Scalloping open day was amazing! Thanks Capt. Laura for a great tour. I would highly recommend bringing your own gear but the provided gear was great. Capt. Laura brought in a lot of scallops for us novice and divided the bounty. I would recommend her to anyone. read more

River Ventures - Scalloping opening day 2015 - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Thanks Capt John S.........and Skylar for the great trip This was our first Manatee swim (not snorkel.......no fins) so nothing to compare it to with another company's.......but easy to find great parking nice staff clean restrooms changing rooms nice boat very safe everything is included in one price price was great We learned that the best time to see and swim with the Manatees in this area is in the winter..........the water was just a little cold but not bad at all...........dozens and dozens of Manatees seen in the water and from the boat...... No problem with a recommendation read more

We had such a great time on our manatee tour today. We saw at least 6 adult manatees and a baby manatee swimming around. Our guides, John B and Scott were very informative and entertaining. They had great communication with one another which helped us to see more manatees. We recommend this company to anyone who wants to learn about manatees and have a fantastic experience floating with them :) read more

River Ventures - One of the many manatees we saw - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

This tour is absolutely AMAZING!!!!! Swimming with manatees was on my bucket list and I finally got to do it yesterday. I booked the semi-private pontoon tour at 6:45 am and I can't say anything but positive things! Our tour guides were Scott and John Stark and they were awesome! We were the first people out that morning and we saw plenty of manatees. They were so friendly and beautiful! One came up and nibbled on my mask after I was in the water for just a few minutes! There were so many babies that squeaked under water calling for their moms. It was truly amazing!!! I highly recommend this company!!!!! You were able to take pictures on your own and buy what they took throughout the tour. I will definitely be back to do it again!!!! Simply beautiful! read more

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Everyone on the staff was more than friendly and accommodating throughout the duration of the trip. Going as soon as they open (6am) is the best time to see the manatees and catch the greatest photos since they do most of their feeding in the early morning hours. Heidi and John, my tour guides, were very knowledgeable about the experience and take their jobs seriously. They value the manatees environment and ensure that everyone respects that. We found the tickets for this on Groupon and for $67 a person it was worth every penny! You aren't rushed and can chill in the water with the manatees for quite a long time. Afterward, they drove us down the river to a spring that we swam in and looked at some fish. Overall awesome experience and would definitely do again read more

The best manatee adventure in Crystal River!! Had an amazing guide Crystal and captain John. They were full of fun info and made the whole trip amazing!! read more

Took wife and two kiddos (14 & 17) out on morning manatee tour (7:15). Capt Wade was AWESOME and so informative. Guide Emerson was quiet but also very personable and informative. These folks are first rate and found a group of 7 adults and 2 baby manatees. What an awesome experience. Kids and dad took right to it, but mom was a little nervous. Wade calmed her down and she got out there too and had a blast! Baby chewed on sons arm, momma lifted me outta the water! Great pics and great group that kept quiet and still. Manatees stayed for over 45 min until another large tour group came and they swam off. Our guides did a great job and kept the manatees calm. Also got to swim the spring and see huge tarpon. Great trip, great guides and great company. Thanks! read more

Best start to a vacation ever! Our Captain John and Crystal (manatee whisperer) were exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed swimming and interacting with these gentle giants. This is a must do experience if you are in this area of Florida. River ventures was very professional and had excellent communication about what to expect and all the details you need to know. I highly recommend this excursion read more

I've used this group a number of times to swim with manatees, and I'm never disappointed. It's a priviledge to be able to interact with manatees and River Ventures does their best to ensure that everyone knows and follows the "rules of the river" so we can continue to enjoy ourselves with these gentle giants on their winter home. Captain Phil Eledge is great and knows how to find the "tees". Jose and Jodi were great water guides. read more

