Small Group Manatee Tour With In-water Divemaster/photographer

Awesome tour, Rebecca and Capt. Shawn were amazing and very accommodating. They explained everything throughout the tour and we had a very relaxed time cruising around and swimming with the manatees. Our group had a blast and we would definitely do it again.

We are seniors and decided we were too old to snorkel The tour company were amazing and agreed to take us on a three hour cruise along the waterways instead Our lady captain was awesome and so knowledgeable We saw manatees cormorants an alligator turtles ibis blue heron and many more and of course a bald eagle in It was an unforgettable experience

The staff is very friendly and the experience moves at your pace... No pressure. They do supply everything so all you need is to enjoy!

I had very low expectations, since it we went outside of peak manatee season, but we were very lucky and pleasantly surprised to see a mother and a calf in a relatively clear area. We got to observe them closely. My 8 year old was uncomfortable with the dark water, so the guide took us to three sisters springs where we were able to explore, swim and see plenty of wildlife. We were so lucky. Our little one loved the clear water of Three Sisters. Our in water guide, Celeste, was wonderful and Captain Dave was great as well! Really fun and far exceeded our expectations.

An amazing immersive experience with enthusiastic and friendly staff who are passionate about the wildlife in the area! We had such a great time with Celeste and Cpt. Dan, they were so knowledgeable about not only the manatees but also the other wildlife in the area! They so clearly care about the wellbeing of all the wildlife in the area and were filled with facts for us! As we came in May, the waters werent as clear as youd expect to see in winter. However, Celeste made this clear to us and we still saw around 5 manatees across a number of locations! Up close and personal! Visiting from England, the guys made extra effort to find and show us gators and turtles in the wild too - which was so cool! Despite the sandy/murky waters, Celeste got some beautiful shots of us with the manatees and other wildlife we dont have at home. We also got to swim in the clearer springs and got some cool diving shots. An awesome memory and not one to be missed! For three hours of fun with a team who WANT to be there and are super hospitable, I would recommend to anyone thinking of going on this tour! Liv & Jamie - Clophill, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

It’s in a residential area, not out in nature. Due to the dates we did not go to the clear springs, we were in murkier waters with just a few manatees. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time (when booking)

Captain Paul and swim guide Celeste put us on the last manatees in King’s Bay. We went late in the season so the water was already warmed up so the manatees had already left. The water was super murky but Celeste was able to find a couple for us to have an encounter. Also showed us a spring. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be back again (earlier in the season)

Amazing experience. It was late March, so we only saw a few manatee, but got to spend a lot of time with them up close. Great photos. Friendly. Knowledgeable and very respectful of the wildlife.

We had a great experience with Celeste and Dan searching and finding manatees as well as swimming at Hunter Springs. We appreciated the recommendation to visit Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Refuge.

We had a great time! Celeste and Cory were determined to help us see manatees (despite the possibility of many of them having gone out to feed given the water temperature) and they did! We were able to see a bunch up close. Bucket list item checked! Thank you.

It was a lot of fun! The guides, Kendra and Dan, were knowledgeable and found us manatees. They also really emphasized keeping the manatees safe and respecting them, which I really appreciated! I highly recommend plantation!!

Great time. Very easy to do for all ages. The boat captain and the in water guide take very good care of you. Thank you to Captain Dave and Tyler. Highly recommend! You won’t be disappointed.

We were on the manatee snorkeling tour. It was outstanding, Captain Dave and first mate Tyler were the best, they were attentive to your needs Tyler made sure everyone had the opportunity to see the manatees. It was full of laughs and adventure. It even included a kiss from a manatee. I would absolutely recommend them again.

Captain Michelle and guide Celeste were incredible! The were very professional, kind, knowledgeable and personable. They did their best in less than ideal weather to make sure we got to see some manatees and experience some cool sights ! We learned a lot and had an awesome time, and we will definitely be coming back!

Excellent tour! Warmer weather, so not many manatees, but those we did see were incredible! Guides Dan and Kendra helped to make this experience exceptional! They had so much knowledge and shared tons of stories and experiences. Would do again in a heartbeat!

We had a wonderful time with Captain Michele and Divemaster Demetrius! We picked a bad time to go (too warm) and all the boats around weren’t getting manatees, but Demetrius was very easygoing and kept things interesting, and Michele scoured the whole place for them. They were very patient with us absolute beginner snorkelers too and as we struggled with wetsuits for 20mins. They were also very respectful to the manatees, making sure to not crowd them but still letting us get quite close. The photography service was a nice plus, they take them for free throughout and you look at all of them at the end and see if you want to buy them, but it’s not required. The facilities are clean and have a shower. Do note we were able to get a public tour where no one else made reservations so it was like a private tour, so this might not reflect the public tour experience. In any case, bring cash for a tip, they deserve it!!

