when they swim away if they are frightened. It's difficult not using your legs to swim. The video tells you to do a gentle breaststroke and not to really use your legs. This is again to not stir up the sediment. It's funny though that the manatees don't make any noise so all of a sudden they will creep up on you or be underneath you and you just have to freeze so you don't hit them. They tell you to freeze and just float until they move away from you. Sometimes they'll come hug you or munch on you. Don't worry, they are so kind and gentle and there prehensile mouth parts don't have any teeth so you can't get injured. This experience was soooo cool. It was kind of nice to be with the three lady 'tees with no one else around. I think we were in the water for about an hour which was more than enough time. Then we headed back to the visitor center. We bought our photos and some souvenirs and headed out. It was really nice to share this experience with my sister since you LOVES manatees. Actually I love them too. read more

We did the manatee swim and it was a great experience! How could it not be. I appreciated how much our guide and captain knew about the manatees and were great at answering our questions. Everyone there was really patient with our party when we were late (if you're staying in Ocala, it's actually pretty far oops) and still took the time to do everything needed beforehand. A couple things we didn't like were that the area we were in was overwhelmed with manatees (which was great!) but had very poor visibility. I'd really rather just see one or two or a few but really see them. It was also really crowded with people, which is not this company's fault, but as we got out of the water, we noticed that all the other tour groups were getting out of the water too and by the time we started heading back, the swimming area was empty. Not sure why all the tour companies can't stagger the timing, maybe there's a rule or something. It did make me think maybe we should have launched ourselves somewhere with less people and better visibility, which we did see places like that later on in our vacation. Lastly, we were able to purchase our photos, which was a great option, but they weren't very good. A lot were due to the visibility, but also there weren't many of us or the other people in tour with the manatees, but mostly of just the manatees, which just feels like stock photos when you're not the one taking them. Wish I had brought my GoPro and recommend anyone else do so too just in case. Overall though I'm happy with the experience and it was nice to be guided by some people who really love their jobs and the manatees! read more

Captain Sandy and Dakota were fantastic. They really know what they are doing and how to find the manatees. We laughed at their crazy humor along the trip. Once Dakota found the manatees, he was incredibly helpful while we were in the water. He made even non swimmers feel safe while capturing a million pictures along the way. We were greeted with hot cocoa and a warm water splash to warm us up after returning from the water. A great way to spend a few hours that are very memorable. Definitely would recommend! read more

We had Captain Robert and Dakota. Both were so great! Captain Robert made us feel safe as a storm rolled in. Dakota was informative and helped my daughter, ensured everyone saw a manatee and so patient with everyone. I highly recommend this company as they also truly care about the well being of manatees and make them the priority. It's also a smaller group, which makes a big difference. Thank you Dakota and Captain Robert! read more

Leah and Capt Kevin were our guides for this wonderful adventure and I can't say enough about the whole experience. It was amazing. We saw so many manatees and we were able to interact with them. Leah and Kevin were awesome. They knew exactly where the manatees were and Leah was always keeping us informed on what we were seeing and where to look. I can't wait to experience swimming with the manatees again. read more

Uncle Kev and Lauren were excellent guides. Friendly and very knowledgeable plus we got to see many manatees! Highly recommend Crystal river Watersports. The best of the best! read more

We had a great time with Captain Jim and Leah this morning! Saw some big sweet manatees. . It was chilly, but the wetsuits were perfect. We did the VIP package and loved the warm coat and hot chocolate afterwards. Thanks for sharing all of your love for these creatures and for all of your stories and knowledge. Perfect Valentine's Day! read more

We had a smooth and wonderful time at Crystal River Watersports with our very experienced and knowledgeable guide, KEITH McADAMS. I witnessed from above all 3 scuba dives Michael had at the beautiful Blue Grotto and The Devil's Den, and I got to participate by snorkling above them on the Drift Dive on the Crystal River. Michael was touched by the beauty of the caves and studying the many fish in their habitats. Seeing Michael's face after his Blue Grotto and Devil's Den dives immediately spoke his happiness at the unique journey he took 90 feet below. Listening to his description was just as inspiring. I could see it all so clearly snorkeling near the dive flag in the aptly-named Crystal River on the Drift Dive. Keith McAdams provided us with information, helped with gear, and, most of all, kept us safe, calm, and secure. It was such a pleasure to meet Keith and the staff at Crystal River Watersports. We left with happy memories of Crystal River Watersports and a new friend we hope to see again - KEITH McADAMS! read more

