Kings Bay Sunset Cruise
Available on weekends, approximately 100 minutes
At just over an hour and a half, this guided tour gives you a special glimpse at Floridas unique wildlife, culminating in an evening sunset that you can enjoy out on the water. While you enjoy a memorable trip through the Nature Coasts most vibrant habitats, you also have the option to bring drinks and snacks aboard!
Welcome To Blue Heaven River Tours
. Best Boats, Best Prices, Best Captain’s!
See why we are #1 on TripAdvisor with all 5 Star Reviews!
Nothing Beats a Day on the Water with Family and Friends!
*We offer our Private Tours at less than some other companies Semi Private Tours! Scroll down for more info!
The best way to enjoy “Social Distancing ” is by being outside on the water and we have the Perfect Private Tours on the Perfect Boats! All of our boats are cleaned, disinfected and set up with plenty of space for family and friends! Don’t get stuck on some old beat up Rental Boat without a restroom when you can stay safe on a deluxe Pivate Tour for less! We attract researchers and have a passion for delivering the best Scallop Tours, Manatee Tours, Nature Tours, Sunset Tours and More for the Ultimate River Experience!
Our most popular tours for Spring & Summer! Spring & Summer tours available are Scallop Tours / Nature Tours / Fun in the Sun Tours / Manatee Tours / Sunset Tours and More! Scalloping Homosassa Florida! Season is open Book on line or call 352-322-3722 to ask about our Book by phone Savings
What Other Services Do You Offer
We are a full-service scuba diving training and sales facility and a Scubapro Platinum dealership, one of only 23 Platinum facilities in the Eastern US. Birds Underwater offers dive training at all levels! Bill Bird Oestreich is the only cave diving, Tri Mix, and Megalodon Re-breather diving instructor in Crystal River, FL, with over 25 years of technical diving, dive training, and dive exploration conducted in over 5 countries. Birds Underwater also rents kayaks and waterfront properties.
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Kind Words From Our Customers
We loved our afternoon with Greg and Fred! We saw lots of manatees and they were very helpful and knowledgeable. This was our second trip with this company and we highly recommend them. They took us to places away from the crowds and got us lunch when we were hungry. Definitely enjoyed the tour!
Rebecca P.
Our family had a wonderful time swimming among these gentle giants. Captain Greg was great! We appreciated that it was just our family of 4 on a spacious pontoon boat, as opposed to other tour companies that were crammed w/ 10-12 people.
Teresa & Trey
Cannot thank you enough for our tour today. Captain Fred Reed made a wonderful impression on our family. His respect for the manatees and other wildlife is inspiring. His love of the manatees and the water is obvious. My 12 year old daughter said she is glad that people like Captain Fred are there to protect the manatees. We will be back again for a winter trip.
J. Everett
Where Can I Stay During My Visit To Crystal River
Birds Underwater manages 2 waterfront rentals on the Homosassa and Halls River, in Homosassa Florida. These houses are just over 10 minutes from our shop and both houses have kayaks included! The unit on the Homosassa River is just around the corner from the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where manatees gather during winter months. The park is easy kayaking distance, and you may swim with the manatees in the designated areas. We also offer a free kayak rental from the dive shop on the Crystal River by request/reservation. Learn more about our rentals by . There are several hotels in the Crystal River area, but most are not located on the water. We always recommend the Best Western, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. The Hampton Inn usually offers a discount if you mention you are going out with Birds Underwater.
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Meet The Florida Manatee Test
Join us to embark on one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime.
Citrus County is revered as the manatee capital of the world, and swimming with manatees is a privilege that is uniquely ours. Get up close and personal with the Florida manatee on this three-hour, swimming with manatees tour in the federally protected waters of Floridas Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. This tour is offered daily, year-round, so book now for your chance to meet our gentle giants and take home memories that will last forever.
What Time Are Manatee Tours Offered
Birds Underwater offers public and private manatee tours daily, in Crystal River Florida. The early morning public manatee tour meets at 6am the majority of the year, and 6:30am for a few weeks in the spring and fall as daylight savings time approaches. The late morning public manatee tour meets daily at 11am. Private manatee tours meet daily at 7am and 11:30am. A 2:00 p.m. manatee tour in the cold winter months has turned out to be a time in which many people have left the water, rental boats are being returned, and manatees and moving back into the springs. All tours, except for the 2pm, can be booked online! We have the 2pm manatee tour as call to book, so we can discuss current tour conditions.
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The Best Crystal River Boat And Kayak Tours
Swim with marvelous creatures, paddle through mangroves and whizz over the swamps in an airboat on one of these top Crystal River boat tours.
