Swimming With Manatees in Florida

Over 400 manatees migrate to the warm, shallow waters of Crystal River during the winter months. They escape the cold ocean waters of the ocean and retreat to this little oasis. It is possible to snorkel with these wild animals. But if you go, please be respectful while visiting their habitat. Here’s everything you need to know about swimming with the manatees in Florida!

There are many tour operators to chose from but we decided to book a private houseboat tour with River Ventures. You can also rent kayaks but we wanted to snorkel and get up close and personal with these beautiful, gentle giants.

Book the earliest tour possible!

Going early will:

Avoid crowds
Provide increased water visibility
Manatees are more active (and therefore more playful!) in the morning

If you can, go as early as possible!

Manatees are most active in the early morning. And as an added bonus, there will be less people around. Therefore, the water will have greater visibility because people won’t have kicked up the sand yet.

Crystal River is 1 hour & 45 minutes from the Tampa airport.

Depending where you are coming from, you may want to drive in the night before so you can do the early tour at 6:30am. The earlier the better!

Tampa is the closest airport so if you’re flying in, you can rent a car at the airport then head to Crystal River.

There are a number of great hotels in the area like this one.

These are wild animals, you are a guest in their home!

Programs like this only work if people respect the rules. You are a guest in the manatees home and under no circumstances should you harass or bother them.

I feel conflicted even sharing tours like this on my blog sometimes. Because on one hand, if people see manatees in person and fall in love with them, they are more likely to help protect them. (Go donate!!) But also, you may get ignorant tourists who heckle the manatees for selfies etc.

So please be respectful and just calmly observe these magnificent creatures.

Never try to grab, poke or bother the manatees in any way!

If you are quiet and still, they might come check you out. So stay quiet and calm.

It’s up to the manatees to initiate contact. However they can be pretty playful!

Adopt one of these loveable sea giants through Adopt A Manatee to ensure their protection.

Your Support Will:

Fund manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and research efforts in the U.S. and the Wider Caribbean
Support manatee education and public awareness projects
Protect manatees and their habitat through advocacy and legal action

You can also become a grass roots activist for manatees and join volunteer efforts to help protect them!

(And check out their Instagram here!)