Paddletail Waterfront Adventures: Swimming with the Manatees — Attraction in Crystal River

Ahoy there, landlubbers! Avast ye! Gather 'round as I spin ye a tale of the most rib-tickling, fin-flapping adventure I've ever had on the high seas... well, okay, maybe not the high seas, but the waters of Capt. Mike's Manatee Excursion!

From the moment I stepped aboard the good ship, I knew I was in for a treat. Capt. Tom and Ron greeted us with a smile that could charm the barnacles off a crusty pirate's beard. And let me tell ya, that's some serious charm!

As we set sail, the captain regaled us with stories of his encounters with manatees. Apparently, these gentle giants have a thing for belly rubs! I mean, who can blame 'em? If I had a belly that cute, I'd want it rubbed too!

Now, here's the punchline, folks: we were barely out of the harbor when a rogue seagull swooped down and snatched the captain's hat right off his noggin! The audacity! But Captain Tom, being the quick-witted pirate he is, shouted at the seagull, "Avast, ye feathered fiend! That be the latest fashion in bird's nests!" We all burst into laughter, and that crafty seagull had to make do with a seaweed wig instead.

As we approached the manatee zone, the excitement was palpable. We donned our snorkeling gear, ready to dive into the depths and frolic with these magnificent sea cows. But lo and behold, the captain warned us, "Beware the notorious 'Manatee Mafia'! They control these waters, and rumor has it they demand a tribute of belly rubs in exchange for safe passage." We all chuckled nervously, but with belly rubs in our hearts, we plunged into the water, prepared to negotiate with the underwater crime lords.

Well, shiver me timbers, those manatees were the friendliest bunch of mobsters I've ever met! They swam up to us, their eyes twinkling with mischief, as if to say, "Rub away, ye scurvy landlubbers! We be enjoyin' this as much as ye!" We spent hours rubbing their bellies, laughing, and imagining what their gangster names might be. Tony the Tusk? Al "Flippers" Capone? The possibilities were endless!

To wrap up our nautical escapade, Captain Tom and Ron treated us to a pirate-themed dance party on deck. Picture a bunch of sea-soaked sailors busting moves to "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" while wearing snorkels as improvised headgear. It was a sight to behold, and even the manatees joined in, swaying their rotund bodies to the rhythm.

All in all, Capt. Mike's Manatee Excursion was a whale of a time! With belly laughs, seagull wig mishaps, and manatee mafias, it was an adventure I won't soon forget. So, if you're in the mood for laughter, belly rubs, and a sprinkle of pirate magic, set sail with Capt. Mike. Just keep an eye out for those sneaky seagulls and their...

The Best Christmas Vacation – Manatee Swim Tour with Ross and Captain Steve Our Christmas vacation was made unforgettable by one incredible experience – the Manatee Swim Tour. This tour was truly the highlight of our trip, and it’s a memory we will cherish forever. Not that it will be our last time taking a tour with Waterfront Adventures. A huge part of what made it so special were our divemaster, Ross, and Captain Steve, who both went above and beyond to make our experience exceptional. From the start, Captain Steve made us feel comfortable and safe as he expertly navigated us to the perfect spot for our manatee encounter. His knowledge of the area and the wildlife was impressive. Once we arrived, Ross took over and guided us through the process of safely interacting with the manatees. His passion for marine life and respect for the animals were clear, and he ensured that we understood how to make the experience as magical and respectful as possible for the manatees. What happened next was pure magic: A curious and gentle manatee came right up to my daughter and wrapped its flippers around her. Others soon followed suit and included my husband and finally myself in manatee HUGS. It felt like a personal connection as this beautiful creature seemed to hug each of us for most of the tour. My family was in awe – the manatee would nuzzle up to us, gently resting its head against our backs, We glided alongside them as if we were friends. This intimate encounter was beyond anything we could have imagined and made the experience even more unforgettable. Ross was attentive and caring throughout, ensuring that we stayed safe, had the best possible view of the manatees, and fully enjoyed every moment. Their expertise and friendly guidance made the experience feel both fun and educational. The tour itself was well-organized, with top-notch equipment and a small group size that made it feel personal. We were able to fully enjoy the incredible underwater world around us and the peaceful presence of the manatees. We can’t wait to come back and swim with these magnificent creatures again, and we’ll definitely be booking with Ross and Captain Steve. This manatee swim tour was the true highlight of our Christmas vacation, and we’ll treasure the memories for years to come! I only wish we lived closer so we could come...

This is a really special experience and the team at Captain Mike's were great.

The process is well executed (check in, wet suit selection, video to watch) and we had a helpful in-water guide (Jared) who wanted to make sure we could see as many manatees as possible.

It was a busy day in the water with many (noisy, thoughtless) people and the tide was low so that impacted how many manatees were in the water.

We bought the gold tour - I am not sure what advantages that gave us but we loved that the boat was enclosed as it is a winter activity and be prepared to be really cold.

There were 6 of us on our tour, one couple were deliberately not listening to our captain and guide (diving down, using flippers, dismissing the warnings, and distracting our guide several times) so they tarnished this special experience for our tour group.

Take your own go-pro as the photos they take aren't great and they don't take video, so not worth purchasing.

A few minor things they could do to assist make this an even better experience: Take video (not just photos) of people with the manatees- we would have bought the photos or videos if we were in them as this was such a special experience for the 4 of use together.

Assign colored arm bands or a way to identify people in their group for photos and to make it easier for the in-water guide.

Have real hot water on the boat for the wonderful hot chocolate they serve you when you come out (as you really are freezing and it was luke warm at best).

Be more assertive with people who don't follow rules so it doesn't affect other guests.

Possibly have a screen in the shop to watch any photos or videos taken so that you didn't have to wait for other tour groups to watch their safety video before you could watch your photo?

We'd do it again but would choose a different time of year, would look at tides in advance, would take our own go-pro, would ask to go to the less crowded area because even at 7 am there were so many people who were noisy in the area.

Thank you so much for taking us to see these...