This was a must do for a trip to this area. Our captain Rhonda and in water guide Heidi were wonderful! We were well prepared to get the most out of our excursion after their instructions and suggestions. We got to see a mama manatee and her baby then moved to another spot to see a group of manatees. The last group was right near a spring which was beautiful to swim near, lots of fish. Highly recommend!! read more

I would give them 5 stars if they cared at all about keeping customers safe from Covid. The employees don't wear masks inside the building. I asked them about wearing masks and was told, we wear them if a customer wants us to. Customers weren't wearing them either. They take you in a van down to the dock. I asked if they sanitized the van, and at least they were honest and said no, but give us a couple minutes and we will. It definitely is a high risk place to spread the virus. But if you are one of the people that don't believe in science, or don't care about the safety of others you'll find the place great. They do a nice job otherwise. I just wouldn't go again knowing that they obviously don't believe that people can catch Covid. read more

I have always dreamed about swimming with manatees, I've followed river ventures on social media for years and finally booked a trip to crystal river and booked a tour and went this weekend. I knew it was the end of manatee season and had concerns but has the most amazing down to earth guides. Chip and Skylar not only made this one of the best experiences of a lifetime but provided so much knowledge, that when visiting Homosassa state park we actually were able to spot a manatee of our own with the signs we were told to look for, after they recommended visiting. Skylar made being in the water such an awesome time that our group of four stayed in for an hour and half ! I can not recommend River Ventures enough. Thank you for such an awesome experience and being such great people . I will be back and recommend this agency to everyone and everyone! read more

Mike and Megan were great tour guides! They were fun to talk to! Megan is like a manatee magnet as soon as we got in the water the most playful manatee swam up to be with us! read more

This place is awesome! Matt and Emerson were so amazing and helpful. will come again!!!

Better than imagined! Megan and Capt. Stark made the experience beyond anything we had anticipated! Megan was our family's personal swim guide. She was in the water, directing us, teaching us, and bringing us within inches of these gentle animals. To top it off, she photographed the entire tour with professional level skill! We could be in the moment and have it all captured in art quality photos. 100+ pics and short videos of our experience on USB was under $40. A truly lifetime family memory! read more

Repeat customer for a reason. They are always friendly and knowledgeable, and they always find the manatees. They have a way cool shop inside and clean facilities to use. Everything is included in the price and you just need a bathing suit and a towel. 100% worth it to swim amongst the manatees.... and I can't vouch for any other company, but I gotta swim with these manatees each winter and I already know which company I'm booking to take me to see them. read more

Awesome time. Great and well organized. They were very friendly. Great time with the manatees.

Only saw three manatees. But that's cuz it was just too warm. But the guides are super nice and the manatees I did see are amazing. I just have to go when it's cold cold cold baby! read more

My boyfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our guided swim with manatees in Crystal River. Our guide JJ and boat captain Rhonda were knowledgeable, capable, and kind. What I liked most about River Ventures was their focus on education. They are serious about not allowing snorkelers to act like jerks around manatees. Everyone in my group followed all the rules. We did the 9:15 am swim on Dec. 26, and because it was a somewhat cooler day, JJ and Rhonda found a bunch of manatees in the warmer waters upstream. We had wetsuits and good quality snorkels. My boyfriend swam three full hours. I made it about two hours, and then my hands became very, very cold. If I went again, I would invest in water gloves and socks. Be sure to bring big warm towels on the boat. This experience was well worth it for us. One note: for some reason, I thought we would be swimming in the blue-green waters of Three Sisters Springs. But the only way to do that is by renting a kayak, paddling to the spring, then swimming into the springs. That is a great Day Two adventure. I'm glad that we learned first how to behave around manatees. read more

Had the best time ever with Wade and Trish! Highly recommend. You can tell how passionate they are about what they do. It's impossible not to have fun when you go on a trip with them. We chose a chilly day in December for our tour and it was a great decision. The temperature brought many manatees into the spring and we felt truly spoiled by how many manatees we got to see and interact with. Also, Trish got some amazing photos so we can treasure the memories forever. A must do for all visitors and Florida natives! read more

