How to Swim with Manatees in Crystal River Without a Tour

Crystal River, Florida, is one of the few places in the world where you can get up close and personal with gentle manatees, and the best part is that you don’t need a tour to do it!

Swimming with manatees without a tour allows you to enjoy these magical creatures at your own pace, avoid crowds, and even save a bit of money along the way.

During my trip to Crystal River, I discovered that with just a little preparation, we could have a fantastic manatee encounter in complete freedom.

Here’s everything you need to know to go swimming with manatees without a tour!

Can you swim with manatees without a tour?

Yes! In fact, during my trip to Crystal River I realized that swimming with manatees without a tour is the best way to explore the area!

During the colder months, the manatees like to hang out by the river springs. That’s where all the tours go, but what no one tells you is that all of these springs are easily accessible by kayak, paddleboard, or canoe.

If you rent or bring your own paddle craft, you can reach the same areas for free and without time constraints.

Pro tip: On a tight budget and don’t want to rent a paddle craft? You might get lucky and swim with manatees in the little beach at Hunter Springs Park. During my visit, there were two manatees hanging out there!

How to swim with manatees in Crystal River without a tour?

Swimming with manatees in Crystal River is pretty straightforward!

Here are the three easy steps to safely explore the area.

Step 0: Familiarize yourself with the local regulations

For your personal safety and manatee preservation, Crystal River has lots of strictly enforced rules.

To be safe and possibly avoid a very hefty fee, make sure to access park resources to familiarize yourself with “manatee manners” regarding:

• Paddling: signs indicating area closure, general etiquette, gear requirements, and more.
• Swimming with manatees: general rules such as not touching, not chasing, not diving, and not disturbing the manatees.

Step 1: Bring or rent gear

There are multiple gear rental shops in Crystal River, and all the necessary safety equipment is usually included when renting a kayak, paddle board, or canoe.

Kayak rentals typically run at $50 to $80 depending on the shop or the length of the rental. If you’re planning to rent a kayak, I highly recommend a local shop named Manatee Paddle.

Other gear I recommend bringing include:

• Tempered glass snorkel set: I like to bring my own snorkel set for both hygiene and comfort
• Underwater camera or waterproof phone pouch: underwater pictures of manatees are the best! If you’re on a budget and can’t afford an action camera, a cheap waterproof phone pouch will do the job.
• Wetsuits: Oftentimes wetsuits are not included with a paddle craft rental. Wearing a wetsuit isn’t required in Crystal River’s 68°F (20°C) water, but if you plan to spend a long time swimming, I recommend renting or buying your own 3 to 5mm wetsuit.
• Quick-dry microfiber towel: Lightweight and easy to pack towels that will help you dry and warm up after a swim
• Dry bag: I learned the importance of bringing a dry bag to river trips after having a canoe accident where I lost my phone, kindle, and lots of other things.
• Dry change of clothes: Getting out of the water in the winter months can be very uncomfortable! At a minimum, having something like a warm sweater that you’re able to change into can make all the difference.

If you’re skipping the paddle craft rental by bringing your own, you’ll have to pay a $5 launch fee and pack the required safety items:

• U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (for each person)
• Sound producing device (like a whistle)
• Diver down flag (You must clearly display a diver down flag when in the water. If you just plan to kayak to see manatees without swimming, a diver down flag is not necessary)

Step 2: Get in the water and paddle to the river springs

You can enter the water with your paddle craft at either Kings Bay Park or Hunter Springs Park.

Fun fact: Hunter Springs has an easily accessible beach where you may be able to swim with manatees for free if they’re around!

Both parks have parking, which costs $5 for the whole day, and a dock which can be used for an additional $5 launch fee.

From there, you can paddle to your spring of choice!

The water is usually very calm and there is no current, so getting to whatever spring you choose should be no more than a relaxing 30 minute journey from Kings Bay Park or Hunter Springs Park.

A famous spring often filled with manatees is Three Sisters Springs, and that’s where the tour companies often head to.

Important to note: If you want to kayak or swim in Three Sisters Springs, you have to start your journey from Kings Bay Park or Hunter Springs Park. Though you’ll find lots of land infrastructure in the Three Sisters Springs area, there is no way to enter the water from there.

If you want to avoid the crowds, Jurassic Springs is another good option to explore.

Oftentimes, the area surrounding the manatees’ favorite springs closes and becomes “manatee sanctuaries” when the temperatures drop.

If that happens during your visit, there is no need to worry because you’ll still come by lots of manatees by paddling or swimming just outside the closed area!

