Absolutely amazing! From the staff to the location to the experience! I was so happy this location came up on my google search for "swimming with manatees Florida" Coming in the summer of course there aren't HUNDREDS of manatees. But the "residents" didn't disappoint! Captain & water guide were informative & easy to talk to. When my son (who's five) was afraid to get in the water the captain let him stay on the boat with him - and pointed out where the manatees were so my son even got to see them from above! Amazing amazing amazing experience. My lifelong dream fulfilled! Office staff so friendly & wonderful! 100,000% recommend. Will be telling all my friends & family about this tour operation. read more

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River Ventures provided us an incredible experience. Our guide, Trish, provided a thorough and very helpful educational introduction explaining the right and wrong ways to spend time with manatees as well as what we could and couldn't do if approached by one of the gentle giants. Her love for the manatees is palpable. Afterward, we donned our wetsuits and Trish and Captain Wade took us out for the best day ever! They were attentive, patient, and just so fun to be with. They were the icing on the swimming-with-the-manatees cake! We can't wait to come back and do this again. read more

River Ventures - A curious calf that interacted with us! - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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River Ventures you Rock!! Anyone wanting to see and swim with Manatees needs to book with River Ventures! We booked a semi-private tour which only takes 6 people out on a pontoon boat. We were 3 adults and other group didn't come so we were the only people on the boat with our guide Paige and Captain Pete!! They were amazing and very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and the manatees! Captain Pete and our guide Paige were phenomenal at spotting groups of Manatees! This was a once in a lifetime experience that we could not have been able to do without River Ventures! Thank you River Ventures, Captain Pete and Paige you deserve more than the 5 Stars allowed! read more

River Ventures - River Ventures!! - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

The crew was really good and they were very informative throughout the whole trip. Lots of sites and dolphins. The kids and adults had a good time. read more

Our guide Aidan was the GOAT and very knowledgeable about manatees and was very down to earth and communicational! Our captain Brian was also the best as he made the ride super smooth and added very good insight to everything and spotting Manatees! Being from Pennsylvania we knew very little about the animals and area and they made sure to make Florida feel like home for the day! 10/10 would do it again! read more

I can't say enough good things for this company. From the moment we got there until we were finished with the whole excursion, the experience was wonderful. I can't imagine having such an experience in my life. I am so lucky to have had them take me up to their wing and make sure enjoyed this! If you like water and seeing sea creatures in their natural environment, you absolutely have to do this! This company goes well if their way to make sure you have a wonderful experience! read more

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Sheila and Tanner did not disappoint! We barely left the dock and within a mile were in the water with manatees. We where with them for an hour and the whole experience was amazing read more

Don't miss this one!!! My best friend and I decided to go on an adventure and swim with the manatees. We were welcomed with open arms at the sign in and got to look through the gift shop. Everyone was friendly and after a short video to know the dos and don'ts, we got our wet suits on. There were 8 of us total. It was the off season so there was no guarantee of seeing a manatee but we got to see 4 of them in one area and 2 in another. What a special, beautiful experience. I couldn't see them and Sara was gracious enough to lead me to this beautiful gentle giant. Sheila and Sara took pictures along the way and the price for those were reasonable and so wonderful to see afterwards. We even got to go to a small spring area where the water was clear and a turtle swam up to my friend and others. And I cannot forget Captain Bryan who was knowledgeable and funny along the way and so helpful with getting everyone on and off the boat. If you ever get a chance, this is a wonderful experience of a lifetime. We will visit again when there are hundreds to see and experience. read more

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We did a private group tour for my father's birthday. Guide Crosby and Captain Chris made it a successful day! Both are a lot of fun and knowledgeable--we will be returning to do a trip in winter with them. read more

This was really a nice experience. Emerson and Lindsey L, spent time with each of us. Emerson was very cordial and accommodating. Lindsey L displayed excellent professionalism and was a delight. I would be looking for the same team and cannot thank American ProDiving center enough for the recommendation. My family and I wanted a smaller boat and the experience. Worth every penny. I was surprised and very happy. read more

