One of the best things about the trip was Captain Sean. He was a great guide. He was filled with so much information and so many fun facts. He had a great sense of humor. He also knew where to find all the manatees. Also our photographer Serena was great. The photos she took were unbelievable. Well worth the money spent. Which was not a lot considering the amazing pictures we got. It's going to capture our memories at snorkeling with manatees forever. It was on our bucket list of things to do and I totally am amazed by the experience. It wouldn't have been the same without the captain in the photographer. It was just the perfect day. read more

Awesome adventure they took our time with us and the tour guides really take such special care of these precious manatees. We loved it!! read more

See all

Interesting experience snorkeling with manatees. First it was super easy to make a reservation, the place where you meet is in a plaza and you think you're at the wrong spot but super cool inside and you take a small bus about 5 minutes down the road. The tour guide and captain were really nice. The reason for 3 star is I was disappointed that the boat ride we took was literally 3 minutes and we got out, I feel like we should have rented a boat for the day instead. Lots of different companies all in the same place but we did get to swim with two manatees that came right up to us and literally hugged our leg which was pretty awesome. Drove around the island (right near the dock) to look for more but none. Swam with them for about 20 minutes, drove around and got out once more for "fun" before heading back. Glad we did it, wouldn't have to do it again and would do it on my own next time. Also they had a go pro for pics, luckily I brought my own because they never ended up sending the pics and videos. Lastly, the water you see on the video.....was many many years old...the water is murky and not clear at all, it is not the springs water where it is clear. read more

Charissa was amazing, so friendly, informative and really Made sure we got our moneys worth. We had so much fun In Homosassa springs, we got to swim with so many manatees and we really were able to take our time. Honestly the best part of our vacation! read more

Absolutely incredible experience! The people who are leaving bad reviews here complaining they did not see many manatees clearly don't understand how wildlife viewing works. Sometimes you can find the animals and sometimes you can't, that's a part of it. We were extremely lucky, we saw so many different manatees and got to snorkel with a bunch of them! It's such an incredible experience to be close to them! Captain Lenora, our boat captain, was absolutely amazing, she really rooted for us and went above and beyond for us to get the most out of the tour. Towards the end, she called me back to the boat and I thought I did something wrong but it turned out she found a little bay full of baby manatees and she wanted to take us there and didn't want any other boats to know. So we were the only ones at that little bay and I had one baby come to me and give me kisses and hug me with its flippers and roll around to show me its belly and play with me. It was incredible, I almost cried! It's a life changing experience to be close to these magical gentle creatures. Overall ten stars, absolutely outstanding and I will go with this company again next time! read more

I thought this was going to be somewhat of a touristy thing to do and that maybe you don't really get that close to the manatees. But wow, what an awesome experience. This place was great with our reservations (recommended we do the early morning trip, to see the most manatees and least people). They waited patiently for us while we arrive lost and late. We had a great time seeing these amazing creatures. Would definitely recommend this company. read more

Snorkeling With Manatees - you really get to see them up close! - Snorkeling Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

This was so much fun. We didn't find any manatees but we stopped a couple times and went swimming in the springs. The water felt great and was very clear. The people are very nice and helpful and knowledgeable read more

See all

One of the coolest things I have ever done. Something you cannot explain. You get so close to these animals that they look you directly in the eye! Worth any amount of money that it would cost, however it was affordable. Very knowledgeable guides that care dearly about the area and the animals read more

I read reviews of how amazing it is, but my family went out with this crew twice and only saw one manatee from a distance. They don't believe in refunds, just rescheduling and if your visiting for just the day, forget about another tour. The tour guide said, "Other tour guide businesses close down for the summer due to the warmer waters the manatees don't come around." So apparently this business doesn't mind taking your money knowing that your leaving and prob won't reschedule. We were able to go twice because we stopped there on our way to The Keys (5 STARS) and rescheduled for the only opening two weeks later, on our way home. I gave it one star because they are very knowledgeable about manatees, but I could have read all that for free on Wikipedia. So if you don't like the review, then don't sell manatee snorkeling trips if there's no manatees. read more

What an amazing time. Matt and Alex rocked. It took a little bit to find some but they stuck to it and it was worth the wait read more

Snorkeling With Manatees - Snorkeling Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