We did the earlier tour in the morning on 7/12/20 Family had a great time! Capt Wade and his assistant John were quick in spotting the manatees and group we were in all had a great experience. My 12 yr old and 4yr old daughters enjoyed the manatee experience, Mrs and I were so pleased and surprised that John helped my 4yr old especially providing her a great experience since she's not a thee greatest swimmer. I highly recommend River Ventures y'all won't be disappointed. We'll be back most definitely. Thank you again we really appreciate the manatee education and experience. read more

One of the most amazing experiences of my life. Such gentle creatures. One decided he liked us and came right up to us. We touched and rubbed his back and he wanted more. Captain Rodrick was very entertaining and patient with us newbies. Tom was excellent as our on water coach and photographer. We could not have had a better day. Thanks to you both. Definitely will be back. read more

Amazing experience. We just returned from our vacation, so we took our tour in the off season (June 18, 2015). We did the earliest tour with Captain Ron, who did an amazing job finding manatees and involving everyone. The groups are small, the price is amazing for the experience you get, and the location isn't too far from Orlando. I cannot wait to go back in the winter! read more

River Ventures - The group in the water and a manatee about to swim right under everyone. - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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SO worth the money. We got lucky and found about 8 manatees in one area, so it felt like they were EVERYWHERE. It's hard to describe but it's very, very cool. Plus, yay, snorkeling! We had Emerson (awesome) and another (great) guy whose name I cannot remember. Both were informative and helpful, and kept working the water until we found the manatees. Tip: Believe them when they say to try and stay as still as you can. If you're still, the manatees will stick around and swim around you. If you're active, they'll just move away from you, again and again. Stay close, stay still, and let them come to you! Great trip, great crew. Loved it! read more

Absolutely excellent! Did I semi-private manatee tour with Capt Mariah & Sheena. Both were highly knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. They made this trip effortless on our part because they are so client-focused. Huge thanks to both of them for providing a once in a lifetime experience! read more

My hubby and I did the swim and kayak with the manatee and it was amazing! Our captain Wade and swim guide Sheena were great! They told us first thing that we may not get to interact with any manatee due to the season, but we were so fortunate. We got to see several manatee with babies by their side. We were lucky enough to have one of the babies swim and interact with us for a long period of time. It would literally teeth on your fingers and suck your thumbs. After the swim, we kayaked to Three Sisters Springs for a nice relaxing swim. Clearest water that I have ever seen. Sheena was very knowledgeable about the history of the area. If you are ever in this area I highly recommend that you visit River Ventures and request Wade and Sheena. We will definitely be back with the rest of our family to enjoy this unforgettable experience . read more

We had a grand day with the family day trip. Thank you to Evan and Tom our captain and guide. You guys were awesome! The pictures Tom took were amazing! Thank you! read more

We had an amazing time and we were able to find manatees just minutes from the dock. Our captain John and our guide JJ were great. We saw multiple animals and even a juvenile. Water clarity was pretty good also. JJ took a ton of awesome pictures. We basically stayed in the water until we were all ready to leave. I highly recommend them. read more

We had an amazing time. JJ and Captain Dave pulled off marriage proposal for our friends. They were both wonderful tour guides. JJ did such a good job taking excellent photos and videos of both ourselves, the manatees and the proposal. Thank you so much for making the day perfect. read more

We came from Indiana to swim with the manatees and we were not disappointed. The staff at River Ventures was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and ensured everyone had a great experience. read more

