About Swimming With Manatees
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Our manatee tours depart from our private docks in Homosassa, Florida, in the heart of Citrus County’s world-famous manatee region.
Homosassa Springs and nearby Crystal River are both internationally known for Florida manatees and the warm, spring-fed waterways they depend on.
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Our manatee tours currently depart from our private docks in Homosassa.
Crystal River and Homosassa Springs are both part of Citrus County’s famous manatee region. The area’s wild manatees move throughout these coastal and spring-fed waterways based on water temperature, food, weather and other natural conditions.
If you’re staying in Crystal River or searching for a Crystal River manatee experience, Homosassa is just a short drive south.
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Yes. Resident manatees live in our area throughout the year, which allows us to offer manatee experiences year-round.
During the cooler months, additional migratory manatees travel to the warm spring-fed waters of Citrus County. Manatee numbers generally increase as water temperatures outside the springs become colder.
Manatees are wild animals, so their exact locations, numbers and behavior can change from day to day.
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There can be wonderful manatee encounters throughout the year.
Winter typically brings the largest number of manatees into the warm springs, while spring, summer and fall offer opportunities to encounter our resident manatee population, often with fewer visitors on the waterways.
Every season is different, and that’s part of experiencing manatees in their natural habitat.
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The best time is the time that works for your vacation.
After more than 26 years of operating manatee tours, we’ve learned that manatees move, feed, rest and travel throughout the day. Early mornings can sometimes mean fewer people on the water, but every departure time can provide an incredible experience.
Choose the time that works best for your family and let Mother Nature do the rest.
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Never more than six guests per boat.
Our vessels are limited to six passengers, allowing us to provide a smaller, more personal experience with fewer distractions.
For groups larger than six, we can arrange multiple boats based on availability.
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Our 3 Hour Shared Manatee Tour offers our small-group experience with never more than six guests aboard.
Our private manatee tours reserve the entire boat exclusively for your family or group of up to six guests. We offer 3-hour, 4-hour and extended 6-hour private experiences.
If you’d prefer not to share the boat with other guests, choose one of our private tours.
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Because the manatee should always be allowed to choose the encounter.
Our guides teach guests how to calmly observe manatees without chasing, surrounding or disturbing them. A curious manatee may approach you, while another may simply swim by or prefer to rest.
Passive observation creates a more natural wildlife encounter while helping protect these incredible animals.
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Education and awareness are an important part of manatee conservation.
Our tours aren’t simply about getting into the water with a manatee. We want our guests to learn about manatee behavior, their natural habitat, the challenges they face and how responsible wildlife viewing helps protect them.
By joining our tours and learning about these incredible animals, you’re helping us spread manatee awareness and preserve them for future generations.
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No. Manatees are wild animals, and their location and behavior can never be completely guaranteed.
Our experienced local captains and guides use current conditions, recent activity and years of local knowledge to give our guests the best opportunity possible.
But ultimately, Mother Nature and the manatees make the final decision.
Based on more than 26 years of conducting manatee tours, we historically experience manatee sightings on approximately 95% of our trips. This is helped by the resident manatee population that remains in our area year-round. However, manatees are wild animals, and sightings can never be guaranteed.
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Although manatee sightings are common, they are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
We offer a No-Sighting Policy that provides qualifying guests with an opportunity to return. The terms depend on your reservation and whether Trip Protection was purchased.
Please review our current No-Sighting and Trip Protection policies when making your reservation for complete details.
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Maybe! That’s part of the magic of a true wild manatee encounter.
Some manatees are curious and may approach passive swimmers. Others may swim past, rest or simply prefer to be left alone.
We never force an interaction. The manatee chooses whether it wants to engage with us, which makes every encounter unique.
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No. These are natural Florida rivers and springs, not controlled swimming pools.
Water clarity can change because of rainfall, tides, weather, wind, natural tannins and other environmental conditions. Some days provide beautiful visibility while conditions on other days may be different.
That’s part of experiencing wild manatees in their natural environment.
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Yes. Snorkeling equipment and wetsuits are included with your manatee tour.
We offer a wide range of wetsuit sizes (toddler size 1 to 5 X) and provide flotation noodles to help guests comfortably observe the manatees from the surface.
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You should be comfortable in the water, but you do not need previous snorkeling experience.
This isn’t like snorkeling a reef in the Keys or Bahamas. Much of the experience involves calmly floating at the surface with flotation assistance while observing the manatees below.