During my visit in mid-December, Three Sisters Springs was closed and there were still dozens of manatees laying and swimming outside the closed area.

Step 3: Park your paddle craft and get in the water

If you want to swim with manatees, all you need to do is securely park your paddle craft in the designated area and jump in!

Those parking areas are typically very shallow, so getting in and out of your paddle craft should not be too challenging.

Tips for swimming with manatees without a tour

A. Get a free map from a park ranger: I saw park rangers parked in both Kings Bay Park and Hunter Springs Park. They were beyond helpful when I asked for information and also provided me with a map that really helped us navigate the area (plus it had tons of fun facts about manatees!)

B. Go very early or stay until very late: Crystal River, and particularly Three Sister Springs, are famous destinations that loads of tourists head to. If you want to beat the crowds, the only way is to arrive before (or leave after) everyone else!

C. Look around for the best underwater visibility: visibility in Crystal River changes a lot in just a few feet, with the clearest water being near the river springs. The difference is like night and day, and at the clearest areas, it felt like the snorkeling mecca of Bonito in Brazil!

D. Do not pre-pay for more than the base rental: you don’t know how long you’ll want to be out in the water, maybe you’ll get cold, tired, or hungry. I only pay for the first hour, let the rental shop know that I may take much longer, and pay for the additional hours when returning the kayak.

E. Bring water and snacks: swimming always makes me very hungry, and having chips and cookies handy gave me the energy boost I needed for paddling back to Hunter Springs!

What are the benefits of swimming with manatees without a tour?

We were afraid we’d skipping a tour, but we found that swimming with manatees without a tour is actually much better!

For us, the top benefits were:

I. Lower cost: the tour would have costed us about $120 for the two of us, but renting a 2-person kayak only costed $60!

III. Flexibility: it was amazing to have the flexibility to explore the area’s different springs in our own schedule! The tours usually only take visitors to one spot, while we got to go wherever we wanted.

IV. More fun: riding a kayak by itself is a fun experience, and we really enjoyed being able to see the manatees while kayaking around!

Kayaking & Swimming with Manatees FAQ

Where to swim with manatees in Crystal River?

The best areas to swim with manatees in Crystal River is around Three Sisters Springs, where dozens of manatees hang out.

Another good but not as well-known spot for swimming with manatees is Jurassic Springs.

When to swim with manatees in Florida?

The best time to swim with manatees in Florida is during the colder months, usually from November through March, when manatees seek out the warmer waters of rivers and natural springs.

Visiting during this period increases your chances of seeing large groups of manatees, as they group near the river springs to stay warm.

There are some resident manatees in the Crystal River area that swim there year-round. However, outside of the winter months, these manatees are more dispersed, which makes sightings much less predictable.

If you are visiting in the winter and prefer fewer crowds, try going early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when most tours have not yet arrived or are leaving.

How much does it cost to see manatees in crystal river?

The coat of seeing and swimming with manatees in Crystal River varies from free to about $80 depending on how you plan to do it.

You might be lucky and spot manatees for free at a beach at Hunter Springs Park.

If you bring your own paddle craft to Kings Bay Park or Hunter Springs Park and all necessary safety items you’ll only need to pay a $5 launch fee.

If you want to rent a paddle craft and head to the springs where manatees often congregate, expect to pay between $50 to $80.

Guided tours by motor boat cost to about $60 to $80 per person.

What to wear for swimming with manatees?

If you’re on a budget, a swimsuit will suffice though a wetsuit can make the swim a lot more comfortable.

I highly recommend buying or renting a 3-4mm wetsuit to be able to stay warm for more than 20 minutes while swimming in Crystal River’s 68°F/20°C water.

My pro tip is to also bring a dry and warm sweater to change into once you get out of the water.

Where to rent a kayak for seeing manatees?

There are lots of shops near Kings Bay Park or Hunter Springs Park.

I rented my kayak with Manatee Paddle, and the experience was flawless!

Other well-rated local rental shops include Paddles Outdoor Rentals And Tours and Crystal River Kayak Company and Dive Center.

The wrapup: How to Swim with Manatees Without a Tour in Crystal River, Florida

Swimming with manatees without a tour in Crystal River is not only possible, but it can be even more rewarding than joining a guided tour!

By paddling on your own or visiting the right spots, you get to enjoy quieter areas, more time with the manatees, and the satisfaction of doing it independently.

Remember to respect local regulations, including never touching or chase the animals!

Whether you’re on a tight budget or simply crave flexibility, swimming with manatees without a tour is an incredible way to interact with Florida’s gentle giants.