Great manatee tour! Dakota and Captain Jim know where to find the manatees. Their banter was fun and entertaining and they were full of information, pointing out birds and sites of interest. We even saw an alligator. read more

an unforgettable tour! I had Kevin as my captain and Lauren as my guide for the manatee tour and it was so amazing! there were so many manatees and Lauren made sure that I got to see them as well as possible, as she was guiding me through the water and got me face to face with one! I highly recommend the morning tour, the guides are so knowledgeable on all the wildlife and conservation efforts in the area and you can buy souvenirs and pictures at the end! an amazing experience to put on your bucket list, i had the time of my life :) read more

Crystal River Watersports - mom and baby manatees - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

A good value and they worked hard to make sure that we saw manatees. They worked hard to make sure our kids did well, too.

Hubby and I made a day trip today to see the manatees and thoroughly enjoyed our day! We "chartered" a whole boat for the two of us and I HIGHLY recommend paying for a whole boat for any group of family or friends. I believe they hold up to six normally. We did not swim and elected to have the guided tour instead. The guide, Jeff, was extremely knowledgeable about the manatees and the waterways. We learned quite a bit and had a great time! If you are looking for a super fancy experience, this is probably not the charter place for you, but for a nice, quiet and informative trip, this was wonderful. read more

Captain Jim and Dakota were awesome! We saw so many manatees and learned so much about them. We also learned a lot about Florida nature. If we ever return to Crystal River, we will definitely go out with Crystal River Watersports again! read more

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My boyfriend, parents and I did the deluxe manatee swim tour. Captain Robert was not only knowledgeable about EVERYTHING manatee related, but also all about the river and other marine life. Super smart guy and super friendly. The manatees were all over the place and some swam right up to us. If you come look but DONT touch. There are volunteer patrollers there to make sure you behave yourself but these beautiful creatures are in their home environment, im sure you wouldn't want someone walking into your living room and poking you. :) read more

Crystal River Watersports - Manatee right off the boat - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Attended a manatee swim and it exceeded my expectations. The company made everything so simple and easy. Captain Kristie and our guide Wendy were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and went above and beyond to ensure that we had an incredible experience. Can't recommend them enough! read more

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Had a great tour/adventure on Friday 1/20/23. Jeff was our captain and Dakota our guide. Both were very knowledgeable and friendly but you will have to take the tour yourself to experience their wide variety of jokes Really recommend this! read more

We had a wonderful up close and personal experience with Captain Joe and Guide Alyssa. They were so kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited for us and all the up close and personal encounters we had with the manatees. We spent our entire time in the water surrounded by these gentle giants. Highly recommend booking with these guys. read more

I was recommended to go to a different company to scuba dive. I tried but other company have no divemasters available, because of vacations. So I booked a dive at Rainbow River with CR watersports. I was so happy with the quality of the dive master Orval, I book two more dives. The dives were at gatto and devils den with Vance. Another 5 star dive master and awesome experience. Thank you read more

We had a great time on their manatee snorkel tour. They care a lot about maintaining the health and safety of these animals. We had Kev as our captain and Lauren as our guide; both did a great job. Would recommend for anyone trying to see some manatees! read more

I had a great time with Crystal River Watersports. I went on a Sunday as a solo snorkeler/diver. They helped me set up a reservation that made the most sense for me! I did the manatee snorkeling in the morning and a rainbow river drift dive in the afternoon. John and Mike were on the manatee snorkeling, and on our way there, they told us all about manatees and I learned some new things! Seeing the manatees was amazing. They took great pictures which I bought later (for extremely reasonable price and got a cute manatee-shaped flash drive). For the rainbow river drift dive, John was the dive guide and I had a great time! It has been several months since I've dove, and he helped me out in remembering all the steps to setting up my gear. He knew the dive site really well, showing me all of the cool things to see, and took some great pictures along the way. I really enjoyed my day with this shop and will certainly be returning sometime soon with some family members to enjoy the manatees of Crystal River! read more

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Amazing experience! I can't say enough good things about them. The captain and diver that went out with us were wonderful - so friendly and helpful. There is no shortage of options for dive shops to swim with the manatees in crystal river, but I've used several and these guys are my favorite, bar none. read more

Crystal River Watersports - Scuba Diving Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Deceptive advertising- only shows film footage and photos in clear water with good to great visibility so it looks amazing. Our private tour boat took us to an area with brown unclear water with zero visibility!!!!!! Couldn't see a thing!!! We went at 11:30 am. When I've communicated with the business and requested a refund for such an awful experience- the business gave me lots of excuses, no apologies and no remedy to make me feel whole. I would never ever use this company because I feel they are not reputable honest nor ethical. read more

