Salty Siren Tours - Swim With Manatees — Attraction in Crystal River

My family & I (3 of us) booked a private tour here through the company. We chose the morning private tour since the manatees are more active at that time and the area is less crowded than during the afternoon. We showed up around 7:45 am, signed a safety waiver which is standard and basically agreeing you won’t hurt yourself or the manatees by not following simple directions, watched a safety video, listened to captain Kim give an educational speech all about manatees which was very fun and interesting, changed into our wetsuits, then got into the company van to head out to the water.

On the water we had Captain Ed in command of the boat and our swim guide was Michelle. They were both very nice and knowledgeable about the area and the manatees morning routine. We got into the water and were able to see so many manatees over our 2+ hour tour. On the boat you will be given a face mask with snorkel and a noodle floaty to help you balance while observing the manatees. Captain Ed even has a drone he will use when you’re in the water to take aerial photos and Michelle had an underwater GoPro to take photos of you up close with the manatees. I was nervous at first about the January weather and water temperature, but the water was perfect even for winter and the wetsuit was comfortable. There is also a small bathroom on the boat, but it is advised to try and go before you change into your wetsuit since it is difficult to take off and put back on once wet.

After our swim, Captain Ed offered us coffee or hot chocolate for the boat ride back and upon returning we got to view a little slide show of the drone and GoPro footage. It was such a fun and memorable experience which I would totally do again.

Captain Ed and Captain Kim are the owners and are extremely professional and passionate about manatees and what they do. I’d recommend salty sirens to anyone who is looking for a fun and memorable experience of swimming with...

Swimming with manatees has been my dream my whole life. I selected Salty Sirens after thorough research and I can’t express how beautifully they fulfilled my dream. Our group had guide Tyler and captain Moe. Tyler was so fun, laid back and very knowledgeable about these wonderful creatures. I loved how he admitted that as a Crystal River native, he didn’t “get” manatees until he dived with them and cried at what he was missing out on. That is how this team leads — with their heart! Their tour wasn’t just about the human experience of snorkeling, but very adamant about protecting the environment and agency of the manatees themselves. I learned new things about them, and I considered myself quite the expert about these beautiful babies! The boat is heated (thank god) and we got offered free hot chocolate or coffee to warm up after swimming in 72 degree water. Our group was so lucky. We were able to enter the springs where there were at least 30 manatees around. I watched a baby nurse from its mom. I watched a manatee float up for air a couple feet from my face. I looked right into their eyes. I was so positively overwhelmed from the tour that when I got back in the car after I just cried and cried. I was so happy. I also enjoyed a really great conversation with Kim, the owner of Salty Sirens, in the store afterwards. She was choked up telling me about how she assisted in rescuing a manatee and was part of the team delivering him back into the water after rehab. I mean, how could you not want to support a small business that goes way beyond eco-tourism? This team is truly in love with manatees. They prioritize the animals, which I appreciate. I’m so so so happy I went with Salty Siren. Thank you thank you thank you. I’m already trying to rally a group to do this again...

I live in Crystal River, I am a manatee rescue / release volunteer, and I’ve spent many of my spare hours on the water observing the manatees and (by association) the tour companies. Salty Sirens is my favorite - due to their small group size, added amenities (e.g., heated boat), and status as a small local family-owned/operated business.

Kim, Ed, and the rest of the Salty Sirens crew are very friendly and care about our local wildlife. While the company just celebrated one year of business, the owners have well over a decade of manatee tour experiences - deciding to start their own business doing what they love while creating smaller tours (which is better for both tour groups and manatees!) with added amenities.

I had the pleasure of taking a tour with them today. They only take 6 people per tour (in contrast to 10+ with most companies), so every tour is semi-private; there was just one family of 4 on my tour. The boat had both an open-air portion for enjoying the sun on the way to the manatees and a heated interior for staying warm after being in the water. They also have an on-board bathroom, as well as hot chocolate / coffee. And they provide the mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and floatation device you need to have a fabulous manatee experience. The guides are wonderful and take great photos on each trip. We saw numerous manatees, tarpon, other fish, and birds. Overall, Salty Sirens is a fantastic local company and is the obvious choice for the best experience swimming with manatees in my hometown of...