The Best Place To Swim With Manatees in Florida

I was minding my own business, quietly watching a manatee mom and calf resting near a spring when I got hit from behind by a juvenile manatee! If you ever want an incredible experience, you should definitely swim with manatees.

While I was snorkeling around looking for manatees, near the center of the spring, a young manatee circled and lifted my hand at least 5 times before I realize he wanted a back scratch!

I was worried because touching a manatee is illegal! I didn’t want someone to think I was harassing a manatee (besides federal law, manatees are fiercely protected by locals across Florida). Luckily, a local was kayaking near me and said “There is a playful young manatee in the area”. Apparently, you can touch them ONLY if they approach you!

This young manatee played with me for almost two hours! It was beyond amazing; I will never forget this day.

I have been kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling with manatees for years. You don’t need a manatee to bump into you to have an unforgettable experience. Spending time observing these animals in their natural environment is a thrilling adventure.

Article Outline

1. Where is Crystal River, Florida?

2. Why Swim with Manatees in Crystal River, Florida?

3. Recommended Crystal River Eco-Tour Operators & Kayak Rentals.

4. What You Can Expect Swimming with Manatees on an Eco-Tour.

5. Where to Stay, Eat, and Other “Not to Miss” Area Attractions.

6. Nine Ways to Spot a Manatee.

7. Six Important Tips You Need to Know When Swimming with Manatees in FL.

8. What to Bring When You Swim with Manatees in Florida.

9. Twelve Florida Manatee Facts You Don’t Know!

10. A Few Last Thoughts.

Where is Crystal River Florida?

Crystal River is a small town, with an “old Florida” vibe on Florida’s west central coast, about 90 miles north of Tampa and 70 miles northwest of Orlando.

Located in Citrus County, it is known for Kings Bay, a large body of water fed by over 40 freshwater springs. These springs keep the water at a constant 72 degrees year-round, making Crystal River a popular spot for manatees, especially in the winter.

The area is part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, established to protect manatees and their habitat. It is one of the only places in Florida where you can legally swim with these endangered animals.

Why Swim with Manatees in Crystal River?

Kings Bay attracts hundreds of manatees each winter, making Crystal River a prime location for visitors to see and swim/snorkel alongside these endangered mammals. The water’s year-round temperature of 72° (I wear a five-mil wetsuit) and clear water make for a fantastic interactive experience.

During Florida’s coldest winter weeks, over 1,000 manatees gather here. Most importantly, since 1983, eco-tours are regulated to protect manatees making Crystal River a safe wildlife destination.

Swimming and snorkeling are the best ways to interact with these spectacular animals. Scuba diving is not recommended because the air bubbles will scare away the manatee and they will leave the area.

Recommended Crystal River Eco-Tour Operators & Kayak Rentals

Crystal River Water Sports, their slogan is “kindness, curiosity, and conservation are at the heart of everything we do”. This company is heavily involved with the Save the Manatee Guardian Guide program. They offer many different types of packages and are worth checking out!

Fun 2 Dive offers a semi-private manatee swim with no more than 6 people on a boat.

Birds Underwater is one of the oldest operating shops in Crystal River. They are in a convenient location and offer free Kings Bay maps and advice.  A great choice, especially if you want to search for manatees on your own, instead of being on a tour.

Hunter Springs Park offers a great option for those who prefer a self-guided experience over a manatee eco-tour. This park has a kayak launch and is popular for winter manatee sightings. Bring your snorkel gear, pack a lunch & enjoy a full day at Kings Bay. Call Pete’s Pier Marina to check for water clarity (you can also feed tarpon fish off the pier). Rent a kayak from Birds Underwater or at Plantation Adventure Center.

Where to Stay

Crystal River is a small town with limited hotel options. Usually, I stay at Air B&B’s in this area, but there are a few hotel options.

Air B&B, click on map view to look at available options around the the Crystal River and Homosassa area (about 15 minutes south of Crystal River).

Plantation at Crystal River is one of the most popular and affordable places to stay in Crystal River and they have a manatee eco-tour operation on site.

Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express Crystal River are popular and affordable choices.  

There are many camping (both RV and tent) options in this area. Check the Florida State Park website for details. Some state parks have cabins available for rent too.  

What You Can Expect Swimming with Manatees on an Eco Tour.

Swimming with manatees in Crystal River is as close as you get to hanging out with wildlife in their natural habitat. Most tours kick off early when manatees are up and about, for the best viewing experience. After a quick boat ride to Kings Bay or one of the nearby springs, you’re handed snorkeling gear and a few pointers on how to respect their space.

The water is often clear, so you’ll usually spot manatees gliding around just beneath the surface. Sometimes, a curious manatee might come right up to check you out. Despite their size, manatees are mellow, just cruising along like giant potatoes in the water. Some will be resting at the bottom, surfacing for a breath every few minutes.

Tour guides will remind you to keep it passive—no touching or chasing because these animals are protected. It’s all about hanging back and observing them around you. Besides manatees, there’s a good chance you’ll see fish, turtles, and birds. It’s very unlikely you will see an alligator or snake.

These tours typically last 2-3 hours and they’re unforgettable, whether or not a manatee bumps into you.

Area Attractions That Are Worth A Visit.

Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

A hike to Three Sisters Springs is worth a visit. The boardwalks and observation areas give you an amazing view of the crystal-clear water and surrounding wildlife. It’s an ideal spot for taking pictures or just enjoying a peaceful moment. During manatee season, you can see them hanging out in the springs from the shore.

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

This is my favorite state park! A 15-minute drive from Crystal River, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is an incredible spot to see Florida’s native wildlife up close. This park is home to injured FL animals that can’t survive in the wild on their own, like manatees, black bears, alligators, and even a hippo named Lu, who’s been a resident for decades!