The general Crystal River area is a great place for unique outdoor experiences without the huge crowds you might find elsewhere in Florida. There are plenty of great ways to experience the water, including from a boat, through to actually getting right in there and swimming. Youll share the space with other mammals, particularly the magnificent manatees. Here are five unique tour options.
Crystal River, Florida: 3-Hour Swim with Manatees
One of the things that makes Crystal River such a perfect place for clear water is that there are dozens of natural springs all around the area. This means water wells up from the ground and hasnt had time to be sullied by the pollution that humans always manage to add to our water supplies. This clear water is also essential to a number of endangered species, such as manatees, which flock to the area. This tour takes guests snorkeling around these creatures at Three Sisters Springs. From $68 per person.
Clear Kayak Tour of Crystal River
Swim with Manatees Tour from Orlando
Crystal River Small Group Swim with Manatee Tour
Orlando Manatee Encounter, Snorkeling, and Airboat Ride
Manatee Madness All Day Private Tour $899
“Glamma and Grand Pa absolutely enjoyed this Tour” 6.0 hours with lunch
8 am start times
Spend all day with the manatees. Our prices and amenities will exceed your expectations. Enjoy the manatees privately with lunch, snacks and all snorkeling equipment with your Captain.
8 AM arrival!!!
In this extraordinary interactive experience, participants will enjoy the manatees in the shallow water as well as the unique opportunity of Swimming with The Manatees all day!
Aided by snorkel, mask and wet suits that are included, there is no better way than this to truly experience the grace and power of the West Indian Manatee.
Your phenomenal six-hour private manatee encounter is proceeded by an educational presentation to prepare you for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Along the way you may see dolphins, American bald eagles and many more birds of prey.
We provide all snacks, beverages and lunch with your Captain . Snorkeling gear and wet suits are included.
This is a private manatee encounter with just you and your family. Only those that booked this trip of the day will be on the boats, except for the captain. Join us for a day in our life…. our way of life!
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Manatee Snorkel Tours / Diving At American Pro Diving Center
Manatee Tours
American Pro Diving Center offers guided Crystal River dive and snorkel Manatee tours for over 18 years in florida. Our snorkel with manatee tours are guided by in water professional divemasters and is just one of the reasons we received many awards from state and local educational systems as well as the National Geographic Dive Center Award from PADI and National Geographic. Experience manatee tours with all the comforts that a five star facility has to offer in Crystal River, Florida.
Offering 2 different locations.
Crystal River Manatee tour offers year round snorkel encounters with our gentile giants and if there are divers in the family there is something for everyone on this trip.
Homosassa Manatee tours offers a premium snorkel with less people, boats and boat traffic. These snorkel manatee tours are a must see in the winter. A perfect shallow location for a serene snorkel.
Snorkel with the Manatee success.
Our trips are successful because the dive masters educate on the manatee and the manners of being in their environment while on the manatee snorkel tours. The guides enter the water with you so that both you and the Manatees have a safe and enjoyable time even if you are new to snorkeling. This can be the experience of a lifetime on our Crystal River manatee snorkel.
What to do after your trip.
Discount Lodging.
Swim With Manatees On Our Most Popular Tours
Crystal River is the only place where you can legally swim with these amazing and gentle creatures right in their own natural habitat.
Airboat Adventure
Join Blown Away Airboats for an adventurous airboat ride into the Nature Coast backcountry. You will enjoy a blast from the thrilling past as we slide around our natural mangrove island coastline teeming with wildlife and with wind in our hair.
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Kings Bay Scenic Cruise From Crystal River
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Activity itinerary
- Admission ticket included
The scenic cruise is our one-hour dry tour of beautiful Kings Bay. You will cruise through the beautiful bay looking for wildlife while the captain points out the highlights of the area. During the cruise there is always the chance of seeing manatees, but it can never be guaranteed. These are wild animals in their natural habitat that come and go as they desire. Our tour boats are fully covered to protect you from the sun and rain. Besides manatees there is always a chance of seeing dolphins, otters, turtles, a variety of birds and fish. Every tour is unique!
- High-touch surfaces cleaned and disinfected
- Vehicles and venues cleaned with disinfectants
- Gear and equipment sanitized between use
Safety measures
Hey Bird Watchers And Wildlife Loversdon’t Miss Spotting The Wildlife Best Seen By Water On Our Sea Safari
There is so much to do in Crystal River. Manatees are the #1 attraction, however, AQUAVISION TOURS stands out as the only SEA SAFARI TOUR that encompasses all of what the area has to offer. Specializing in meeting your needs whether you are desiring a sightseeing, sunset, birdwatching, shell island trip or swimming with the manatee’s excursion, there is none more fun & accommodating than Captain Wayne.
