What an AWESOME day! Crystal River Kayak Company & Dive Center made for such a great experience!…read moreThe staff were friendly and informative, equipment was clean & well maintained, and check-in/out was simple and quick! We rented paddle-boards for 3 hours to go visit Three Sister Springs at the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge, and it did NOT disappoint! You cannot swim at Three Sister Springs unless you arrive by watercraft as the refuge is protected, so going on an adventure via paddle-board was a nice relaxing way to explore the area. We saw multiple manatees and even got to swim with them when they came in the refuge (SUCH A COOL EXPERIENCE)! The coolest thing about the manatees was how much trust they put in the people visiting their home. There was a mom and calf swimming right up to people, and I thought how cool it was that she put that much trust into her surroundings as to show off her baby. I highly recommend checking out this company next time you're visiting the area!

MANATEES ARE MAGICAL! We saw well over 30+ manatees on our late January kayaking outing. We rented…read morea 2-seater top kayak (comes w paddles and life vests). And from the staff to the dock hands, to the quality of the vessel and cleanliness of the shop: 10/10. A guide handed us a laminated map (nice touch) and told us where to head for manatee sightings. And even pointed us to a cove that homes a lot of turtles and alligators. We saw it all! They have volunteers overseeing the 3 sisters springs, to help monitor the safety of the manatees (and scold ignorant people lol). Great time! If you're unsure, let me assure you.. just book.

Just WOW, I mean where do I even fathom to begin. Tucked away in the heart of Crystal River lays a…read moreabsolute hidden gem manatee paddle me and my lovely darling Susie, where looking for a way to cool off from the scorching August Florida heat and what better place to cool off from the heat none other than three sisters, so we moseyed on down to our favorite paddleboard shop and Boy where we in for a treat sitting there at the front desk was a striping handsome tall athletic 6'5 washboard abs young man he was so helpful, (I thought to myself gee they must only hire supermodels here) he gave us a ton of tips and tricks and was great at explaining the process and the pricing was extremely fair and honest not to mention they have a great selection of merchandise and great cold beverages for a hot summers day next it was finally time to hit the water, mike was so helpful he made sure we had everything we needed to have such a great experience, once we received our paddle boards Mike helped us get in the water and it was finally time to set sale we just had such a hoot out on the water we visited three sisters and saw plenty of manatees on the way, such a beautiful freshwater spring and the water is always at a great temperature to cool you off from the hot summer months overall me and my darling Susie just had such a wonderful experience if you're ever looking to paddleboard in crystal River do not hesitate, Manatee paddle is the best choice when it comes to pricing experience and customer service Just WOW, I mean where do I even fathom to begin. Tucked away in the heart of Crystal River lays a absolute hidden gem manatee paddle me and my lovely darling Susie, where looking for a way to cool off from the scorching August Florida heat and what better place to cool off from the heat none other than three sisters, so we moseyed on down to our favorite paddleboard shop and Boy where we in for a treat sitting there at the front desk was a striping handsome tall athletic 6'5 washboard abs young man he was so helpful, (I thought to myself gee they must only hire supermodels here) he gave us a ton of tips and tricks and was great at explaining the process and the pricing was extremely fair and honest not to mention they have a great selection of merchandise and great cold beverages for a hot summers day next it was finally time to hit the water, mike was so helpful he made sure we had everything we needed to have such a great experience, once we received our paddle boards Mike helped us get in the water and it was finally time to set sale we just had such a hoot out on the water we visited three sisters and saw plenty of manatees on the way, such a beautiful freshwater spring and the water is always at a great temperature to cool you off from the hot summer months overall me and my darling Susie just had such a wonderful experience if you're ever looking to paddleboard in crystal River do not hesitate, Manatee paddle is the best choice when it comes to pricing experience and customer service

Highly recommend Manatee Paddle if you are looking for an affordable rental to Three Sisters…read moreSpring! The staff was so helpful - from providing a map and walking through the best path to get to the spring to helping us launch, it was a great experience. You check in downtown and then the walk to the launch area is less than five minutes. Everything you need is at the launch area. This was probably one of the nicest kayaks I've ever rented. The springs was lovely and surprisingly not too packed for 4th of July Weekend.

If you're looking for any kind of rental for Crystal River this is your place. Locked our keys out…read moreof our car and Luke helped us get our car open.huge thanks to you guys from start to finish they made our stressful trip enjoyable. From hunter's kayaks and tours it's a 2 min walk to hunters spring. We saw atleast 10 manatees in the spring and three dolphins were even in the swim area. 10/10 would recommend

Pros: easy online registration and scheduling; Front desk…read moregirl for check in was great super sweet. Very nice and informative. We were a bit late and she extended our reservation. I was quite thankful. The kayaks were fun and we were left to our devices to explore. Isaiah was cool and very laid back. We were also a half hour late coming back and they were totally cool with it. Thank you! I can't believe I saw the baby manatees. I literally cried. Cons: I was surprised they just let us out with no real guide! It was cool but I'm surprised they trusted us. We kinda got lost the first 90mins and didn't know where we going but eventually we got to the area where the manatees were gathering. A bit crowded and I felt bad everyone so close to the protected species. Overall a super a cool experience. We went during manatee festival in January so it was a bit crowded but not overwhelming. It was a beautiful day with beautiful site seeing. Def recommend!

We did the sunset kayak tour and it was amazing!!!! We went off season and still saw manatees…read more HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

We had a fantastic three-hour kayaking adventure with Paddles Outdoor Rentals. My friend and I…read moredecided to skip the guided tour and paddle out on our own. Our goal was simple: get a good workout in and enjoy being on the water. Manatees, if we saw them, would just be a bonus. Well... let's just say the bonuses showed up. The staff was super friendly, incredibly patient, and genuinely helpful. Their recommendations about where to paddle made all the difference and set us up for a great route. We got our workout, soaked in the beauty of the water, and had some wonderful manatee encounters along the way. Peaceful, magical, and just the right amount of adventure. Great people, smooth process, and a memorable day on the water.

