Clear Kayak Tour And Optional Swim With Manatees In Crystal River

We had a great time! Becca was super knowledgable and very nice. We went on a kayak tour around the lagoon, and we ventured into a couple springs on the way. Becca told us all about the manatees and the migration patterns. They even gave us water and snorkeling sets! I picked this tour specifically because they state that they do not condone crowding manatees, always respecting their space and making sure the animal is always unbothered. Only little thing that I think it’s worth mentioning is that they cannot swim or snorkel with the manatees on this tour unless the manatees are on the springs, so if there’s no manatees on the springs you get to see them from the kayaks which is also great!

We had a great trip. The kayak experience was something that we don't normally do and did not know what to expect. Everything was explained to us before we left the dock, and I felt safe and was excited to begin. We saw a total of 15 manatee and a couple of tiny babies. Scott was our guide and educated us about the manatees and wild birds that we seen along the way to three Sista Springs. It was an extraordinary day for us. I highly recommend Lena and Scott for your clear kayak trip to see the manatees. They are very knowledgeable.

Wonderful experience! Our guide was very knowledgeable about the manatees and we learned a lot from him. Three Sisters Springs was breathtaking! Snorkeling there was a one of a kind experience. We had a great time and would definitely book again!

Captain Scotty was fantastic! He was the best guide, very informative about manatees, the springs and the whole area! We will definitely book with him again!

We could not have had a better experience!! Captain Scotty was the best, even though it wasn’t the real manatee season he made sure we got an up close look at several manatee. The Three sisters springs were beautiful and we never felt rushed so we were able to snorkel there and he made sure we saw all they had to offer. If we get the opportunity to go back to the area I will definitely use Waters Edge and ask for Captain Scotty!!!

Great outing. Knowledgeable and pleasant guide who went above and beyond to insure we saw a number of manatees in a time when they aren’t plentiful.

Alec was great. He was very knowledgeable

The owners were so helpful and accommodating to our large group. They made it easy and went above and beyond for us. It was very fun and will definitely return. Highly recommend.

We had a great time with Lena at Waters Edge Adventures, at Three Sisters Springs. She was very knowledgeable of the area and fielded all of our questions like a pro!

Wonderful experience! Knowledgeable couple who made this trip great. Saw manatee in off season, so lucky!

Met the owner, absolutely lovely and welcoming. Our guide was fantastic and knowledgeable. He was fun to be around and made the experience even better.

It was great to have a guide and Laurie was great! She knew all the key sites and facts about the area. The snorkeling option was a cool addition. No manatees in the summer but a fun paddle and great views of Three Sisters Springs.

Wonderful experience kayaking to spring and swimming there - strongly recommend going as early as possible in morning before it gets crowded

My friend and I booked a 3 hour kayak tour and our wonderful guide Lena allowed us to self guide since we were early. Lena gave us excellent guidance on where to go and what to see. Highly recommend!

The whole experience was incredible. It was very nice that even though we were running late, the owners and our guide accommodated us without concern. We got to see offseason manatees as well. Bucket list-check!

I highly recommend Water's Edge Adventures & Lena & Scotty for your guided tour of the Crystal River & 3 Sisters Springs. Communication was excellent. We had six in our party (4 teens) and my wife and I & we opted for 3 glass bottom kayaks. Scotty & Lena told us about how our trip would unfold & helped us get our kayaks in the water & ourselves in the kayaks which was not easy as I am a paraplegic. Justin was our tour guide & I can't say enough good things about him. He was patient, funny, educational & entertaining. It was a busy day at the springs but made us feel like we were the only ones on the water. July is not manatee season but Justin had heard from another guide that there was a manatee in one of the canals. Justin patiently tracked it down. Our party was thrilled when we two. What a great time. Thanks Lena, Scotty & Justin for a great afternoon & family memories that will last forever.

The springs are incredibly beautiful! So glad we chose this tour over all the competition. We saw two manatees on our July trip! They let us stay as long as we wanted in the three springs area, and it was idyllic!