River Ventures - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Sunday 2/22/2015 my wife and I decided to load up all the children and a visiting out of town friend in our suv and head to the springs to swim with the manatees. You know because the FWC website I visited and read said that was possible. So upon arriving at the FWC location and explaining to them I had a car full of children and women that wanted to swim with the manatees, they directed me down the street to a company named River Venture. When I walked in to this fine establishment I again explained my desires. They were very happy to take my money and stamp everyone's hand in our group. THEN they told us it would be an hour wait for the next bus. Well....already paid and being under the impersonation this was the only place that offered these services we waited. Entertaining 4 wild children in the parking lot is fun by the way. So the bus finally came, and we loaded up in the hot non air conditioned bus. Pulled out of the parking lot and drove ONE BLOCK to the spring. Seriously!!!! I paid for a one block bus ride!!!!! Upon arriving they led us to the boardwalk. Children jumping around looking at the water looking for a place to jump in. I asked the first volunteer wearing a yellow vest where to enter the water. The Manatee Nazi, as I have named her, proceeded to tell me in a very attitude filled voice, "I'll never tell you." I'm sorry, I paid for this experience?! We continued to walk around the boardwalk until we found another volunteer. This gentleman was a little kinder in telling us there is no water access from the boardwalk. Well then can someone tell me how the F#&% to get into the bleeping water?!?!?! After seeing other people swimming and having fun in the water my party was bouncing off the walls. They wanted to swim with the manatees, after all that's what we paid for, or so we thought. Apparently there are many services that offer manatee swimming experiences but if you go through the FWC website and their local office they will direct you to River Venture because they have some kind of business contract with them to make a profit off you. When I talked to another volunteer on the boardwalk he told us that River Venture offers a swim with the manatee package but not everyone can afford that at $40 per person. Very rude he insinuated we were not able to afford that kind of package, NICE. So now the truth comes out, they sucker you into a 2 min hot bus ride, that we had to wait an hour for, when we could have walked there in 5 mins, and that only takes you to their proprietary boardwalk, not the publicly accessible springs. We felt very ripped off, wasted our day, and had a car full of disappointed children and women. Thank you River Venture for ruining our manatee experience. read more

Absolutely exhilarating experience. I took a tour alone since I was on my way to another city and didn't know anyone in the area, but I had so much fun. November is peak season, so definitely bring socks, large towels/blankets, warm jackets/clothes to put on when you get out of the water and ride back to the dock on the boat because it was so cold! Thankfully they give you hot chocolate which helps warm you up. Now on to the actual manatees! I swam with dolphins before this but I must say this was NOTHING like that. These are wild animals which is actually way more exciting than being around captive animals in some park. Once you get into the water (which was delightfully warm by the way), you wait for manatees to come up to you since it's illegal to chase or pursue them in the water. I was the first one to have one come up to me and at first it was rather intimidating because they are SO large, but after I relaxed, I was able to enjoy petting it and just seeing it up close with the snorkel on. They are so curious and cute as they come up close to you, since their eyesight is not so good. Don't be surprised if they eat your hair! I'd definitely recommend getting the photo CD that's created after the tour ( your captain takes pictures with you in the water). Captain Sean was great and made sure everyone was comfortable and got plenty of interaction with the manatees. This was well worth the price of the tour and the gift shop was fun to look around in as well! read more