River Ventures - Lobby - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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TOO MANY MANATEES! We spent a wonderful afternoon with Lindsey and Cap'n Casey floating amongst dozens of manatees. Our cabin-equipped pontoon boat was spacious--with our two-person crew we numbered six. Both Lindsey and Casey shared insights on the area's wildlife, the Homosassa River, and the spring that attracts the manatees. Wet suits kept us warm while the manatees kept us thoroughly entertained! read more

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Even though we went slightly out of season we still had a great time and were able to see and swim with some manatees. We had Crystal as our guide and Dex as our captain. Highly recommend them both as they were kind, friendly and very knowledgeable! We all had a lot of fun and can't wait to do it again! read more

Mission accomplished- saw manatees on semi-private VIP tour Booked the early morning (6:45) "VIP" tour with a maximum of six people. After watching a little training video, we got our wetsuits, geared up, and were taken by van to the boat. Megan (guide) and John S. (Captain) led our group. Megan was pleasant and helpful. John had a quirky, odd sense of humor but was very observant and helpful. September is part of the summer "off season" for manatees. In the summer, most manatees go out into the gulf and other areas to feed. But even in the off season, some manatees remain in Crystal River. John and Megan located some, and we had a good time observing a mother and baby manatee. Overall, we saw about five total on the tour and also did some snorkeling at one of the springs. Boat: The pontoon boat for the six-person tour was comfy with padded seats and very clean. It was obviously well-maintained. And John and Megan did a good job of cleaning the equipment during the tour. The larger tour groups use pontoon boats with bench seats that are not padded. So if you have any lower back issues, think about the padded seats. Critiques: (1) The office/gift shop of River Ventures allows two dogs free-run of the place. And the dogs are somewhat obnoxious. If you (a) have allergies to dogs or (b) don't like the smell of dogs, then select another tour operator. (2) River Ventures didn't provide swim fins and some of the swim masks leak. I had a leaky mask, and it was frustrating. Other tour operators provided fins. Fins are only necessary when not viewing manatees and would have been nice while snorkeling around the spring. But this is a minor point overall. Tip: (1) Book a smaller group. Small groups make for faster access to the water and re-entry onto the boat. (2) Take the earliest tour possible, especially in the summer. The water is less murky from silt early in the morning with fewer people in the water. Also, the really early departure time allowed for some great sunrise photos on the water. read more

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I went on the manatee swimming encounter with my older parents (late 70s) and young children (7 and 10). We all had a blast on this adventure! Although the weather was warm and there were fewer manatee to see, Joanna and Mike made the experience magical. We had the opportunity to swim with a few manatee and snorkel in the beautiful clear springs! My dad had a slight injury on his leg so out of an abundance of caution he stayed on the boat with my mom, but they could have swam with manatees if it was not for the injury. They still had a great time on the boat! It was very manageable for my kids as well. I highly recommend! read more

Tour guide James and Captain Mike were the best! They were fun and full of knowledge about the area and the manatees. They made sure we were all safe and had a great time! Will be doing this tour again and will call ahead to get on their tour! read more

Swimming with the manatees is undescribable specially if you can't swim, lol. But they make it safe and possible to happen. Between the wet suit and the noodle they give you. This is a busy place you must make reservations. They have diferent tour times. The water is really cold but refreshing during the summer months. I am glad they provide the suits. The package starts with a quick safety class and a anatomy awareness to the Manatees. They then size you up in the wet suits. They have changing rooms and places for you to keep your things. The groups are small. They limit the amount of people for the public safety with this virus.They try to get you to have as little contact as possible with other groups. Everything is done by email that you will get. They take good a precautions here. They also do it for the sake of the Manatees. Our boat captain and guide were Mike and Lindsey. They are both great. And seems very knowledgeable. They took us to the right spots to be able to see them. We saw four and a baby it was a beautiful experience to be part of this. Pictures are provided if you like to purchase them, around thirty dollars. The river was beautiful and clear when we went. It's a beautiful thing to do. read more