If you want to swim or snorkel with manatees in the Homosassa or Crystal River area, try this business. Our tour guide, Blane, was fun and fairly knowledgeable (and he kept us out for as long as we liked - most tours are three hours, but he had no tours after ours). Homosassa is a great place to see Manatees because they are dense and you are allowed to interact with them (they were rolling and frollicking, and they have safe zones if they want to get away from the tour groups). I rubbed the bellies of about 6 different manatees, and one girl in our group got kisses from one (however that works!). This is an easy, cheap, fun experience, and I highly recommend the mom-and-pop Snorkel With Manatees business. read more

Just got back from a trip with Blane - family of four (including a 11 and 12 year olds) on a private tour - and I can say that we were completely satisfied. Of course, your experience will vary depending on weather, season, manatee behavior, etc. We were lucky to have several encounters during a beautiful day on the water. The boat and equipment were in great condition. Blane kept us clear of crowds all day. He could not have been more hospitable, accommodating, or knowledgeable. Bonus; the "private tour" includes a great lunch at "Cracker's!" Honestly, I think they charge too little for the tour. Hurry, before everyone finds out! read more

We had an amazing time snorkelling with the manatees and would highly recommend it. There are lots of ways to interact with these wild creatures (from a boat, from the bridge, on a kayak etc.) but several people who saw us said they wished they were swimming with them. The best time to go is in the winter - it might be a bit cold (springs have 72F degree water year round) but when the gulf waters warm up in the summer the manatees tend to leave the springs so that they can feed. We learnt so much and felt we lucked out with our tour company (http://www.snorkelwithmanatees.com/). Captain Gene was knowledgeable and funny and as said in the previous review they are not in a rush to get you back. If you want more detailed information on what to expect on a tour, visit our website: http://abroadwithus.com/2011/02/mermaid-hippo/ read more

My husband has called multiple times and left voice-mails regarding our Living Social deal with them. We wanted to use our deal since we paid for it and have followed the instructions on the website to call to make an appointment. However, no one answers the phone OR the voice mails. I even emailed them and left a message on their Facebook page. VERY disappointed that they basically stole money from my husband that was supposed to be my birthday present. read more

We signed up for the private tour at Snorkel With Manatees. This outfit is based solely on word of mouth from what I understand. The experience was great! We got to the store at 830am and met our guide, Gene (who seems to be part owner). He showed us an instructional video of what we can and cannot do with the manatees. I'm glad he did because I didn't know a lot of this stuff and probably would've accidentally disturbed the manatees. For example, you cannot put two hands on a manatee because that is labeled entrapment by the authorities. They're endangered animals so we have to respect them and their environment. Gene was great. Took us out in a pontoon boat and explained what we'd be doing and facts about manatees. I'm a first time snorkeler and so was my gf. Gene was very patient and understanding with us. Made my gf feel at ease and gave us some good tips. Had pool noodles onboard to stay afloat, supplies, etc and gave them to us free of charge (like defogging fluid, etc). Also made us hot chocolate when we came out of the water. Swimming with the manatees is amazing. They're such a docile creature and it was great to just be there relaxing with them. I took my gopro camera underwater with me and our friend took his professional camera. Gene helped us test and load our friends big waterproof camera in the water. Gene took us to lunch, paid for the meal and tip, and then brought us back out to the water to snorkel again. We saw a ton of manatees both in and out of the water. Overall, the experience was great. Gene was super knowledgeable, patient, and really enjoys what he's doing. I would imagine that it's easy to get impatient with new snorkelers but Gene was great. You can tell that a day on the water with manatees is a good day for him. Couldn't have asked for a much better time. I highly recommend Snorkel With Manatees...give them a call and set up a time. They even have a raincheck guarantee where if you don't see manatees he will reschedule you for free! He said it's very rare that this happens. They also have all the gear and wetsuits that you need Call them and splash around with the manatees! read more

I hear it's a great time... 2 of the 4 in our party didn't get to go however because Capt. Jean was apparently dropping anchor when he took our reservation and as a result he screwed it up. Reserved for 4 but he only reserved us for 2. Good times, not like we drove 1.5 hours to get there. Definitely recommended just make sure you schedule something else to do locally in case Capt Jean screws up your reservation. read more

Meh - I loved the idea of swimming with the manatees. I was super excited to go. But, when we went, there were only two or three manatees swimming in our area, and frankly, the aggressive individuals in our tour group over-took the manatees. I just cannot understand harassing these animals... and that is pretty much what these ppl did. It actually made me wish that I hadn't gone on the tour. It was sad, and kind of stressful. It's cool to be able to say that I swam with the tees. But, I do hope that these tours are shut down. They're dangerous, and while i doubt that the aggressive tourists were mean spirited people, they too are a danger to the animals. read more