ohmygoodness!! This is some of my best spent money ever. Even though I'm on a semi-strict budge in my travels the $45 experience plus $16 picture cd was the most worth my money. I freaking swam with the manatees. I snuggled with them. They kissed me and hugged me and I think we are in love!!! Captain Sean was so informative and funny. He really made sure everyone had the best experience. Actually, the whole staff was absolutely amazing!! I signed up online and got the confirmation email. But, about two weeks out I decided I wanted to move my swim date so I called them up and they were so efficient and helpful about changing my date. In the confirmation email they are very clear that you have to be on time because the timing is key to being with the manatees. They make sure you know that you should be at the shop by 6:15. I set my alarm for 5:30 to give myself plenty of time to get situated and dressed. Well, at 6:37 my phone woke me up. It was a call from River Ventures and boy was I late!! I told them I could be there in five minutes, threw all my stuff together, ran to my car and got lost! So I called them and told them I understood that they would have to go on without me and that I wouldn't be able to make it in time. "Nonsense," they said! And they guided me there via phone. AND, since I missed the instruction video, they gave me a run down of the rules while I was on the phone. When I got there I ran inside, they quickly threw me into a wetsuit and handed me a clipboard with my receipt and a waiver to sign while I was on the van. It was a harried morning but it was so nice of them to make sure that I was still able to have the experience I so wanted. It was nice and way above the call of duty. I really appreciate it. Once on the water Captain Sean told us all about the area and how we can get close to the manatees. You aren't allowed to approach them because they are endangered. You must float around without making any noise or moving until they approach you. It seems like it won't work but it totally does. They get so close to you and then they kiss you and hug you. It's beyond cute and absolute perfection. I had one that was so into me he started eating my hair. His name was Chester. And we are pals for life. I think you can see that this was such an incredible time. River Ventures did everything they could to make sure I had the best experience. I'm so grateful to them and Captain Sean for getting me to hug a manatee. I'll never forget this day. read more

I did the manatee swim with River Ventures last weekend. Setepmber is not the prime season for manatees. We interacted with only 2 manatees. They were also in very murky water, so photographing them was nearly impossible and I even had a hard time seeing them at times. I understand that if you go in the winter months (roughly Nov-April) you will see way more manatees and they will also be in much clearer water. But River Ventures is VERY explicit on their website that your expectations should be different in the summer and that swimming with 1-2 manatees should be considered a success. I did the 6:15 am tour which is what they suggest to beat the crowds. It took us a little while to find manatees and the first one we spotted played hide and seek - we all got in the water to find that the manatee had disappeared. To his credit, our captain, Mike, did not waste time trying to find that manatee, he determined that this one was shy and we left in search of another one. The second manatee that we got in the water with was not playful but he did tolerate us and swam around in big circles around the boat. I really appreciated that we had lots of time in the water with that manatee and Mike did not rush us. That manatee finally swam off and we went in search of another. We got in the water with a third manatee (incidentially, right in front of John Travolta & Kelly Preston's house) and that one was more playful, rolling over so we could rub his belly. My biggest complaint about the experience is not with the tour company, it was with the other people on the trip. Despite the fact that Mike told us many times not to chase the manatees, not to flail around or make loud noises, and to float like a log and let the manatees come to us, the second we got in the water and saw a manatee, everyone started flipping out and swimming after the manatee as fast as they could, reaching out trying to touch it. I don't know why people are such idiots, but its a universal thing (the same thing has happened to me in Hawaii with sea turtles). It really upsets me for two reasons: 1) it deprives other people on the tour who can't swim as fast of the chance to interact with the animals and 2) it clearly scares the animals (sea turtles actually drown trying to get away from crazy humans - I don't know if manatees do but they clearly don't like it). So yeah, people are stupid and ruin the experience for other people. I inevitably found myself towards the back of the group with a whole bunch of flailing insane people between me and the manatee. That said, I thought Captain Mike did a really good job of helping me out and not just ignoring me. At one point he went up on the boat and he could see I was outside the circle of people crowding the manatee. He told me a spot to go to a little ways away from everyone else, where the manatee was heading, and sure enough the manatee swam right up to me and put his face in my face. It was SO COOL and I never would have had that interaction if Captain Mike hadn't been looking out for me. A few things the tour could do differently: 1) Have the captains be more aggressive about calling people out on bad behavior. I would give people one sternly worded warning and then yank them out of the boat on the second offense. It doesn't have to be for a long time, just a couple minutes, but forcing someone to actually get out of the water has a lot more impact than just saying "remember to be gentle and let them come to you." 2) AGE LIMIT for kids. There was a kid probably 8 years old on our trip and she shrieked so many times despite the many admonishes of the captain to be quiet so as not to scare of the manatees. It's a shame because I know some kids are really well behaved and some parents control their kids and would pull them out of the water if they were acting badly (I know mine would have!) but there are so many who don't, I think they should enforce some kind of age limit. 3) Breakfast is pretty crummy - they advertise it as hot chocolate, coffe, croissants donuts, and muffins. Well its actually slimy individually packaged grocery store muffins and Hostess donettes - not exactly appetizing and filled with artificial ingredients. I'd get your own breakfast if you can. 4) In general I thought Mike was a great captain but he did do one thing that really annoyed me - he kept referring to me and the 8-year-old as "the kids" and everyone else as "the adults." I know I look 14, especially without make-up (and seriously who would wear make-up on a 6:15 am manatee tour?) but I'm in my late 20s and married, so it was pretty embarrasing to be lumped with an actual kid, especially when some other people on the tour who were called "adults" were maaaaybe 35. Also PSA: even teenagers don't like being called "kids" so I'd stick to only calling little kids that ;) read more

