Private Manatee Swim For Up To 6 With In-water Divemaster/photographer

Hunter was an amazing dive master very knowledgeable and very informative! Levi was a great captain. Both gentlemen had a great sense of humor and super personalities. If you’re going to book a manatee swim, please request the two of them. They did an amazing job from start to finish.

I took my 11 yr old granddaughter swimming with the manatees. It was an amazing experience. We had Captain Michelle and diver crystal. They both went above and beyond to ensure that we had the best trip ever I highly recommend this place and this team this is an amazing adventure, for both young children and older. We will be returning. The entire staff was super& very friendly

We booked the 3-hour manatee snorkel cruise with Dan as our captain and Celeste as our guide and photographer. Both were knowledgeable, friendly, and just nice people. While we went when there were few Manatee, they still made the experience noteworthy and memorable for us. Ask for these two professionals if you want the most out of your cruise.

Bucket list item that did not disappoint! Celeste and Dave were knowledgeable, friendly and patient as this was our first time. They did find a small group of manatees and even a mother and calf that we were able to float with. It’s more difficult during the late winter/early spring to find large groups so if you want to see a lot of them I suggest going in January or February, the colder water months. We will be back!!

Captain Dan and Guide Celeste were great. Warm day so a lot of boats and people in the springs. They did a great job of getting places where we could see manatees in the water as well as from the boat. They were professional and fun too. We thoroughly enjoyed our time / tour. I would definitely tour with Plantation Adventure center again. Thanks!!!

We booked the semi- private tour with Tyler as our dive master and Dave as our captain and had a fabulous time! Both guys were awesome with my kids. The manatees were a definite “bucket list” adventure. Highly recommend!

Wonderful time with Demetrius and Captain Dan. They were knowledgeable and fun. The whole process was smooth and easy. This was our second time swimming with Plantation!

We had a wonderful trip with Tyler and Captain Michele! They were both professional, knowledgeable and friendly. The group size was perfect (semi-private) and we really appreciated the hot drinks when we got back on the boat. The day we went out was about 70 degrees and sunny, we saw so many manatees and were able to witness two manatee stampedes. It was an awesome day and we had so much fun with Tyler and Michele. Tyler told us many wonderful things about his grandma. Hi, Tyler's Grandma:)

A++++++ as usual. We did two days with Plantation Adventure Center and it was amazing as it always is!! We requested Kendra for both days and boy were we SO SO lucky to have her! We had Captain Daniel who was just as amazing as well. Honestly, it was like being on a boat with friends. Kendra and Daniel made us feel like family from the second we arrived and we truly had the best time. Both were so friendly and answered all of our Manatee/Crystal River questions. We got to see plenty of manatees and plenty of babies. Kendra took amazing photos and videos in the water and I always love having reminders of our Manatee swims. I highly recommend Kendra, Daniel and everyone at Plantation Adventure Center for the best Manatee Swims. They care about the animals first and foremost and I appreciate that so much. Thank you x a million to Kendra and Daniel for making our Manatee swims memorable yet again and I can’t wait to return. Y’all are the sweetest and truly the BEST!!! Highly recommend and make sure you request Kendra and Daniel.

Just AMAZING!!! We had a great time building a core family memory with Plantation Adventure Center! It’s my daughter’s senior year and we wanted to let her pick out a trip and swimming with manatees was the choice! Captain Daniel was great and parked us as close to the spring as he possibly could. That man loves some fishing! Kendra (@kendraunderwater) was our guide and was absolutely fantastic! She said she’s been guiding the manatee swims for 4 years and I swear she is having as much fun now as when she started, she was a barrel of excitement! There are a bunch of highly rated companies for manatee swims, which is awesome and great for Crystal River! We chose Plantation for two main reasons, 1) Easy Parking. We parked and were 50 ft from our check in spot for the excursion. 2) No shuttle down to the docks, you literally leave from right behind the building/gift shop where you check in. There were six of us, and our eldest son is nonverbal, so we went with the private tour (up to 6) and I’m glad we did. If you have 6 in your party, it is a no brainer. 1) Pictures and videos are included! 2) Boat coats are included. We went in January and there was a cold front coming through (low 28/high 56) and we were a bit scared that we were going to freeze, but it was not bad at all, with the wet suits and the water temperature in the spring. We were lucky that it was a sunny day. So hopefully this will put someone’s mind at ease if they are reading this and going on a cold day. We did the 10am time slot and were very happy with our choice. Facilities, bathroom, gift shop, docks were all clean and well maintained. Just an absolutely wonderful experience. Thanks to Henry, Daniel and Kendra for a fantastic experience!!!