Captain Dan and Dive Master Trey were amazing guides. They were so accommodating on our snorkeling trip to see manatees. Although Saturday was a touch warm they worked hard finding spots for us to snorkel with the manatees. The Plantation Adventure Center was a nice facility with bathrooms and warm showers. The wetsuits were great and provided plenty of warmth. We would definitely book this excursion again and would request Captain Dan and Dive Master Trey!

What an amazing experience to get to swim/float w the manatees!! Captain Sam and Divemaster Tyler were engaging, fun, and very informative about the manatees and the area in general.

Celeste was amazing! She helped us all and got great pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We love the team at Plantation Adventure Center!! We just had an amazing weekend with Captain Dave and Guide Tyler for swims and a sunset cruise and Captain Daniel and Guide Tyler for another swim - we were having so much fun we went several times! Loved all the jokes and learning new things about manatees and the area. We've gone with this company many years in a row and have thoroughly enjoyed every trip and the experiences with every member of the company!

This is the third time we have used Plantation Adventures for manatee swimming. Thee crew knows what they're doing and are a lot of fun to spend time with. They are attentive to protecting the manatees, while also allowing their customers to have a close experience with these beautiful sea creatures.

If your looking for a true Florida experience, look no further. Their knowledge and passion guarantees you a truly magical experience. I have been out several times with this company and keep coming back because of the wonderful staff. Captains and Dive Masters know the area well and do all they can for you even when the weather is difficult. Highly recommended!!

Incredible! I’ve done this experience twice and would highly recommend for all ages! The guides are very helpful and also fun!

We had a great morning swim with Tyler and Captain Mark. They had our family of four all set with a 13 & 11 y/old. The hot chocolate on the boat was perfect when we got back on the boat post swim.

We had a great experience. Kendra and Captain Mark were very cordial, entertaining, and knowledgeable of the bay and the manatees. The pictures and videos of our experience were amazing and great quality. Overall we had a fantastic time :-)

We had the best time on Thanksgiving day with Michelle and Tyler! We saw a mama & baby as well as two bulls. They were fun & knowledgeable and so easy to hang with! Professional guides & amazing hospitality made our day incredible. We also got great photos & video. Loved every minute & cannot wait to go again!

We had so much fun snorkeling! Captain Dave and Tyler were great, so friendly and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful experience and a must do. It is so unique to see the manatees up close.

Great experience. Well organized and family friendly. Recommend this trip to anyone interested in a unique nature experience.

This experience was everything I could’ve wished for and more! Kendra, our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about her job and the manatees! Our captain Michelle was all of the same. We got to swim with the manatees, check out the springs, and got some amazing videos of the experience. If you are thinking about booking a manatee experience- I would HIGHLY recommend them. From start to finish the experience was perfect. Thank you for helping me check this off of my bucket list!

Recommend this experience! Although we were slightly off season with our vacation with our grandchildren for snorkeling with the manatees, Captain Cory and guide and photographer Laura found us a friendly mama and baby hanging out on our way to the springs. Each grandchild was touched by either the mama or the baby and those moments were the highlights of their entire trip! Being off season, we were also able to snorkel in the springs to view sea life that we wouldn't be able to see up close in the springs in the November-March season. We look forward to bringing friends on another tour with Cory and Laura. They were great -- informative, entertaining and and they gave us the gift of a memory with our grandchildren that we won't forget! Thank you Cory and Laura, hope to see you in the future at Adventure Center At Plantation on Crystal River!

My daughter wanted to swim with manatees for 10 years now. We booked with this group and where not disappointed. Others may be cheaper but for a wonderful experience with guides that will keep you smiling book with Cory and Laura. This crew truly went out of their way to make our experience excellent. Thank you Cory for making the coffee.

Laura was the best! And also the captain. We have some lovely photograps in our album! Thanx for this once in a lifetime experience!

Captan Morgan was our boat captan and Amanda was our in-water guide. They were a dynamic duo! We went in mid-April after manatee season and I was concerned that we might see no manatees. That didn't happen. We swam with at least 6, including one mother / baby pair! And because there were fewer manatees, the water wasn't as cloudy and we had better views of them! Amanda and Morgan know a lot about manatees which added to the experience. I'd convinced a couple of friends to go with me. We drove in from Tampa and it was well worth it. I selected this location since they work to ensure that the animal interactions don't harm the manatees. Amanda took great photos and between the three of us, the thumb drive with the pictures was well worth it. Both my friends privately shared that this experience was a highlight of our trip! I'd totally agree. Highly recommend it.