This was the best part of our Orlando trip! Well worth the price of admission and beyond. The captain was very knowledgeable and the entire staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

I went with my sister-in-law and this was her second time going. I am 8 months pregnant and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our captain's name was Mike Burns, not only was he knowledgeable in the wildlife and area but he was super helpful to me as well. I was having a few issues floating and he took the time to help me and pull me back in the group and more. He was always on the lookout for my whereabouts and was there if I needed him in an instant. I really appreciated that. I got to experience petting a very large manatee and had a face to face encounter with a baby one as well multiple times who just wanted to be pet. So it was an out of this world experience for me. I would do this again in a heartbeat! We even took the time to go see Three Sisters Springs which was breathtaking! Don't even hesitate to book with River Ventures. The staff and experience were both amazing! A+ read more

Three words: best day ever! These people through together a great day, swam with manatees and got more scallops that you can imagine.

River Ventures is a world class place in my book. We absolutely looooove manatees and it was a life changing experience being so close to them. The staff and crew are fantastic, upbeat, and positive. They put up with an awful lot of dumb questions and they answer with a smile. John B. and Amanda were our guides and within minutes we were in the water with manatees. Even with some cloudy water it was wonderful seeing a mother and her calf on the off season. Completely unexpected and a blessing to see! Thanks for making the trip of a lifetime guys! read more

We took our family (party of 6)in late July, when it is not manatee season. We had hopes to see just one manatee, because we took a 5 year old and 9 year old, we didn't want to overwhelm them. There were only 8 people on the boat so we could distance. No masks were worn by staff, which was fine since we were outside and apart. They reminded us several times it was not manatee season so they were not in abundance. After watching a video, we put on our wet suits and rode a van to the marina. Once at the marina we pulled out and right behind us was a manatee, so they had us put on our masks and snorkels and jump in the water. Hedi our guide always stayed with the head of the manatee, so we knew where it was. She kept reminding us to not touch the manatee, stay calm, let it eat, and freeze if it moves near you. We stayed with that manatee for awhile. Hedi did a great job of guiding us around the manatee. Once back on the boat, they asked if we wanted to swim in the springs or look for another manatee. My oldest chose springs, so our Captain Rossi took us to Jurassic Springs, we swam for a bit then went to see another manatee we happen to find. Two of our guests did not swim, they just rode the boat. Rossi, the Captain, was very nice and social to them while we were in the water. We went in the summer knowing manatees are not normally in the springs. If you go during non manatee season, have realistic expectations. For us with kids this was a great snorkel trip for them. If you want to see a ton of manatees, go in the winter. read more

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Friendly and welcoming staff, and we had a fun team for our tour: In-water guide JJ and Captain Irish Dave. We were there in early November, so still just a little bit before the main season, but we came across 4 manatees during our tour and got to spend lots of time with each one. We were very close to them and got great photos with our GoPro. The last two were a mother and calf! It was a magical experience and we'd do it again in a heartbeat. read more