We had a fantastic experience! Erica was our captain and she was so friendly and informative. You could really tell she is proud of her hometown and wants to share her knowledge with her guests. I would highly recommend this tour because they know the best spots to find manatees so you can enjoy the experience of snorkeling with them. I really liked how respectful this company is when it comes to passively experiencing the manatees existence. read more

Best experience ever! Gene was super helpful with booking our reservations. We went out with Captain Erica, she was really awesome. We went to homosassa and had an amazing time. Can't wait to come back with the rest of the family and do it again!! Super chill tour and plenty of time with the manatees. We went out at 11:30 and had up close face to face interactions with the animals and were able to pet them and take photos. A must do for anyone looking for a calm and serene encounter with nature. read more

First let me say that if you want to touch, play with, or mess with the manatees, don't waste your time here. Captain Jean and his crew are all supremely respectful of these animals and they won't put up with any nonsense! That being said, we had an amazing time getting in the water and being able to observe one big manatee. He was a docile and beautiful creature! Captain Jean wards off any other hawks to make sure that you get your money's worth... But keep in mind that this totally depends on the manatees actually being present for you to witness them. I think even if we hadn't gotten to see the manatee, we would have had a great time anyway. Cruising down the beautiful river with fellow travelers and listening to Gene tell some stories was great, and we had awesome weather. This guy knows what he's talking about, and he answered all sorts of questions about the wildlife and nature in the area. His wife and other crew members are all so friendly and fun. They rent out wetsuits and snorkel gear, and sell a lot of fun stuff at their store like underwater phone cases, underwater disposable cameras, manatee merch, plus they have free coffee to get you pumped for the day. Would definitely return! PLUS he gave us a card with a coupon to a restaurant right on the river. A great day! read more

Snorkeling With Manatees - Pic of the river & monkey island - where some real monkeys live!! - Snorkeling Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Participate at your own risk. We made flight reservations months in advance after making our reservation to be in Florida to make the 8 am tour. They called us at 2 pm the day before to tell us there was only one on the boat and they were canceling if we didn't pay another $130. Apparently they didn't mind still going if we paid double. read more

We've had multiple issues dealing with this company -- starting with the fact that they stood us up on the date of our tour to the fact that over 60 days after our tour was scheduled, we are still trying to obtain a refund. They have promised a refund since 7/23/13. As of today (9/26/13) they are still lying and saying the refund is in progress. We gave up a whole day of our vacation to Florida to do a tour with these guys. We sat for 2 hours waiting on them, calling multiple numbers and sending emails. They claim they tried to call us, but didnt leave them a number. This is untrue, as I have the confirmation emails with our contact information included. Shady, disorganized, unprofessional. There are tons of these places in the area -- I'd check some others out before booking anything with Snorkel With Manatees. read more

We bought a living social for this company over a year ago and it was incredibly difficult to finally settle on a date. Weekends were booked for months in advance. They also do not go out on holidays. The owner, Captain Gene, lacked phone manners and was not very informative. He was down right rude in his communications by phone and emails. For a business owner, this was quite unprofessional and quite frustrating. The tour was decent, and the boat captain we got was quite personable despite previous experience with the other captain. read more

Such a great experience. Highly recommended. The only county in North America where you can swim with manatees. The boat captains were very helpful and friendly. read more

Incredible experience swimming with these gentle, giants. The tour was informative and fun, the crew care about the river and these precious animals that live in it. Started off with the information video, got in to wetsuits and headed out down the river on the boat. We had 45minutes in the water and then hot drinks back on board. I'd definitely do this again and highly recommended. Thanks Captain Gene! read more

I just returned from Snorkel with the Manatees with 5 other family members. We had the boat to ourselves, and enjoyed a wonderful experience with nature. Our captain Erica was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. All of us were able to swim, play and touch the many manatees that passed by and circled the boat. Our 11:30 excursion was a perfect time to enjoy the animals, the afternoon sun and the pleasantly cool water. We were prepped by Capt. Gene and shown a brief video of what we could or could not do, which was very helpful. Our experience was one of the best times we've had in a long time! I'd recommend anyone who has an interest in nature to sign up for this unique experience. read more

