Booking choice: The 3-hour Fun 2 Dive manatee swim, from $76 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Dozens of licensed operators run manatee tours out of Crystal River, a small town on Florida's Gulf Coast. They all work the same water, Kings Bay and its springs inside the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, under a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge itself runs no tours.
The differences are in the boat, the group size and the extras. Here is what each tour on this site costs in 2026, what you get for the money, and which one we would book for which kind of trip.
The quick answer
A shared three-hour swim costs from $76 per person on Viator in 2026, with the wetsuit, mask and snorkel included. The Fun 2 Dive swim and the River Ventures tour both start at $76. Small groups of six run $79 to $95, a private boat for up to six costs $500 per group, and the viewing cruise is $51 if you would rather stay dry. Tips are extra on all of them.
How much does it cost to swim with manatees in Crystal River?
From $76 per person for a shared three-hour swim, up to $95 for a six-guest boat with photos, or $500 for a private boat.
Prices are per adult on Viator, scraped in November 2026. Every swim tour here includes the wetsuit, mask and snorkel. The real difference is how many people share the boat and whether the photos are in the price.
| Tour | Type | Length | From | Group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Fun 2 Dive swim | Swim | 3 hours | $76 | Up to 12 |
| The River Ventures OG tour | Swim | 3 hours | $76 | Up to 10 |
| The Gulf Coast Expeditions snorkel | Swim | 3 hours | $79 | Up to 6 |
| The Salty Siren heated boat | Swim | 3 hours | $90 | Up to 6 |
| The Go Local swim with photos | Swim | 3 hours | $95 | Up to 6 |
| The private swim | Swim | 3 hours | $500 per group | Your group, up to 6 |
| The clear kayak tour | Paddle | 2 hours | $89 | Up to 10 |
| The viewing cruise | Boat only | 1.5 hours | $51 | Minimum 3 per boat |
| The Orlando day trip | Swim and park | 8.5 hours | $169 | Up to 10 |
Want the most booked swim in town? The Fun 2 Dive tour includes the wetsuit, an in-water guide and parking at the shop.
Check dates for the 3-hour Fun 2 Dive manatee swimWhat is included in a manatee swim tour?
The boat ride, a licensed captain, an in-water guide, and the mask, snorkel and wetsuit. Swimsuit, towel and tips are on you.
- The briefing: every operator shows a short safety and etiquette video before you board. River Ventures plays it in English, French, German, Spanish or Japanese.
- The wetsuit: included on every swim. River Ventures hands out full-length suits in sizes from toddlers to 5X.
- Hot drinks: coffee or tea on River Ventures and Salty Siren, hot cocoa on Gulf Coast Expeditions.
- Parking: included at the Fun 2 Dive shop on NE 3rd Street. Go Local meets at Pete's Pier, where the marina charges $10.
Cassandra, on the Fun 2 Dive tour in September 2026, had the best packing tip: "Wear your bathing suit under your clothes, no need to have a towel until after the excursion."
Which Crystal River manatee tour is best?
For most people, a shared swim from the big two at the lowest price. Pay more for a six-guest boat if you want space, photos included or a heated cabin.
Our picks, by trip:
- A first swim on a budget: Fun 2 Dive, rated 4.9 from 3,104 reviews. Kim, October 2026, said the crew "took us right to where the manatees were".
- Photos without the upsell: Go Local, six guests at most and the photo and video package already paid for.
- A cold January morning: Salty Siren, with an enclosed, heated pontoon.
- A family that wants the boat to itself: the private swim, $500 for up to six.
- Staying dry: the viewing cruise from the deck, and the clear kayak tour at water level.
Are photos included on manatee tours?
On some. Go Local, the private swim and the clear kayak tour include them. Fun 2 Dive, River Ventures and Gulf Coast Expeditions sell them after the tour.
Underwater photos are hard to take yourself. The water moves, your mask fogs, and the manatee turns away at the wrong moment. The in-water guides know the angles and carry proper housings. If the photos matter to you, a tour with the package in the price often ends up cheaper than adding it later.