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Just got back from our trip to Crystal River and our semi-private manatee swim with River Ventures! From the moment we walked in, I was in heaven with just seeing all of the manatee merchandise available in their store! We had a great swim (even if the temp outside was in the mid-40s...thank goodness for hot chocolate and coffee provided on the boat after our swim!!). As soon as our boat anchored, we had 2 manatees swim right up to us. We had an awesome guide, James, who was very knowledgeable and took so many fantastic pictures! I have wanted to swim with manatees for over 20 years now and am so glad we booked the tour with River Ventures (so easy to use their website to book the date/time we wanted, the drive to where they're located in Crystal River was easy to get to, they provide all the gear, the quick ride to the boat, and taking us right to where the manatees are - I can't recommend this tour enough!) I can't wait to do it again! read more

River Ventures - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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It's been years since I had these guys take me out for a manatee adventure and I'm really happy I returned in 2022! Since my last visit they've continued to expand and improve the great facility here including the big fantastic gift shop they have the biggest selection of great quality manatee merch I've ever seen AND it's reasonably priced. (we all bought too much :-) This was a very special trip as my daughter, who loves manatees, had never been to Crystal River and this was her first experience in the water with them. My son-in-law and a friend traveled from frosty Pittsburgh in January to get in the water, so of course, that made it even more of a treat for them. 100% of the needed gear is provided, although I suggest bringing a towel and on windy days maybe a hoodie, the boats, and equipment are in excellent condition and well maintained and the shuttle ride to the docks is a short trip to the launch area. Regarding gear, if you're a scuba diver and have your own quality mask and snorkel that you're comfortable with then I recommend bringing it, however, the mask and snorkel they provide are quite good. I have a big head LOL and a beard so getting just the right fit and seal is a bit tricky. However, if you've never snorkeled before then it might benefit you want to find one before the day of your adventure to practice to see how it feels, the sensation of breathing through the snorkel, and get comfortable with, it will prompt any anxiety that some people experience their first time. Since there were so many of us we booked the Private VIP Manatee Tour on the Pontoon of Privilege. We chuckled about the name of this one, but it is was indeed special to be aboard this luxury pontoon with enclosed with Eisen glass and has a heat source. It includes basic snacks, beverages like soda and juice, coffee, cocoa, and assorted beer and wine. It been has a commode for emergencies, and a curtain to pull for a bit of privacy. Privileged, yes :-) It was absolutely worth every penny because this was, hands down, the best tour that I've ever had here and it couldn't have been better for the rest of the first-timers. Not because the boat and crew were totally great but once launched we only motored a very short distance from the launch to before our outstanding Captain (Skylar) and guide (Troy) moved us into a cove where we were all alone with a half dozen manatee and babies!!! They were mostly napping but checked us out, a lot, even tugging and nibbling on my daughter's hair. I know that swimming with these gentle and marvelous creatures is magical but this relaxed, secluded encounter was magical squared, it really was quite extraordinary. Troy, our efficient guide, was in the water with us and took some fabulous underwater pictures plus he makes some mean cocoa. is very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, he's da' man!! Our Captain Skylar really knows her stuff too and it's interesting to learn that in the summer she is a fishing guide in the wilderness of Alaska. They were both exceptional people that made our trip truly remarkable. (I'm running out of adjectives) LOL They're both very safety-minded, both for visitors and manatees, professional, friendly, and really great at what they do! The price per person ranges from $59 to $74, depending on the boat and tour you choose and is a great deal for a top-notch outfit like this and very reasonable for the making of some fantastic memories! Booking early is recommended anytime but especially during Crystal River's annual manatee festival, which is when we're there. Bottom line: I had tried a couple of other guides prior to finding these fine folks several trips ago and I continue to stand by my decision to make thee guys the go-to guardians of my ventures for manatee adventures. Highly recommend!!!!! website: https://riverventures.com/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverVentures read more

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I can't say enough good about this company. We booked a private charter for four people and it was an amazing experience. The education that we received along with the fun in-water and the jokes that the guides provided were well worth the price. Also, I will note they make you feel extremely comfortable. I am a big guy and not once did I feel I was ever a burden on the staff. I was worried about boat capacity and the like but they made me feel totally like I belonged. I plan on going at least once a year. It is definitely worth your time and money if you are anywhere near Crystal River. read more