Our guides will explain the equipment and help prepare you before entering the water.
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Bring your swimsuit, towel, dry clothes, sunscreen and personal items.
During cooler weather, we recommend bringing warm layers such as a sweatshirt or jacket for the boat ride.
You’re welcome to bring a camera or waterproof video equipment, along with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
We provide the necessary snorkeling equipment and wetsuits.
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Absolutely. Every passenger must have a reservation, but you aren’t required to enter the water.
We recommend coming prepared to swim anyway. Once you see the manatees and experience the excitement, you may change your mind!
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Yes. Guests are welcome to bring waterproof cameras and action cameras.
We simply ask that getting the perfect picture never interfere with passive observation or the manatee’s natural behavior. Follow your guide’s instructions and allow the manatee to choose the encounter.
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Yes! Professional event photography options are available so you can spend more time enjoying the experience instead of worrying about capturing every moment yourself.
Our in-water guides can capture memorable images from your manatee adventure, and photo packages are available as an optional addition to your experience.
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We generally recommend our manatee experience for children age 2 and older.
Children should be comfortable around boats and water and able to follow instructions from our crew. Parents know their children best, so please contact us if you’re unsure whether the experience is appropriate for your child.
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Yes. However, every person aboard counts as a passenger regardless of age or whether they enter the water.
Parents may take turns participating while another adult remains aboard with the infant.
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Yes. Our individual boats carry a maximum of six passengers, but we can accommodate larger groups using multiple vessels.
Please contact us directly for larger family groups, schools, clubs and organized events so we can coordinate boats and departure times.
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Dogs may be permitted on private charters with advance notice.
Please contact us before booking so we can discuss your dog and make sure the experience will be comfortable and safe for everyone aboard.
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Yes. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
During manatee season, holidays and school breaks, popular departure times can fill quickly. Because we intentionally limit our boats to six guests, booking ahead gives you the best selection.
Our website provides convenient online reservations and current availability
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Homosassa is located just south of Crystal River in Citrus County, Florida.
Many of our guests stay in Crystal River and make the short drive to our private docks in Homosassa for their manatee experience.
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Our Homosassa location is on Florida’s beautiful Nature Coast and is an easy day trip from many popular Florida destinations.
Travel times vary depending on traffic and your exact starting location. We’re approximately 1–2 hours from many popular Tampa Bay and Central Florida destinations, so we recommend checking current driving conditions and allowing plenty of time before your scheduled departure.
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Most guests traveling by air use Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport or Orlando International Airport.
The best airport will depend on the rest of your Florida vacation and where you plan to stay.
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Yes. Homosassa and nearby Crystal River offer numerous hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and restaurants.
Several waterfront dining options and accommodations are located close to our departure area. Visit our Food & Lodging page for recommendations.
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Yes. Many guests combine a morning manatee experience with another Nature Coast adventure later in the day.
Depending on availability, you may be able to combine your manatee tour with an airboat ride, Gulf of Mexico Dolphin Quest or another local experience.
Check departure times before booking or contact us for help planning your day.
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Florida weather can change quickly, and a chance of rain doesn’t necessarily mean your tour will be canceled.
We monitor local conditions and make decisions based primarily on guest safety and actual conditions on the water.
If we must cancel a tour because conditions are unsafe, we’ll contact affected guests and follow our current operator cancellation policy.
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Trip Protection provides additional flexibility if your plans change and also affects the benefits available under our No-Sighting Policy.
Because specific terms and deadlines are important, we strongly recommend reviewing the current Trip Protection terms during checkout before completing your reservation.
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Your reservation holds limited space on one of our shared or private boats.
Cancellation, rescheduling, credit and refund options vary depending on how far in advance changes are made and whether Trip Protection was purchased.
Please review our complete Reservation & Cancellation Policy before booking.
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For more than 26 years, we’ve had the privilege of introducing guests to Florida’s incredible manatees.
We specialize in small-group, passive and educational wildlife encounters with never more than six guests per boat. Our goal isn’t simply to put people in the water. We want our guests to understand manatees, appreciate their natural habitat and leave knowing why protecting these gentle giants matters.
Our tours depart from our private docks in Homosassa and welcome visitors exploring the entire Crystal River and Homosassa Springs manatee region.
Come live with the manatees for a few hours and leave knowing a little more about how we can protect them for generations to come.