This was the best experience! We went on a cold rainy day but there were so so many wonderful manatees! On our way out to the spring we saw a dolphin, a bald eagle, and many manatees. Once we got into the water the manatees just came right up to us. One came up and gave me a hug and one used me back as a place to rest his head. We were truly surrounded by these beautiful animals. The crew was so great and informative. They really love these animals and what they do. read more

Not an honest company! Doesn't honor their own rainchecks! Do not pay for any services with this company. There are plenty of other companies out there that do these tours and are honest and reliable. Not worth the problems and expense if you have to change your date for any reason. read more

What an incredible experience! The manatees came right to me & wanted to interact. They are huge but so gentle. They would bump us to rub their backs then roll over to get their tummies too. I got a big-in-my-face manatee sneeze/kiss. How many people can say that? they nibbled my husbands wet suit & gave my 10 year old a gently hug on his leg with their flippers. Capt. Gene was a wonderful guide & the small personalized excursion with just he & us 3 was a contrast to the other services we saw out that day. Best guide service out there. They truly care about protecting the manatee population & habitat. A once in a lifetime experience for my family. Thanks for making a great memory. read more

BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN BOOKING WITH " SWIMMING WITH THE MANATEES" .They are NOT customer friendly AND VERY DISHONEST !! My family and I had the worse experience with Captain Gene .He took our money and did not even give the service he was suppose to provide. We got taken for approximately 170.00. We were on vacation and had everything planned out for our 1 week vacation. We drove from Orlando to Crystal River to snorkel with the manatees. We wanted our grand daughter to have a great time . We were on the way home the next day. We planned this trip a few months in advance and we knew that we had to be in Crystal River at a certain day before we flew back to home. We found this company " Swim with the Manatees " through the internet and decided to book with them . We planned the booking on the 13 of March since our flight was scheduled for the 14th of March. They wanted us to pay in advance which we did. We did not receive any confirmation with " Swim with the Manatees or Captain Gene " . I think Captain Gene is the owner. We payed through paypal . We got a confirmation from Paypal that the payment went through. The appointment was for the 13th of May at 11:30am . We arrived an half an hour early to make sure we were not late. My family waited for till 11:45 am and yet no one showed up in the store.We waited outside of the establishment for 45 minutes . We decided to call the number advertised and Captain Gene answered and told us that our reservation was for tomorrow. We told him that our booking was for the 13th not 14th because we knew we had to fly home. I don't know how that reservations got screwed. We decided to cancel our reservations which he claimed for the next day. WE cancelled at 11: 45 am on the 13th of May. He said he would not refund us since he says that there is a 24 hour cancellation policy. It was 15 minutes over the cancellation time. How could we have called him at 11:30 AM SINCE WE THOUGHT WE HAD A RESERVATIONS AND NO PROBLEMS..I disputed this with paypal and he claims he sent us a " ITINERARY" in an email. He also blames us for not showing I NEVER RECEIVED THE EMAIL HE CLAIMS !! This is just so wrong.... read more

We had a fantastic experience. We needed to move our reservation and they were more than accommodating. Captain Jess was great. She made sure we had a great time and was great with the kids. She also made sure that we respected the manatees, and that we were guests in their home. read more

I'm 68 and really enjoyed swimming with the Manatees. Captain Gene was great to be with and my wife enjoyed being on the boat even though she didn't get in the water with me, the other 4 guests, or the 25(?) manatees. The coolest time I've ever had in the water and it was very comfortable as far as temperature goes. read more

My wife and I went out with Captain Gene. A wonderful experience. We went in mid October. The water was 78 degrees, still warm enough to go without wetsuits. However, the captain still brought them with us in case anyone got cold. However, the Crystal Springs water had about a one foot visibility, so we didn't wear any masks, nor fins. You can tell the love he has for his job. We trolled around for about an hour until he came across a few manatee by a dock. We found a juvenile female. Gene guessed about 3 years old. We were all warned about how to be in the water with the manatee. She approached us. We all touched and scratched her. My wife was quite apprehensive about being in the water with these (gentile) giants, until the manatee gently brushed against her feet dangling by the ladder. She was so taken that she also entered the water. The manatee stayed with us 45 minutes, after eating some algae off the boat. It was a fantastic experience. On the way back, the captain told us of a novel experience on a nearby fishing dock. We all fed some six foot long tarpolene, about six of them. read more

My family and I were out this morning and had the experience of a lifetime. The captains are extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. The swim was incredible! And the price is perfect. Highly recommended this company and the experience to everyone. read more