Mermanda and Captain Cody made our trip extra special and worked very well together. We enjoyed our day to the fullest; swimming with the manatees, the boat ride to 3 sisters springs, ending with a cruise down crocodile "alley". Also, the extras were appreciated, including the "manatee mocha". Mermanda was an excellent guide, making sure our experience was one to remember. Captain Cody was attentive to our creature comforts. Would definitely recommend this as a "must do" if in the Crystal River area. Lastly, Mermanda made a restaurant recommendation that was delicious, and greatly appreciated! Also, Henry, the marina manager was a great guy to work with from start to finish!

Such a great experience. We saw several manatees! We took the early excursion and had a lot of time with just our group in the water. Recommend going early to avoid crowds. The guides were amazing.

We shared a wonderful moment this morning with our 8 years old kid and swimming with the manatees thanks to Laura and Cory. Their guidance, knowledge of the area, and kindness were a great help in discovering this magical place. You can trust them.

There were 16 passengers, 2 dive masters and a boat captain. The captain and masters did a great job making sure everyone had a chance to swim/see the few manatees in this late part of the season. Then we went to Three Sisters Springs for a swimming tour. Masters did a great job guiding everyone into the Springs during this busy holiday weekend. Overall it was a wonderful experience.

This was a great experience. The crew was excellent, very attentive. Loved this experience and highly recommend it.

We had a group of 8, ages 9 to 72. Captain Cory and Mermaid Amanda were amazing! They made sure everyone enjoyed themselves, even one teen that decided against getting in the water with the manatee. My son has even asked to come back during Christmas break when they winter in the springs. Highly recommended. We even had a surprise dolphin swim up next to our boat and surface!

We did the early morning swim with dive master Tyler and Captain Corey. They were so amazing, knowledgeable, professional, and made sure to find us some manatees to swim with! Would highly recommend this tour- we had the best time.

Both ourt boat captain and our water guide were great. We saw 5 manatees, even while coming near the end of their migration season.

Had a great tour. Saw some beautiful manatees and more. Thank you, Tyler and Capt Aaron. Your knowledge, professionalism, and kindness made the trip!

Awesome Experience! Amanda was our guide and she was a lot of fun, and very knowledgeable about the manatees! She was also very supportive to one in our party who was uncomfortable in the water. The entire experience is incredible! This is our second time with the Adventure Center, and it is a great company.

Kendra and Captain Ed looked after us wonderfully. They obviously love and respect the wildlife in this beautiful area and gave us a magical experience. The manatees were almost too friendly - you’re not allowed to touch or harass them, but it’s hard not to when one is cuddling you!

It was very well organized with equipment, instructions and location. Amanda did a great job as dive master getting us close to the manatees. Capt Dave was a great captain navigating to the right locations. Visibility was low maybe less than 18” which impaired our experience.

Great staff. Everyone was superknowledgeable and worked hard too and sure we had a great experience. Most importantly the manatees were amazing.

Great swim with the manatees. Mike and Tyler were very kind 💯👌and we saw a lot of manatees. We recommend witn no hesitation.

Yesterday, my daughter and I had the most incredible experience on the Snorkel with Manatees Tour at 6:30 AM with Plantation on Crystal River Adventure Center. We were aboard a comfortable boat with a skilled in-water dive master (who was also our photographer). The boat was perfect for our needs, and we had a wonderful time with a friendly, experienced captain and a knowledgeable guide. The staff, both on land and on the boat, were so thoughtful, providing towels, water, coffee, and hot cocoa to keep us comfortable. There was ample parking, and the changing and shower room was warm and well-maintained. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Crystal River, just a short 3-minute drive from the tour location. The hotel offers breakfast from 6:00 to 10:00 AM, so we were able to enjoy a lovely meal before starting our adventure—an ideal way to kick off the day. Our guide was fantastic, capturing many photos of us, which we could later view and purchase as lasting memories. We also learned a lot about the area, including the warm springs, and how the water temperature remains steady at a comfortable 72°F (22°C). While the temperature was perfect, we were provided with wetsuits for added comfort. We were lucky enough to see an incredible number of manatees, and my daughter and I truly had an unforgettable experience. It was a magical adventure—by far better than a day at Disneyland! Highly recommended ❤️

Fabulous team who took care of us. Loads of manatees to hang with. Lots of other sea life too. You can take video and pictures if you life or enjoy your time out there and let the pros capture special moments for you.