Dove Devils Den and Blue Grotto through this company. Very pleasant and accommodating staff. Thought that the dives were slightly over priced but- the price did include all equipment and park entrance fees. For those of you used to diving in the ocean, don't be surprised when you have to check in at the springs before you actually dive them. I wish they had encouraged us to bring lights, or purchase them. The dives can be done without lights, but next time I go to these sites I'll definitely bring a light. The equipment they provided seemed to be in good condition! Unless you are very intrigued by rock formations these sites might bore you. My bf was going on his first dives after getting certified and really wish he had seen more wildlife. I didn't mind as much since they were my 15th and 16th dives, but after a while the rocks do all look the same. read more

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Jim and Leah were exceptional guides for us through the tour. They added so much color and local context to the trip and their enthusiasm was infectious. We saw a ton of manatees and were able to swim with them also. I strongly recommend this to anyone that is in the area. read more

It was awesome. For me it was a great experience. Our guide was awesome. She knew so much. I loved learning about the area, the birds and the manatees of course. Alyssa (could be spelling her name wrong) but she was perfect. I recommend this adventure and her as your guide. I want to go again. read more

We flew to Florida from Texas for a family vacation - we had my grandmother (who is 80) and my granddaughters (5 & 3) and the entire experience was wonderful! Our guides, John & Adrienne were great! We didn't know manatee "season" is during winter months, but we would make another trip here to see them when there are that many. The guide was outstanding & very knowledgeable about the local wildlife. They take photos for you, so you can just focus on the swim. We would definitely book with them again! read more

This was such an amazing experience! Jim was our Captain and Dakota was our instructor. Both so knowledgeable of manatees, other animals, and the location we were in. Never had we swam with manatees or snorkeled before, and they made it so easy and comfortable. The manatees were so cute and it was just an incredible sight to see. They took pictures of us the entire time which we got to keep on a USB drive for a reasonable fee at the end of the excursion. Dakota recommended a nearby restaurant called Seafood Seller which was so delicious. Such a great time!! read more

This was the perfect trip! Swimming with the manatees has been on my adventure wishlist for years now and Jim and Dakota did not disappoint! It was an intimate crowd (we had a total of 4 people on the boat vs other boats we saw with 10+). Our guides were friendly, knowledgeable, funny and laid back. They kept us away from the crowds and we had some absolutely amazing encounters! Dakota is like the manatee whisperer! Seriously could not have anticipated such a perfect trip! Very grateful to have supported this small business. Thanks guys! read more

lauren & kevin took a group of 10 of us on a manatee tour and we had the best time!! got to see a couple of manatees & enjoyed the boat ride! read more

Had an amazing river cruise! Got to see and experience beautiful scenery and wildlife. John was a knowledgeable and fun guide! Highly recommend this experience. read more

There was a storm the day before our manatee tour, so the water was very murky, everywhere but the Three Sisters Spring area. We were only able to see four manatees (two in very murky water, two very briefly swam by us in the spring). None of the manatees were interactive with us like I hoped, unfortunately, they all swam away very quickly. Our captain (Robert) was nice, but unprofessional. He talked a lot (mostly about unrelated topics), brought up politics, and made some crude jokes ("I was sweating like a whore in church!", "I drank so much last night and my breath was horrible in the morning, it was like I ate ass!", and so on. Our guide was Veronica. Again, she was nice, but didn't seem excited about her job. I heard her tell Robert she HAD to be back to the dock by a certain time because she had plans that afternoon. This was before we were even able to see a manatee in somewhat clear water. It was a little frustrating to hear her talk about needing the tour to be over, when we spent a decent amount of money on it and really were hoping to see manatees. I know since manatees are wild animals, seeing them perfectly is not guaranteed, but having captains and guides, who at least pretend to care whether their customers see manatees or have a good time, would have made this a more pleasant experience. I would be interested in how the other captains and guides are at Crystal River Watersports. I'd probably choose another tour if we go back to the area again. read more

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We had a tremendous experience. Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable of the area. The owners to the captain and tour guide love their jobs and it really shows. Dakota was a magnet for manatees, which provided us the opportunity to see the big fellas up close and personal. The complimentary breakfast on our VIP tour was delicious and the staff did everything to ensure we were comfortable during our chilly trip out to the spring. What else can I say? Our experience was so great that we'll be coming back to Crystal River Watersports for years to come. read more