Melanie, on the Go Local swim in September 2026, said the guide's pictures "were excellent and many will be framed in our homes".
Want the photo and video package without paying extra? The Go Local swim includes it, with six guests at most.
Explore the small-group swim with photosHow long are you in the water on a manatee tour?
Usually 45 minutes to an hour of the three hours, depending on where the manatees are and how cold you get.
The rest is check-in, the video, suiting up and the boat ride. In winter the guides often find manatees within minutes. In summer the captain may cruise the bay for a while before anyone gets in. Guests on a River Ventures tour in October 2026 were told to expect a search, and one wrote that you might "maybe find one or two".
You float at the surface the whole time. Nobody dives, and the wetsuit holds you up.
What extras should you budget for?
Tips, parking at some meeting points and any photo package. Budget 15 to 20 percent of the tour price for the crew.
- Tips: Salty Siren lists 15 to 20 percent for the captain and crew as standard, and that is the norm across town.
- Parking: $10 at Pete's Pier for Go Local. The clear kayak tour leaves the Kings Bay Park parking fee to you.
- Photos: sold after the tour on Fun 2 Dive, River Ventures and Gulf Coast Expeditions.
- Wetsuit hire: only on the day trip from Orlando, which lists wetsuits as hired separately.
- Towel and sunglasses: bring your own on every tour.
Rather have one price with the photos in it? The private swim covers up to six with an in-water guide and photos included.
Check dates for the private manatee swimSmall group, private or a bigger boat?
A bigger boat of 10 or 12 is the cheapest and works fine. Six guests or a private boat gives you more time near each manatee.
On a busy winter morning a dozen swimmers around one manatee is a crowd, and the guide splits attention. With six it feels calm. Meredith, on Go Local in August 2026, wrote: "We were fortunate enough to be the only two on our tour." That happens in the quiet months, not in January.
The private boat costs $500 for up to six, about $83 each for a full group. That is close to the small-group rates and the boat is yours. One December 2025 guest found the operator had moved and the old address was still on the confirmation. Check the meeting point (403 NE 2nd St on Viator) and save the phone number.
When should you book a manatee tour?
Two to three weeks ahead for a winter weekend or a holiday; a few days ahead the rest of the year. Morning slots go first.
Mid-December to February is busy, and the January festival weekend fills the town. Every tour on this site cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before, so book the morning you want and change it if the weather turns. Captains also reschedule when wind makes the bay rough. For the months, see the best time guide; for getting there, the Orlando and Tampa guide.
Want an early winter slot? River Ventures has run Kings Bay swims for years, with a full-length wetsuit and hot drinks on board.
Explore the River Ventures snorkel tourFrequently asked questions
How much is it to swim with manatees in Crystal River?
From $76 per person for a shared three-hour tour on Viator in 2026, with the wetsuit and snorkel gear included. Tips are extra.
Is a private manatee tour worth it?
For a group of four to six, yes. It costs $500 per group, close to the small-group price per head, and the boat is yours.
Do manatee tours include wetsuits?
Yes. Every swim tour on this site includes the wetsuit, mask and snorkel. Only the Orlando day trip hires wetsuits separately.
How much should you tip on a manatee tour?
Plan on 15 to 20 percent of the tour price for the captain and in-water guide, which Salty Siren lists as standard.
Ready to book
Choose your manatee tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
3-Hour Manatee Swim Tour with In-Water Guide
- About three hours from the Fun 2 Dive shop on NE 3rd Street
- Mask, snorkel and wetsuit, plus an in-water guide and photographer
- Small groups of no more than 12 on the boat
Small-Group Manatee Swim with Photo & Video Package
- About three hours from the gift shop at Pete's Pier Marina
- Six guests at most on the boat
- Wetsuit, mask, snorkel, defog and bottled water
The 'OG' Manatee Snorkel Tour by River Ventures
- About three hours from the River Ventures education centre on Kings Bay
- Mask, snorkel and a full-length wetsuit
- In-water guide and photographer, USCG master captain