One of the best experiences of my life. I had done a ton of research about Manatee tours and wanted to find a place where "passive observation" is the focus, where the manatees are observed in their natural habitat and if they decide to interact with humans it is up to the manatees. When arriving, there was a short presentation about the manatees which was a great learning experience. They had many sizes of wetsuits, up to even 5XL which was worry of ours as my significant other is 6'6". The van ride from the building to the water was super short and they got us going right away. The tour guides were super knowledgeable and laid back. Our guide, Derick, was really great and found us a private area where a young manatee wanted to check us out. He was extremely knowledgeable about the manatees and was even picking up trash in the bay during the tour! read more

River Ventures - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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We had a great time with our guide James and santa as our captain. With the cold weather of the past few days we saw plenty of manatees. If anybody claims Crystal River is still closed because of the hurricanes, they are lying! An amazing experience! read more

Trisha and Wade led us on an amazing manatee swim. We have swam using our own kayaks before, so this was new to us using a crewed boat. We loved it. They were so kind to our youngest passengers. Trisha took amazing photos of our group. Warm hot chocolate was waiting for us as we got out of the water. We had ample time on the swim. Highly recommend. read more

We went for a manatee tour this past weekend with River Ventures. It was an awesome experience. This has been a bucket list dream of mine for over a decade to go on this trip and see the manatees in this area. The tour did not disappoint!! We booked an early morning outing in hopes of active manatees. JJ was our guide and Troy was our captain. Can't recommended these guys enough. My husband is not a strong swimmer and he was reticent to get in the water initially, but with JJ's patience, expertise and help, my husband got in the water and actually stayed out longer than me. If it weren't for JJ, my husband would have never been willing to try this experience (of snorkeling in the water) or get to see the precious manatees so close and personal. After snorkeling I was so chilly and Troy got me warm and comfy with the heater on the boat and a fresh hot cocoa. These guys were THE BEST!!! I'm already trying to figure out when I can squeeze in another flight down to Florida to book this trip again. Super awesome. Can't thank River Ventures enough for making my dreams come true and getting up close to manatees in the wild. Almost forgot to mention- they'll even take pics for you that you can purchase after your trip and these include underwater pics too. And the pic package was very reasonable, about $32ish dollars. read more

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Went here with a large grouup. The people are very helpful. They don't mind questions. We watched a video then got in our wet suits. They had iPhone protectors and underwater camera (next time I'll just use the protector, it kept my XR dry and provided amazing shots and video. Our guide JJ was great. I think the Captain was Ron.. they both knew a ton and helped every chance they could. It was an amazing experience and they teach you how to do it the right way. This is a must do! Bring a good towel and change oF clothes...also, pee before you go! read more

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River ventures were great! Emerson our captain and Lindsey our guide were really kind, knowledgeable and helpful. Great hosts that made our swim and experience perfect. We swam with manatees, learned a ton about them and my family had a wonderful time. Recommend them 100%. Very special opportunity. What I love about this place is they are really into the protection of the manatees and that says a lot about the business. As a side note: If you run cold and you do your visit in the winter, I recommend putting on 2 wetsuits!!! Yes 2! Ask them when you're there they'll suit you up! read more

What a day! I swim but not a fan of wildlife closeup. You stay there n I'll stay over here and observe. Well this one is close up and personal. I have bad eyesight, my friends, Captain Dave and our guide Marissa made it safe and non judgmental for me to join the others in the water. You can't touch them but if the tough you it's a privilege. I had two swim under me and touch my belly as they swam by. Amazing. Well worth the time and $$$. The staff was s friendly and knowledgeable. read more