Start to finish this was a fantastic, memorable experience. Booking was easy, price was well worth it, email directions were thorough, and parking was easy. We booked the 9 am trip and were greeted with the friendly guides that were preparing a few groups for departure. A welcome surprise was the small size of our tour group. It was my family of four and one other guest, which made for a personalized and enjoyable tour. Alec was our guide and he did a wonderful job of pointing out wildlife and facts about the river, springs, and surrounding area. The tour was three hours and he paced it so well - never felt rushed or like he was in a hurry to move on to another location. It is clear that he truly enjoys his job and the river itself. Despite going out of manatee season, we were fortunate to see five manatee including two calves. The spring is a wonder! We swam in the crystal clear water for quite a while and Alec provided snorkels and goggles. A true highlight of our vacation, worth the drive from St Pete beach, and the price is really reasonable in comparison to others I saw. Highly recommend this company and the trip to Three Sisters.

Amazing experience all the way around. Loved the choice & variety of kayaks and paddleboards. In addition,our guide was amazing. He went out of his way to give us the best opportunity to see manatees.... and we DID! YAY! The time was flexible and we felt no pressure to rush back.

It was so so amazing! We went through a horrible storm during our initial time slot, and the team was so professional and ready to help us out of the water and to safety no questions asked. We felt so taken care of. We then came back when the sun cleared up and had such a lovely time at three sisters and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Memorable, fun, and SUCH lovely people. If you’re unsure… DO IT!!! It was awesome.

That was a really nice activity. Rebecca was an excellent guide. We were lucky to see a manatee and her calf, even though it's low season. The three sisters were a really nice spot for some snorkeling, a little crowded but manageable. Overall, a nice getaway to spend time with the family.

A must go to when in Tampa or near by areas. So beautiful!! Everyone is so friendly and kind.

Our guide Lorie was amazing. We had a great experience. She took us straight to see manatees. We saw 4-5 of them. It was amazing. Then we went snorkeling at the springs. High recommend them.

Great experience! Our guide Becca was so kind, helpful and knowledgeable!

Amazing tour with friendly local guides who went out of their way to help us see a manatee—even out of season. Super relaxing pace, never rushed, and plenty of time to swim and snorkel. They were very patient with new kayakers, made everything feel safe, and clearly cared about giving us a great experience. Being a small family business really showed in the personal touch. Highly recommend over other companies!

My husband and I had an excellent experience on our tour. Scotty was knowledgeable and patient. He made certain we had a manatee sighting and let us spend as much time as we wanted snorkeling in the Springs. Lena had great communication with us and we easily made a switch from kayaks to paddleboards. We look forward to another tour with Water's Edge!

Great guides, very personable and knowledgeable made the kayaking enjoyable! Even though end of manatee season, we saw several up close to our kayaks and also dolphins, turtles, various birds, etc. The springs are beautiful and crystal clear.

Our family had an excellent time with Alex and Becca on this Kayak/snorkel trip. The choice of kayaks we were given was unexpected and nice. Every single one of the staff members was friendly and asked many questions before starting out to make sure it was THEE PERFECT experience for our group. We kayaked from the dock to Three Sisters Springs. It was beautiful. We snorkeled the springs and were lucky enough to witness an extremely large manatee moving slowly through the springs…amazing! We also saw 4 or 5 other manatees, loads of turtles, and some native birds while kayaking. This was definitely one of the highlights to our vacation! It was just so beautiful and everyone was so nice. Do not hesitate to book with this group! It was an A+ for us!!!!!!!

This was the highlight of our Florida trip! We had the BEST time kayaking and swimming with the manatees! The wind was bad the day of our scheduled tour and they were mindful of that, called us to let us know, and helped us reschedule the next day, which was gorgeous! We did the self guided tour, they gave us great directions, and it was so fun to do it at our pace. They threw some snorkels in so we could see the manatees under water and it was phenomenal. Great people to work with and they made sure we had an awesome experience! I’d recommend this a million times over and hope to do it again sometime! Book it and go! You will never regret it!

Becca was fun, informed and safe. She helped us have an amazing trip into Kings Bay and Three Sisters Spring. In mid-March we saw an unexpected number of Manatees., We couldn’t count how many and they were everywhere. Swim or don’t, choose your water craft, very personal experience. The restaurant and bar by the boat ramp had amazing food and atmosphere too, do a tour then soak in the Kings Bay atmosphere with great food and drink after your tour! One of our best family adventures.