My husband & I just did a snorkel trip that was set for semi private and ended up being private which worked out amazingly because we had the best Captain....Captain Michelle along with the hilarious Kendra. Our afternoon turned out to be perfect and it was because of them. We did get to see manatees but we were able to see other parts of the springs like Three Sisters and swim it and House Springs along with other beautiful spots. Not only did they do a great job taking us to spots but they both are so informative and we learned a lot about the Springs and manatees and in general the surrounding area. We will definitely be back and it's because of them. The day felt like being on a boat with friends instead of just being on a tour/tourist. Thank you Plantation Adventure for an afternoon of fun and adventure along with a memory we will never forget!!

Our family enjoyed our experience swimming with the manatees. We went at the end of December at 6AM and would say the earlier, the better when it comes to avoiding crowds. Although it was a very foggy and chilly morning, our captain, Dan, and our guide, Aubrey, did their very best to find manatees for us to swim with. They were welcoming, kind, and conversational. Aubrey captured some great photos and videos, and Captain Dan was extremely helpful. We would definitely recommend this experience!

Your North Dakota friends loved the experience! Dive master Laura and Captain Dave were awesome! One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever done! Look forward to coming back and doing it again!

Such an amazing experience! Our dive master, Laura and our captain (sorry, I can’t remember his name) were phenomenal! They provided so much information about the manatees and the area. They made this experience far exceed our expectations! We will definitely be back to do this again!

Very pleasent trip with our captain Daniel and mermaid Amanda as swimguide. They were friendly and helpful. Fantastic!!😁

For an unbelievable experience, book your next trip with PLANTATION CRYSTAL RIVER ADVENTURE CENTER. Their team of Captains and Dive Masters are all Fabulous about finding where the Manatees are for our SWIM WITH MANATEES TOUR. Laura found us 2 babies that just loved people and wouldn't leave us alone. This experience for our out of town Family that came along, was tremendous! Henry and Laura made it a Fantastic Experience that we all know we will do again soon ! The BEST TIME TO VISIT is right now in the summer months. The crowds are small and you get much more time with the manatees. I can't wait to go back !

Amazing experience and a great company to do it with. We saw many manatees and the dive master and captain really made sure we got the most out of our trip. It was clear how much they cared for the manatees, and other wild life, and how they just wanted to share their enthusiasm for them with others. The dive master and captain were both very knowledgeable, friendly and happy to answer any questions. The coats and hot chocolate on the way back were much appreciated extra's. 100% recommend.

Amazing experience. Shout out to Tyler and Capt Aaron, had an absolute great time and will definitely go again! Truly grateful the weather held up for us.

It was fantastic. We liked it very much. Had seen a lot of manatees. It was worth the money. And the pictures our guide made are also fantastic. A great experience.

We had an awesome time! Going first thing in the morning was the best time. Got to see the sunrise and swim with manatees right away. Laura and Mark were great guides. Thanks for a wonderful experience!

We had so much fun! I (and some of my family members) had never been snorkeling before; however, our guide/captain: Tyler/Corey, made it an easy and fun experience! I highly recommend the adventure center for anyone, but especially those who have never been snorkeling/diving before as they provide everything from wetsuits to snorkel gear, and even hot chocolate/coffee😋 We booked a private tour and for the price it was well worth it! I loved seeing the manatees and will definitely be back to see the sweet babies again!!

I honestly have to say they have the best staff and manager. Henry, Dave, Corey, Kendra and Laura go beyond your expectations. Both captains and dive masters are both patient and excellent in and out of the water. I have been going to this location for years and cannot even imagine going elsewhere. Bring your family and friends for an absolutely amazing experience. I guarantee that you wo t be disappointed. Thank you again as I look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

Plantation Adventure Center is simply the best. We have been coming here for the manatees experience for years. Kendra and Dave were the best host. We will be back.

I guess I was disappointed after looking forward to this trip for weeks. We had great weather and did the first trip of the morning. I was expecting more of a natural, state park setting. Instead it felt like we were snorkeling in the backyards of a neighborhood with tons of groups descending on a few manatees. Boats parked everywhere. Our guide was not very helpful, she didn’t tell us much about the manatees on the trip out or if we were just going to one place or would be moving around. She was hard to locate during the trip and jumped in the water and sort of took off without making sure the kids had their snorkel fitted and everyone was ready. It was weird.