River Ventures - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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I first learned of River Ventures from Brave Wilderness (Coyote Peterson) on YouTube. Coyote is an animal enthusiast who goes around the world and interacts with various animals. He is known for his extreme sting and bite episodes. Anyway, there was an episode where he swam with manatees (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAsQSTzd1FI). River Ventures handled the excursion. After seeing the YouTube video, I wanted to go swim with manatees. I felt that River Ventures must be fairly good and decided to give them a shot. We booked the 6:45 a.m. VIP tour (which features a heated boat and drinks). Besides us, there was one other person. We put on the wetsuits they provided, watched an instructional video, and rode in their van 3-4 minutes to a nearby marina. From there, we boarded a pontoon boat with J.J. (our guide) and Troy (the captain). It was a cold morning in mid-March and I did not look forward to getting into the river. But, my family and I braved the cold and got into the icy water at Three Sisters Spring. It was hard to acclimate to the cold (apparently, it is always cold water). We saw several manatees (including mother and baby). Most were seen from a distance. However, we saw two up close at nearby docks in the river. One was nibbling on the wood of the dock. In addition, it is well worth the trip just to see the springs bubbling up from the riverbed. It was pretty cool to see this in the Three Sisters Spring area. Also, there are lots of fish in the river. Tips: 1) Young kids; My kids liked it. But, both kids had a hard time staying in the cold water. Still, I think they will always remember the experience. If you have kids, the VIP boat is a good option because it was a small group and was "somewhat" heated (they just have an enclosure with a heat blower). 2) Wetsuit: Make sure if fits decently. My wife's wetsuit was a little bit too big and it bothered her. Overall: I really liked the trip. The guide and captain were friendly and knew a lot about the area. They did a good job of making sure we had a good time. Highly recommended if you are in Central Florida. We drove from Orlando and I am glad we did. read more

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Awesome experience swimming with a manatee! Captain Chris and Guide Crosby were awesome and made the trip something we will never forget! They were both extremely knowledgeable and personable! They took us around the bay and even showed us an alligator! If you get the chance, request them! read more

Amazing!! We went out with our guide Lindsay L and Captain Ross, they were very knowledgeable and were fun to talk to. Lindsay taught us about the manatees and our surroundings and Captain Ross shared some cool facts about John Travolta, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty, and Stevie Nicks as we passed by landmarks. Lindsay took great pictures and these memories will last a lifetime, thanks again! read more

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Me and my boyfriend (now my fiancee) had a mini vacation trip for my birthday in orlando and one of the bucket list we have is to see and swim with manatees.. captain wade and trish made it so fun and informative, i myself does not know how to swim but they made me feel comfortable and safe all thru out the trip! The best birthday gift ever! We will for sure come back during winter or fall time.. if you guys wanna try it, book and request for captain wade and trish and you'll have a very good time and pictures!! read more

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We traveled from the Midwest all the way to Crystal river to swim with manatees. Driving that far, I wanted to be sure to make the most of our experience. I read great reviews about River Ventures. So I booked for my family, and let me tell you, it was a smooth, fun, and joyous experience for all of us. Booking was simple. Every single staff member was hospitable and personable. Instruction from booking, arrival, swimming, etc. Was clear and simple. Our tour guides, which I highly recommend are named Trish and Wade. They are a fun-loving and welcoming couple. It is evident they love what they do and want what is best for the manatees and the people. *You can request them when booking* We got the see 6 manatees (two of which were a mama and her baby). The mama and baby were precious, curious, and absolutely marvelous to watch. *if you go during the winter, you will see many many more. But seeing the 6 was still well worth the time and money. In fact, I would venture to say this experience was priceless. Overall, I will being going again. And again. And probably, again. Heck. Maybe even move there. My advice is to GO! read more

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My husband and I had a great time! Trish (our tour guide) and Captain Wade were very knowledgeable, as well as friendly. We did the earliest swim; which I would recommend so you get there before the rest of the tour boats. We saw about 8- 10 different manatees! It was truly a magical experience. read more