The best experience and the only way to experience the Weeki Wachee river. Robin was super…read moreinformative and even met us at the end to help guide us back :) I plan to come back soon and definitely will use Easy Peasy again!

What a great service! We went to Weekie, seeing up the service was super easy. We arrived (a few…read moreminutes late) and discovered our kayaks were there. They even loaded our friends paddle boards on their trailer to bring down to the loading area. They helped us in, had everything we needed (jackets and whistles) and even paddled halfway back from the bottom to meet us and say hello. Wonderful service that I've never seen when renting a local kayak. 10/10 will use again.

If you want to be the first on the water in the morning to see the manatees before the crowds of…read moreother people get out there, this is the place to come. We set out before sunrise and were ready to go once the sun hit the water in the morning. Our guide was the perfect mix of hands off and hands off. He showed us how to attract the manatees and interact/passively observe them, and created a shared group experience that you could partake in, but also let us wander about in our own and have intimate one on one time with the manatees, which I didn't see happening with the other groups that came out into the water later, they seemed more uptight and controlling of their groups. This was the highlight of our Florida trip and I'm so grateful we picked the best company to go with. They supplied snacks and drinks on the boat and a changing room after getting out of the water. The wet suits and snorkel gear they supplied was very quality and felt new. The main store we met at had lots of manatee goodies and snorkel and scuba gear. It was very cute and were pleasantly greeted by the boat captain when we came in in the morning. It felt like a big happy family of a crew and we had the greatest time out there. I will never forget having a manatee come hug me and try and eat my hair. We had a total love fest with each other for a solid 2 minutes, and the manatees were very interactive and curious and playful in general which made for a great experience. We were in silver springs that day and we saw so many manatees. This crew knows where to go and makes for the best experience. It's flexible to spend as much time as you'd like in the water and get out whenever you've felt you've fulfilled yourself and then enjoy sitting on the boat and watching the manatees go by on the beautiful morning.

This was our second time using Birds to swim with Manatees and we will choose them every time now…read more Had an amazing experience with Captain Misty and Guide Gina. Highly recommend the 6am tour as you get viewing time before it gets really busy. I really appreciate Birds Underwater as they do a great job educating you about the manatees and how to passively observe. Made the manatees more comfortable and as a result we got to have some amazing interactions with them.

Thank you Rachelle for another great paddle boarding experience!…read more This was our second time booking a tour with Otter Paddle, but our first time trying it out at this lovely Rainbow springs location. It's not your average paddle board tour that might feel like another random person, No this tour always feels intimidate enough that you feel like you are with friends and family! My son, BF and I had another great paddle boarding experience, we were able to explore the refreshing spring with its beautiful colors, it felt like another world underneath. We also learn about the small erosion holes the spring has, she took so many lovely photos and videos while we enjoyed our tour. You don't need to bring a camera or phones since the tour includes capturing all the best moments, but of course you can (we received our photos and videos the following day via Dropbox), you get a drybag to put some small belongings, definitely recommend bringing sunscreen, and water to stay hydrated, the water was perfect on a hot Sunday late in August. The spring was big enough that you did not feel crowded. Rachelle provided instructions on how to get going if it was your first time paddle boarding, or if you simply needed some tips. Scheduling a tour is very convenient and easy through their website, they also offer other options for tours at different locations, as well as gift cards for friends and family. We left our towels and a change of clothes for after our tour, there's restrooms and changing area so you can do that after or before your tour. We noticed they have lockers, but I believe you will have to pay for those, it was fine leaving it in the car. We also did not have to pay for parking since it's included in our tour already. I highly recommend this tour, and we will most definitely be back again! Thank you again Rachelle for such a wonderful time!

We went with Rachelle on a Sunday to Rainbow Springs and had the best time! She had everything…read moreready to get in the water as soon as we arrived and did quick review of using a paddle board. We went to a secret creek and the water was beautiful and it was a great place to go for a swim. Then we paddled to the springs and saw the most beautiful glowing blue water I have ever seen! She was very knowledgeable about the springs and the area! Highly recommend!

We rented kayaks instead of doing the guided tours in late August. Everything went smoothly;…read moreoverall, we're very happy with Aardvarks. The kayaks we got for the day were wonderful & not cheap/uncomfortable like the ones most kayak rental places give you. We kept on getting compliments from strangers about our rental kayaks. Matt & Susan of Aardvarks were so nice and helpful. It's always great to deal with businesses that are passionate about what they do. Their shop is fully stocked with everything you need before getting on the river. Aardvarks sell really nice kayaks & stand-up paddle boards. For party of 6 or more, call the store for a group rate.

SPOT ON Kayak Training! I've been doing recreational…read morekayaking in Kentucky for several years. After moving to the area / new environment, I thought it would be a good idea to receive some formal training & I'm so glad I did! I attended two classes: Intro to Kayaking & the Kayak Safety and Rescue classes. Intro to Kayaking: I quickly learned there was a lot more than just simply jumping into your kayak! Important things like; How to get in/out of your kayak without looking like a dummy! How to correctly hold & use your paddle (your arms will thank you!); and different paddling techniques (that will help you in various situations). Kayak Safety and Rescue: This class is a must for anyone who kayaks! Not only do you learn how to help yourself, you learn how to help your fellow kayakers! I HIGHLY recommend both classes. Aardvark's instructor (Matt) is an experienced kayaker & Eco Tour Guide - and a OUTSTANDING (and patient) instructor. I feel more confident with my new kayaking skills and can't wait to explore the area!