We've had some bad luck previously with wildlife cruises/snorkeling experiences (no orcas or whale sharks to be found!). Not today! We broke our hoodoo with this amazing manatee tour! Captain Mark and Divemaster Amanda took us out on the early cruise to Three Sisters before all the hordes of kayakers and snorkelers could descend. It exceeded all of our expectations, with countless adult and baby manatees coming to greet us and cruising around! Water quality/visibility was great that early in the morning. Amanda took some fantastic photos and videos so that we can always remember this amazing experience!

Such a bucket list day swimming with Manatees!!! Our boat captain and dive masters were knowledgeable and super helpful, ensuring the best experience for us and the wildlife. Will be back!

We did a six-person half day scallop snorkel tour. It was amazing. Captain Cory and first mate Matt were excellent hosts. We scored lots of scallops, snorkeled the springs, and had a perfect afternoon. We booked online ahead of time and everything went smoothly. My family loved it. We may come again at the end of the season. 5 out of 5. A must do.

We had an incredible semi-private manatee tour with Captain Matk and Divemastet Laura! It turned out to be a private tour since no one else signed up at our time. They were so knowledgeable and respectful of the area. I was impressed that they stop along the way to pick up any litter they find in the water. We were lucky to come upon a mating herd of 5 manatees almost immediately. Swimming with these creatures is the experience of a lifetime. Mark and Laura made sure we had plenty of time with the manatees, swimming in the amazing Three Sisters Spring, and Laura took incredible photos. They even took the time to mail us our bag of wet swimsuits we left on the dock. I can't say enough good things about them. Book today, you will not be sorry.

Great experience. We found plenty of Manatees, and our Divemaster/Photographer Laura took excelent pictures. We even had the joy of a baby Manatees coming up to give me a hug :-)

Awesome. Captain Cory and Guide Melissa worked together to put us on the manatees. They were fun and personable. We couldn’t have asked for a better trip.

We had an amazing time with our family on our private Manatee Tour! Our guide, Ryan, was informative and helpful in the water! Unfortunately, our tour was after the August 2023 hurricane and the waters were pretty murky. This is totally out of control of the tour. Our guide found a manatee (Patches) and her baby! While visibility was low due to the waters, the experience of Patches swimming under me with her baby was something I will never forget! Ryan took excellent photos that I will forever cherish. We had plenty of time in our tour to head over to Three Sisters. The tagged manatee boy was there resting and the water was CLEAR! Our guide was able to get pictures of us with this sweet manatee in the backdrop as well as many scenic underwater pictures and pictures of our family that we didn't even know he was taking! Truly, a magical experience that I would do again! Do the tour! Have someone else take pictures! Be in the moment! Love love loved this so much!!!!

Just returned from our trip to Tampa and can't say enough about our tour experience at Plantation Adventure Center. Dave was our boat captain and Tristan was our Divemaster/Photographer--they were phenomenal! Due to the hurricane last year there weren't as many manatees as we had hoped to see but Dave and Tristan went our of their way to get us to as many spots as possible to catch some sightings. We loved every minute of our experience and are planning a future return so that we can do it again!

We had a great time on the early morning semi-private tour. It was beautiful to start out before sunrise and watch the sunrise from the water. We were able to tour the bay and swim in the 3 sisters springs and see these gentle giants up close and personal. Our guide was lovely and knowledgeable as was our boat captain. Warm drinks and parkas on board made for a cozy and comfortable experience. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier. Would highly reccommend!

Such a great experience! Cory was amazing with my five year old daughter. Swam with her all the way out there on his back and there were manatees everywhere. Capt Dave was awesome too! Highly recommend!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience and got to see several manatees up close and personal! Our Inwater Guide was Michelle Sankey and she was great with the kids and helping our whole family in the water. Captain Dave was also super helpful on the boat helping us spot manatees. Because the recent Hurricane Idalia brought saltwater into King's Bay and killed lots of the vegetation in the water which helps clean the water and keep it clear, it was a little harder to see but still a once in a lifetime nonetheless. The private tour was well worth it, getting the full attention from our Captain and Inwater Guide.

Mark and Laura were great. We saw lots of manatees. Early morning was a great time to go, and the small group size was really nice. They had coats, hot chocolate, and coffee to warm us up after.