River Ventures - Manatee - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

This company is first class with customer service. We were warmly greeted when we walked in and explained how the tour would operate. They have coffee and hot chocolate for customers. There are snacks you may purchase. There is a gift shop next to the lobby. There is a room you sit in for instructions and 5 minute video. They then fit you in a wetsuit. There are multiple changing rooms and separate bathrooms. You park in the attached parking lot. They transport you by van the 1 mile to the boat dock. You may take a bag with you on the boat with towels, snacks, water, extra clothes. There is no where to change on the boat. There is no toilet on the boat. They do have bottled water onboard for customers. I opted to wear two wetsuits so the 72 degree water didn't bother me. Our guide, Tanner, was very helpful with making sure everyone was comfortable with being in the water and snorkeling. He was very knowledgeable. Your guide will take pictures in the water that you may purchase for $25/CD. I hear it is better to go early morning because the manatees are more active. By 11am, they are sleeping and come up for air every 15 minutes and swim around a little bit. read more

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I swam with manatees last weekend, I had a nice experience, but felt it could get better. They no longer accept the Groupon, so you are spending more money on this than other companies out there. I spent $62to view one manatee. I understand that manatees aren't all in one area, they travel solo mostly. Our boat stopped when the tour guide saw one. There are other places is sight that had manatees, but our tour guide was really lazy and kept us there for over an hour. We were a group of 10, and We also weren't giving fins, which are in all their instructional videos. I'd say 2 stars bc there wasn't much effort made from the tour guides and that this was significantly more expensive than other place on the same river on Groupon (those sun for $30-something). read more

My GF and I have been wanting to swim with Manatees since our last trip to Florida. We booked for 11/4 at 10:00 am. We arrived and watched a couple of instructional videos on how to interact with these gentle creatures. Then we were fitted for our wetsuits and after a short drive to the boat, we were on our way. Within 5-10 minutes we spotted a mother and calf. It was an amazing time watching these massive creatures. They are so gentle! We ended up seeing and swimming with 3 sets of mother and calf and a couple of males looking for females. Hunter and Ricky were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back for another tour with them! read more

River Ventures - Mother and baby Crystal River - Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Did the swim with a manatee 3 hour excursion just last week and everyone in our group really did have an amazing time. The water was cloudy from the recently passed hurricane but that didn't keep us from seeing a small handful of manatees. Captain Wade got us to our best location quickly and safely and our guide Shanna got us into the water quickly and comfortably AND SAFELY encountered a small family of manatees. It was amazing to float right along with them and then watch right when their noses pop out of the water to take a breath. Seeing it on TV does it no justice. I've already recommended River Ventures to several people who plan to book. Oh and the pictures and videos they take are available to purchase after the trip so you can concentrate on floating and watching the manatees. I couldn't recommend this activity more! read more

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This place was very good. The whole staff is super friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I came for the manatees and was not disappointed. Guide Dave showed us where they were and I even got a kiss from one!! We didn't get to do the scalloping because of a nasty storm that blew in. But safety first and they refunded easily. Definitely would go again!!!! read more

JJ and Mike were a crackerjack team that provided an incredible experience beyond all of our expectations. We selected the four hour vip tour and had a group of five tourists, plus JJ and Mike. We selected the earliest tour of the day during a cold snap and were really fortunate to interact with a great number of manatees. From the moment we walked in the door at River Ventures, we were taken care of by a team of kind and professional experts. The lady who welcomed us and provided the informational overview was great- I'm sorry I can't remember her name. Both JJ and Mike shared a wealth of information about local flora, fauna, and area landmarks while we traveled on our boat. JJ is also a fantastic photographer and we are so happy to have relied on his record of our experience so that we could just relax into the moment and relish every moment of our time with the manatees. Thank you so much for this educational and respectful experience. It was really profound to share a morning with these gentle giants. I cannot imagine a better company, tour, captain, or guide. Thank you so much. read more

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five stars aren't enough. Crosby and Capt Kelly were fabulous. Had a fabulous time and will definitely make it back for scallop season

We had an unbelievable Swim with the Manatees experience!! Captain JJ and guide, Joanna made me feel extremely at ease as I was very uncomfortable with the snorkeling gear. They gave my family and I am unforgettable experience making sure we got to see all the beauty the manatees had to offer. They took pictures we were later able to buy which was perfect so we could enjoy the experience as our guide captured it all. I can't wait to go back! read more