Located at the mouth of Crystal River and only accessible by boat, Shell Island is an uninhabited location with tons of native history, shores made of shells, and a lot to experience and explore. There is none better to provide that rich history along with the necessities to make your visit to an uninhabited location feel so comfortable than Captain Wayne.
Don’t miss Florida’s hidden gem. A mouse is no match for a manatee!
Captain Wayne White
Enjoy a one of a kind manatee tour experience with Captain Wayne where you are guaranteed amazing encounters. All Photography with you and the manatees are upon request and shot from on board. Captain Wayne is an international photographer, member of the American Professional Captain’s Association and a Coast Guard Licensed Master . Make the decision to have a private manatee tour with the most fun, interactive and knowledgeable Captain in all of Crystal River.
The top manatee boat tour in Crystal River!
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What Manatee Tour Time Do You Recommend
We always recommend the early morning public and private tours for the best experience. Birds Underwater is usually the first manatee tour company off the dock in the morning, which means less people and allows for a more personal experience. The manatees tend to be located closer to the springs at this time and concentrated in higher numbers.
Crystal River Manatee Capital Of The World
One of the only places in Florida with a year-round manatee population!
Manatee season is November 15 March 31st every year, but we are able to swim with manatees daily year-round. We have our highest concentration of manatees in the winter months as the manatees seek refuge from the cold ocean waters, but in the summer months, we have a healthy resident population of animals that thrive in our bay. Manatee tourism is an excellent year-round attraction in Crystal River, FL, where no two tours are the same. Dont miss outbook your tour today!
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Where Do The Manatee Tours Go
There is often a lot of confusion about Crystal River, Kings Bay, and Three Sisters Springs. Kings Bay is located in Crystal River Florida, and is fed by over 30 fresh water springs. Kings Bay feeds Crystal River, which runs for approximately six miles before converging with the Gulf of Mexico. The river used to be crystal clear, but is no longer so, due to salt water intrusion. The springs that feed Kings Bay are where the pictures of the manatees in crystal clear water come from. The most well-known spring in the bay is Three Sisters Springs, and is a constant 72 degrees.
During the colder winter months manatees congregate around these springs in order to regulate body temperature. Our captains and guides are on the water every day, and are going to give you the best experience possible! We would love to have manatees in crystal clear water every day, but this isnt always the case. We take tide, air temp, crowds, water temp, and experience into consideration and try to choose the best location for manatee viewing. You are welcome to request to go to Three Sisters Springs, but understand we may want to take you to other locations first. We will always do our best to give you the best manatee experience possible!
How Much Do Manatee Tours Cost
Our public manatee tours start at $59.95 and go up to $65 for peak manatee season . Private manatee tours are $449 for a boat that holds up to six people, larger private manatee tours can be arranged for an additional $75 per person. We offer a 10% military/first responder discount and a 10% discount for groups of 10 or larger. You may find a few cheaper options out there, but we always recommend checking TripAdvisor before booking. We include wetsuit, mask, snorkel, drinks, and snacks.
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Crystal River Florida Manatee Tours
Family Adventure Charters specializes in boating and fishing charters for individuals, families and small or large groups of people. Our captains are USCG licensed, and excursions are in offshore cruiser, comfortable pontoon boat or large multi-passenger tour boat. Most charters are offered year round. Manatee charters are best during the winter months, and scalloping trips are limited to the July thru Sept season.
At Family Adventure Charters we strive to be the best. Our mission is to give our customers the best experience possible when you walk though our doors. We might not be the biggest, but we are the best. When booking a tour all ages are welcomed on the boat. We do not put over 6 people on a boat this is to help keep things a little more personal for everyone without overcrowding. If your party is larger than 6 we will take out an additional boat at no extra cost, all the boats will leave together and stay together the whole time you are on the trip.
We provide bottle water and hot chocolate for everyone on the boat. We also have blankets on the boats when the weather is cold to help keep everyone warm in the colder months. We provide private tour groups for a fee of $390.00. You can have up to 6 people in your group or just 2 people. The cost for each person on the boat is $65.00 per person which covers all the equipment you will need for a swim tour that is 3 hours long where you get the chance to swim and touch the manatees with one hand only.
Explore In Confidence With Explorida As Your Guide
Manatees are a federally protected species here is what you should know
There are lots of rules and regulations that come along with swimming with manatees, and for good reason. Our manatees are wild animals and we want to keep them that way. That said, taking a guided swim tour on a boat with a professional company will ensure that youll have a memorable and safe manatee tour. By thoroughly covering all rules and regulations, helping you to understand the animals behavior, and providing an in-water swim guide, we ensure that all interactions are respectful to our manatees while giving you the best experience possible. Not to mention, its easy! Be our guest and let us take care of the rest!
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