Semi Private Manatee Swim Tour

Danni & Steve were amazing! Knowledgable, funny and very accommodating! Highly recommend & we will be back for all of it again!

We had a blast swimming with the manatees and in the springs! We had such an amazing time on our honeymoon!

The tour was fantastic !! And our guide Dani was so knowledgeable! Thanks for a great day ! Can’t wait to do it again.

Paddletails was the best experience to swim with manatees in their environment, Glen and Dave were amazing captain and guide, they made 100% sure you would see a manatee but they were always so careful to protect the manatee and the baby manatees, would 100% go again, super value for money. Hot chocolate was amazing also, thanks for a great family day and able to make more amazing memories

We had an absolutely amazing trip with Guide Celeste and Captain Glenn Wilsey! We spent about three hours on the river in a small group of just nine people (three of us), which made the whole experience feel personal and relaxed. Even though it's a really tough time of year to find manatees, they managed to find us a mother with her calf, and we even got to watch the calf nursing, which is something very rare to see. Being that close to these gentle animals was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The briefing beforehand was excellent: clear, informative and made us feel well prepared and respectful of the animals. On top of the manatees, we snorkeled to a spring, did some bird watching and heard lots of fascinating stories along the way. The only thing we didn't spot was an alligator, but honestly, that didn't matter one bit. We had an incredibly beautiful time and recommend a tour with Celeste and Captain Glenn from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you so much!

This was our first time to the Crystal River. Wow! What a great experience and time with the family. Make sure you ask for Captian Steve and Shellby. They were very knowlegable of the area, safe and put us right on a family of manatees. We will definitely be back!

Wonderful experience! Would definitely recommend!!

We have been on a beautyful 3 hour adventure tour with captain Glenn and our guide Celeste today. They both did a fantastic job by getting us to the right places to see so much we could not imagin before. We saw 3 manatees, one of them was a baby and 2 dolfins. Even the water was a little muddy, which is quite normal this time in year, we could take greate pictures with the help of Celeste. We also saw a lot of other wildlife and an aligator. It was a lot of fun with Glenn and Celeste, because you can feel how much both love this job. Many thanks for the unforgetable day.

Awesome jaunt. Was to be a sunset cruise, but Mother Nature wasn’t cooperating as we were graced with clouds. BUT- found and watched manatees with their calves. Too cool! An excellent pivot for Captain Glenn.

An amazing experience that we will never forget. Our swim guide, Jessica, swam with us to find the manatees. She was exceptional at finding the best spots for us to view them. Both Jessica and Mark, our boat captain, were knowledgeable, friendly and kind. They had everything we needed to make the day run smoothly - snorkel gear, wetsuits, towels and hot drinks when we returned to the boat. They made sure we knew the rules and treated the manatees and other wildlife respectfully and safely. They also took us to the Three Sisters area when we saw the springs and the crystal clear waters of Crystal river. This tour was worth every penny as Mark knew the exact spots to take us to and it was fantastic to have Jess in the water with us as she has lots of experience and expertise. An amazing experience.

We had amazing clear water. Shelby our guide and Aaron our captain were fantastic!! They were so helpful and kind. We had manatee swim right under us!!! Then Shelby swam us over to 3 Sisters Springs!! She took us all the way in and showed us the actual springs. We could see the whole way down. She helped tug me along once or twice, which was very helpful!! They did not rush us and made sure we had a little break on the boat before we swam to the springs! Never in my life did I think we would see all that we saw today!!! Thank you so much!!

Took the sunset cruise and it was wonderful. Captain Glen was entertaining and informative. We learned much about the area we didn't know. Ask for him when you go.

Glenn cleaned our harvest of 10 gallons of scallops. We went in a guided scalloping adventure with captain Paul Cross and Lucas. They recommended Glenn as our Master Scallop Cleaner and He did not disappoint… I highly recommend Glenn’s services he is a great guy and very knowledgeable.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Captain Glenn did a great job getting my scallops shucked and ready! Took him barely over an hour to hammer out 10 gallons!

We had the most amazing trip and loved our guide Celest and our captain Glenn. My 11 year old just said “if the trip is one out of five stars he said give it a ten”. We saw a manatee, an alligator and swam the springs. It way exceeded our expectations and would highly reccomend. Our guides were the best part. We had a group that ranged from ages 5-85. Really fun!

Ramona and Steven were top notch! The trip was a little disappointing when we were told there were only 2 manatee in bay and every tour boat was zeroing in on them. The water was murkey and you couldn't see anything. So basically it was a boat ride! Ramona and Steven were great though.....

Really great trip out to see the wildlife.

Captain Glenn and Celeste were excellent tour guides. They provided a great experience with good instruction and everyone in my group had a great time. Good stories and great manatee viewing. Will probably return.