We had a great time snorkeling with the manatees. The wet suits were thick and made it very comfortable on a chilly morning. Our captain and photographer (Mark and Laura) were a great team and made it a fun adventure for our family. We got to the area a little earlier than most and had it mostly to ourselves for a while before other tours showed up. Even got lucky and had a small manatee come up and check us out very closely as we floated. Would definitely recommend if looking for a great swim with the manatees.

My BFF and I went on the 6:30am swim on a very chilly morning. We are in our 40's and were on a mom-cation away from our husbands and kids. The wetsuits provided much needed warmth. The instruction was fantastic. We saw at least 30 manatee (perhaps 50? it's hard to tell if you've seen that one or it was a new one). We had plenty of time in the water. Warm beverages and "boat coats" were available when we got back to the boat. All we needed was our swim suits. Everything else was provided. I highly suggest the early morning private swim with 6 people. We were only the 2nd boat there and had plenty of time before larger/louder groups arrived. We purchased the thumb drive with photos from the gift shop. We had a fantastic time!

Great trip as always, third time. Dive master Ryan was really great. The manatees were all over. Ryan took great pics and I did too with my GoPro knock. We will surely go again with Plantation, even planning our first scalloping trip with them.

Dirty Mike and Ryan were amazing!!!! They made our day rememberable. One of our friends had never been in a boat or snorkeled and they put her at ease. You could tell they love what they do.

This was our 4th time doing a manatee swim with Plantation Adventure Center and there is a reason why we keep returning! It is truly the best experience. My husband and I did the 6:30am tour on 1/15/24 and we had Captain Dave H. & Orville. Both were fantastic!! From the moment we arrived, everything was so professional, organized, clean, cheerful and fun. Everyone we encountered was so nice! Manatee viewing safety video viewed by our group before we left the dock. 5mm wetsuits and snorkel gear provided. Manatees were plenty and very active & Orville kept us engaged the entire time. He was always checking on us to see how we were doing, giving us fun facts about the springs, manatees & pointing things out around us. Captain Dave H. kept watchful eye on our group while we were in the water and I really appreciated that. Orville made sure to take plenty of photos and my husband and I purchased them at the end of our tour. Over 180 fantastic pics taken by Orville. Towels provided and coffee/hot chocolate afterwards. Nice boat ride back to the dock. Clean bathrooms/showers/gift shop on site. Ample free parking. I highly recommend Plantation Adventure Center and will def be back! Bucket list item for sure. A+++++ all the way.

Captain Mike our boat captain and Captain Michelle our Inwater Guide were incredible! They had so much compassion for the manatees and fish they serve and were so knowledgeable every step of the way. It was freezing, but they made it so fascinating, you didn't care. Michelle knew just when to guide us out, and Capt. Mike had all the warmth waiting back on the boat. The pics Michelle took were amazing! Her guidance and calm demeanor were so reassuring. Janna and Kim in the Store were fabulous too. Don't miss this! It is truly special and these superhumans make every dollar spent count.

So much fun! Capt Dave and our photographer Laura were wonderful hosts. If at all possible, a game changer to go semi-private or private because when large groups are in the water, way too crowded and the animals not nearly as interactive. Would go annually it was so much fun. Professional outfit for sure. Don't go with a lesser company. These guys are the real deal and so much better run.

This was an amazing experience. The Manatees touch your soul. Our guide took great pictures and was very knowledgeable about the manatee. I highly recommend this trip!

Great time, water was cloudy but we had manatees everywhere. The wet suit kept us comfortable but it did get cold when we got out but they had dive coats which saved the day. Great experience and would definitely put it on your bucket list. Me and the wife are in our seventys

Michelle and Cory were fabulous guides and captains. They explained so much about the landscape, habitat, migration patterns, and facts about the manatees. Equally, they were careful and mindful of the animals and our experience in the water. I could not recommend enough!

Captian Mark and dive master Orville were terrific, great job for the morning tour. We were in the water before sun up, about 6:30am and back to dock by 9:30am, which included 3 different swim stops…excellent job by all!

We had an amazing snorkel this morning with Captain Aaron and Divemaster Ryan! They were very personable, knowledgeable and friendly. The dozens of manatees that we saw at Kings Bay were very friendly and came right up to us. This tour group was great! They provided all the gear including extra thick wetsuits. We didn’t feel cold at all. We had a once in a lifetime experience and we highly recommend this company.

Dave B, the boat captain, and Laura V, the dive master were both fantastic. It was a bucket list item that did not disappoint! It was up close and personal and the photos were amazing.