Kayaking the Weeki Wachee River, Weeki Wachee FL

You can rent a kayak from the local outfitters located next to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Parking is in the same area as the state park, but the kayak rental is in a different location, down a dirt road south of the state park entrance. Reservations are recommended, especially in peak season, as the river is popular, and access is limited. Once you have your kayak, you’ll launch at the state park and follow the current downstream, making for a relaxing, beginner-friendly ride. Along the way, you’ll pass through aqua-blue crystal-clear waters, surrounded by cypress trees, palms, and a variety of wildlife including manatees in the winter months. The trip typically takes around two to three hours, and shuttle services bring you back to where your car is parked at the end of the trip.

Devils Den Scuba Diving or Snorkeling, Williston FL

45 minutes northeast of Crystal River but this pre-historic cavern is worth the trip. Diving or Snorkeling at Devil’s Den allows you to scuba back 11,000 years to the Florida Ice Age. It’s worth the trip! There is a dive shop on site so you can rent any gear you need, including flashlights (if you want to look for small fossils in the cavern walls, wetsuits, and cameras)

Fossils of ice age animals including mastodons and saber tooth cats, found in Devil’s Den Spring, are in the Natural History Museum in Gainesville. American Indians frequented the spring around 7,500 years ago. Today, you can explore Devil’s Den by diving into its mushroom-shaped cavern. This is my favorite spring in Florida because of the look and feel of the underground cavern.

Six Important Tips You Need to Know When Swimming with Manatees in FL.

Manatees can be found in Florida Springs when the weather gets cold (the colder the better), from December to February.

Weekdays are better than weekends to spot a manatee when it’s less crowded.

Manatees are an endangered species protected by federal law, and fiercely protected by the locals!

Give manatees plenty of space, and never chase, harass, or feed them. They are wild animals and not there for anyone’s entertainment.

You are never allowed to chase or touch a manatee. However sometimes, in my experience, the manatee approaches you.

You don’t need to touch a manatee to have a thrilling manatee snorkeling experience. Honestly just swimming near one is a “bucket list” adventure.

What To Bring When You Go Swimming with Manatees.

1. Swimsuit & a change of clothes.

2. Mask, snorkel, and fins — or water shoes. These are provided by the local tour companies. However, if you own a good-quality mask and snorkel, I recommend bringing them. It’s a comfortable and enjoyable experience knowing you have a mask that fits your face properly. Remember to bring mask defog (I like the spit brand) if you are going out on your own to search for manatees to swim with.

3. A wetsuit, if you don’t like cold water. I hate the cold, but I forgot my wetsuit and was fine. I was too excited by the manatees to care. The water is always 72 degrees in the springs. You can rent wetsuits from any scuba dive shop in the area. I recommend a 5-Mil if you are cold-sensitive, or a 3-Mil if you like cooler water temperatures. I normally wear a 5-Mil wetsuit when I go scuba diving in any Florida spring.

4. Anti-fog gel for the snorkel mask. My favorite is Spit Gel and you can get it on Amazon.

5. Bonine if you get motion sick, my husband gets motion sick on a kayak. If you are prone to motion sickness, start taking Bonine 3 nights before your trip (to pre-load your system) and again the morning of your trip.

6. Snacks or lunch & a water bottle

7. GoPro or a waterproof phone for photos and videos

8. A kayak, if you want to search for manatees on your own instead of booking through a tour company.

9. Drybag or dry box for wallets, phones, and car keys.

Twelve Manatee Facts You Don’t Know!

1. Unlike our eyelids – manatee eyelids are circular and open and close like a camera lens.

2. Manatees like drinking fresh water from hoses. In the FL Keys, you can find them hanging around boat docks hoping for a drink!

3. Just like kids, manatees body surf in the waves for fun!

4. They are so slow that algae and barnacles attach and grow on their backs.

5. They sleep upside down, for up to 12 hours a day!

6. Manatees can live up to 40 years old in the wild.

7. They eat a 10^th of their body weight in seagrass every day. This is where their “Sea Cow” nickname comes from.

8. They replace their teeth throughout their entire life.

9. They reproduce every 2-5 years and nurse their young from a nipple found in their “arm-pit”, where their front flipper meets their body. 

10. Florida manatees are descended from dugongs, which have forked tails like a dolphin. Dugongs still live in the Indian Ocean.

11. Even the Amazon River has manatees, but little is known about this species.

12. There is also a crazy tale floating around that Christopher Columbus mistook manatees for mermaids because of their tails – truth or urban legend? You decide.

A Few Last Thoughts.

Swimming and snorkeling with manatees in Florida is an unforgettable bucket-list experience. Crystal River, especially Kings Bay, draws hundreds of manatees during winter. Here, you can legally swim with endangered animals. Homosassa, Florida, offers a fantastic spot to swim and snorkel with manatees away from the tourist crowds for a quieter encounter.

If you prefer an independent adventure, you can rent a kayak and search for manatees rather than joining an eco-tour. Kayaking allows you to explore the area at your own pace while respecting the manatees’ space. However, eco-tours from operators like Crystal River Water Sports and Fun 2 Dive are great options for those who want a structured manatee encounter and valuable conservation insights.

Want a sneak peek at what to expect? You can check out videos from my manatee adventures on Instagram and TikTok under @reesehwanderwild or #reesehwandwild.

If you’re looking for more Florida wildlife encounters, consider a shark snorkel or even a trip to Venice, FL, to hunt for shark teeth.

Each encounter with Florida’s wildlife, especially with endangered animals like the manatee, helps spread awareness of the need to protect these species. So, pack your snorkel, wetsuit, and GoPro—swimming with Florida’s manatees is an experience you’ll remember forever.