Kayaking was good we had to change times because of forecasted storms and they were very accommodating.

Wow! Amazing!! Becca guided our afternoon group to the best spots to view manatees both out of and in the water. We lucked out and were able to swim into the Three Sisters Spring, where we encountered 4 mother/calf pairs and several other manatees. Free parking/no boat ramp fees. Stay afterwards and enjoy happy hour at Waterfront Social!

Absolutely fabulous day. The experience was unforgettable. Scott was our guide who was full of knowledge. Extremely friendly and made the whole experience even more fabulous.

We had a great time on the kayak/snorkel trip! I went with my 14 year old twins and none of us are strong kayakers, but we never felt like we were holding anyone back. The guides were really nice, knowledgeable and encouraged us to ask questions. It was obvious that they love manatees and are still excited to see them. The snorkeling was really nice because it was unguided and at our own pace. We don’t feel rushed and we didn’t have to stick with our small group. On the way back they took us an alternate route so that we didn’t have to kayak into the wind. I would highly recommend this tour!

These are the finest guides we've had the pleasure of kayaking with. They are safety conscious and we saw way more Manatees than expected. There was a mix of leisure time sitting with Manatees and also great paddling ttime.They have a mix of kayaks and SUP. The pace is great. We never felt rushed or that there was time limit. While we didn't have kids with us, the families that did had a blast. Thank you! Heather Hamilton

Beautiful day saw lots of manatee at Three Sisters Spring. Knowledgeable guide nice workout some waves

On February 9, 2026, my partner and I had an absolutely incredible time on the manatee kayak and snorkeling tour. From start to finish, our guide made the experience exceptional. He was fun, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable, sharing fascinating details about the local ecology and wildlife that really deepened our appreciation for the area. What truly stood out was how attentive and engaging he was, answering all our questions and keeping the vibe upbeat for the whole trip. He had a real knack for spotting manatees—we saw so many! It honestly exceeded all our expectations. Each sighting felt special, thanks to the guide’s effort to make sure we were comfortable and getting the most out of their experience. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s both informative and unforgettable, I can’t recommend this tour enough. It was the highlight of our trip!

Fantastic and personalized to our needs! Scott was excellent. He was so kind and knowledgeable to us as well as others along the river. My 80 year old mom felt comfortable. So affordable. I 100% would recommend this company and can’t wait to go again!

Easy to book and manage our recent trip. We looked forward to our up coming kayaking trip. Our original date was postponed due to travel dates. I changed our date twice but air temperature and winds caused our kayak trip to cancel. VIator offered to reschedule the date at no charge. We had to get a refund because we would not be in the area any longer.

Excellent tour. We saw so many manatees close up. Several mommas and babies too. Rebecca our tour guide was fabulous. So knowledgeable about these gentle giants. She brought us to areas away from other people and it’s like we had our very own bay to ourselves. I highly recommend Rebecca and this tour company for kayaking with manatees. You can even snorkel with them too as our husbands did!

We had the absolute best day! Becca, our guide, was phenomenal! She was so kind and knowledgeable and made our experience wonderful! The manatees were out in force and were adorable and magical! There was tons of other wildlife out and about too! Overall it couldn’t have been a better day and we will definitely be back!

Our guide Becca was awesome! We saw massive numbers of manatee!!!

Scotty was an AMAZING guide! Highly recommend this tour! So much cool information to share, not rushed at all, plenty of time to learn about these amazing creatures.

It was great! Recommend Watersedge adventures to anyone! Saw turtles, lots of manatee and other wildlife! Scotty was a great guide!

We had a great time! So many manatees! Becky was very knowledgeable about manatees and one can tell she cares deeply for their wellbeing. She was able to tailor the tour to our specific needs which we greatly appreciated.

We had the best time with Lena and Scotty! We started with fishing from their boat, then switched to kayaks to explore the springs and spot manatees. Their deep knowledge of the area made the tour feel personal and immersive. They pointed out fascinating sights and knew exactly where to find and identify local wildlife and fish. It was a perfect blend of adventure and nature — highly recommend!