Reggie was a very helpfull and patient guide. As first time snorklers we needed some time to adjust, but she gave us so much confidence and guidance. The weather was very unpredictable, she and the captain as well were very clear about that and the possiblility was there we needed to leave in a hurry should thunder apear. We appreciated their professionalism and honousty. Luckely we had the change to see the manatees, an experience we will never forget!

Absolutely amazing time with Paddletail Waterfront Adventures! Unknowingly, we came during the off-season. Our trip was full of rain and thunder. Sounds awful, right? NOPE! Dani and Chad were perfect guides. I felt very confident being in the water during our trip. Not only were they extremely vigilant and in constant communication with each other and others who were reporting on weather and manatee sightings, they are an amazing team! Besides being in the water and the manatees, Dani and Chad made our day phenomenal! As stated above, it is off-season, but that did not stop Dani and Chad from making sure we found and had an memorable manatee encounter. We are already planning another Florida trip with the sole purpose of coming back to Paddletail during the correct season to see even more manatees and, of course, we will be requesting Dani and Chad for our trip. Don’t think twice! If you are looking for a manatee experience, I recommend Paddletail, Dani, Chad, and an early morning 6-person excursion!

Great experience, Jess was an amazing guide and the Manatee was awesome, so majestic and I was lucky enough to be touched by her. Fantastic x

Overall great experience. Loved seeing the manatees. Kids first time on a boat. Can't wait to go again.

Good experience with Reggie and Steve. Didn’t realize that Summer being off season means low likelihood of seeing and interacting with manatees; however, we lucked out and got to see a Mom and baby. The water was also pretty murky, which I wasn’t expecting. It was still a good time, though I highly recommend waiting until the cooler months. The guides shared some people never even get in the water this time of year because there is nothing to see.

This tour was incredibly well-organized from the moment we arrived. They supplied all the equipment and drinks, and our captain and our guide, Michelle, were so dedicated to finding a manatee for us. Since it isn't high season and the water conditions weren’t ideal, it took some effort, but they successfully tracked one down and we got a beautiful, up-close look. The grand finale at Three Sisters Springs was stunning. I have truly never snorkeled in water that clear before! We also lucked out and saw a lot of fish, some birds, and two very chill turtles. We ended up being out on the water for about 2.5 hours, which was longer than we anticipated. The price was around $100 per person, which covers everything (there’s no separate admission fee). To give an honest picture of the environment: because a couple of different boats were looking for manatees, there were quite a few people gathered around the one we found. Fortunately, it didn't seem stressed at all and just kept grazing. The tour is definitely suitable for everyone—there were multiple kids on other boats, and they offer pool noodles if you need help floating. That said, you do want to have decent swimming skills, especially since quick movements can scare the manatees off. If you go, do yourself a huge favor and book an early morning slot on a weekday. They told us the weekends get packed out on the water, but our weekday morning tour meant we had the springs entirely to ourselves. It was magical!

Captain Glenn was awesome! I learned so much about the wildlife in the area as well as interesting history of Crystal River. He loaned me his polarized sunglasses so I could see a manatee. So exciting. 😎

Reggie & Mark were great guides and were super sweet & fun. They took great care of our family and made sure we had a close encounter with a manatee. Highly recommend!

Glenn & Jessica were amazing! I highly recommend taking a manatee trip ! They were both attentive to our group and took the time to allow us to explore the area since some of our group have never been too Crystal River!

Myself, my 12 year old daughter, and her best friend had a great time! Captain Steve and our guide, Ross were fantastic! We were able to peacefully observe a manatee for over 30 minutes. The girls also liked snorkeling through the beautiful waters of the Three Sisters Springs. Will definitely go back again, and be sure to request Ross and Steve!

If I could give Paddle Tail more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! We spent the weekend in Crystal River and booked the manatee swim tour, and it ended up being the highlight of our trip. Captain Glen and our guide, Celeste, made the entire experience unforgettable. I have to give a special shoutout to Captain Glen. My mom had a bit of a panic attack after getting into the water, and instead of rushing her or making her feel embarrassed, he got in the water with her, talked her through everything, and made sure she felt completely comfortable before letting her continue. His patience and kindness meant the world to us, and it's something we'll never forget. Celeste was just as amazing. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure everyone had the best experience possible. We got to see manatees up close, which was incredible, and they even took us over to Three Sisters Springs for a swim. It honestly felt like something out of a dream. There aren't enough words to describe how special this tour was. Between the beautiful scenery, the unforgettable wildlife, and the outstanding crew, it was worth every penny. I truly hope the owners know what an incredible team they have in Captain Glen and Celeste because they are the reason this experience was so memorable. I can promise you this—if you're thinking about booking with Paddle Tail, do it. You will not be disappointed!

Regi the tour Guide was amazing it was such a near experience! 10 out of 10

Ross and the captain did amazing ! Will do this again!

Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and personable. Very fun and beautiful sites. Cannot wait to book another excursion with the same guide.

Pick up from the airport took longer than it should and I was not sure who to look for and there were no posted signs otherwise the staff was friendly and helpful. The checkout process was simple. The car met my families needs. The ride back to the airport was ready and waiting and did not have any delays. The gas station across the street made it simple to fill up the car before returning it. It was clean. Thank you

I brought my 12 year-old granddaughter on this semi private Swim tour With The Manatees. Our guide was Reggie our captain was steve. This was one ofthe most amazing experiences I have ever done. Steve and Reggie are the best. I will definitely ask for them again upon my return and, I will be back!

Great experience with Dani & Steve! The semi private tour was perfect for our family of four. We got up-close with a manatee and got some awesome pictures of the whole experience (thanks Dani). Our guides were able to answer every question we had; from manatees to where to get dinner. This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip!

Glenn is one of a kind! He has lived a hundred lives, knows the bay like the back of his pocket and can perfectly describe what we see, the environnement and the wildlife. He taught us some things about gators and manatees we did not expect and allowed us to understand them and how to act around them. Great tour ! (The seats were great too haha) So long Captain !

Great trip! Because it's June you see normally less manatees, but not for us! We did see at least 3-5 and did spent a lot of time with them! Probably because of leaving early (6:45). Michele&Glen both were fantastic! Loved the enthousiasm like how you spoke about the manatees/other animals and bay/environment! Learnt a lot!

Our semi-private Swim with the Manatees tour with Paddle Tail Waterfront Adventures was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Everything about the experience exceeded our expectations and created what will definitely be a core memory for years to come. The crystal-clear water was stunning, and the amount of wildlife we saw was amazing. We encountered all kinds of fish, including a tarpon, which was especially impressive. Of course, the highlight of the trip was spending time with the manatees. Seeing these gentle giants up close in their natural environment was simply unforgettable. Captain Steve and our guide, Kristen, were outstanding. They were knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about both the wildlife and providing a great experience. They did an excellent job educating our group and ensuring we followed all guidelines to help protect the manatees and respect their habitat. I drove nearly two hours each way for this adventure, and honestly, I would have driven considerably farther. It was that good. If you're considering a swim with the manatees experience, I can't recommend Paddle Tail Waterfront Adventures highly enough. An unforgettable day and worth every minute of the trip.L

Swimming with manatees was amazing, and experience I won't forget. Captain Glen and Laura were great with information on the area and manatees

Glen the boat Capitan and our tour guide were absolutely fantastic. They work unbelievably well with kids and everyone had a blast. Both of them have a wealth of knowledge and are extremely experienced. What a great trip to take a family on or a group of 6th graders like we did

Had a fantastic time. Up close with the manatees. Reggie and Captain Glenn were both very experienced and knowledgeable.

This experience is amazing, our Captain Glenn Wilsey and Michelle were outstanding and really professional.. super nice and friendly.. great with our kids who also really enjoyed the trip.. Glenn and Michelle if you ever read this comment we would like to thank you again for a awesome experience.. much love from that Dutch family with the 3 boys.. hope to see you guys again some day

Couldn’t have asked for a better day, a better Guide-Sara, a better Captain-Aaron or a better company. Very professional, knowledgeable and welcoming.

​I can’t recommend this tour enough. We went out with Laura and Captain Glenn Wilsey, and it was honestly the highlight of our trip. ​We got so lucky with the wildlife—we saw plenty of manatees, including a mom and her calf, and some huge adults just hanging out. We even spotted some tarpons and a bull shark, which was a cool surprise! ​What really made the trip special, though, were the vibes on the boat. Captain Glenn has the best stories about his adventures, and Laura is so welcoming. They even had hot chocolate and snacks ready for us, which was such a nice touch. ​They also offer a USB stick with photos/videos as an option at the end. We took it —definitely worth it for the memories. ​Huge thanks to both of them for an amazing day! Klein Family from Marsrille, France

Captain Glenn was the best!!! We saw many manatees, osprey nests, and he gave us an incredible overview of the area! we could’ve never done this on our own! We will be back.

Great crew, John and Aaron were able to find great experiences in not high season. Great knowledge of environment and habitat.

Swimming with the manatees was an awesome experience. Staff was excellent. Also experienced other features in the bay, such as a natural spring, alligator, eagle and more. Quite enjoyable.

Great sunset tour, spotted manatees and lots of other wild life. Great tour

Sara and Ryan were amazing guides. Their expertise and passion were obvious. They carefully found the best locations for our boys (6&9) to experience manatees both from the boat and in the water. Sara calmly led us up close to multiple manatees. We also swam in a beautiful spring where we observed fish and turtles- family favorites! We appreciated the enthusiasm and kindness of Sara and Ryan.