Snorkeling with Manatees: In-Water Guide & All Gear

Float quietly with manatees while a guide photographs the moment

Snorkeling with manatees is a three-hour activity where you swim and float in shallow water with wild manatees in their natural habitat. A guide stays in the water with you throughout, providing instruction and taking photos you can purchase afterward. All snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuit and foam noodle) is included, and the experience suits swimmers of any ability.

The experience

You arrive at the tour center, meet your guide, and get fitted with a wetsuit, mask and snorkel. The wetsuit keeps you warm and adds buoyancy. The foam noodle gives you extra flotation so you can relax into the water. Then you board the boat for a scenic ride to where the manatees gather. The whole thing is built around staying calm and still. You're mostly floating in a quiet manner, letting the manatees come to you rather than chasing them. Your guide stays right there in the water with you, watching for moments and keeping the group safe.

The three hours move slowly, which is the point. You're not rushing between stops or checking off a list. Instead you're hovering in place, watching these massive gentle animals drift past, sometimes close enough to see their whiskers and scars. The guide takes photographs throughout and you can review them at the end of the tour. If you want prints or digital files, you can buy them then. Before you go, the operator sends you a video called Manatee Manners that walks you through how to behave in the water so the animals stay comfortable around you.

The captains are U.S. Coast Guard licensed and all guides are drug tested. The tour center itself is a full-service facility with free parking and a gift shop that specializes in manatee merchandise: over 99% of what they stock is manatee-related, which tells you something about how long they've been doing this. Fun 2 Dive has been running these tours since 1995.

What’s included

• Three-hour snorkeling activity with a guide in the water alongside you.
• all snorkeling gear including wetsuit, mask, snorkel and foam noodle.
• scenic boat ride to the manatee habitat.
• guide photography throughout the tour.
• free parking at the tour center.
• access to the full-service facility and manatee gift shop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Fun 2 Dive Manatee Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you're arriving without a car. The on-site facility means you start from one location without needing transport elsewhere.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What do I need to bring for a three-hour manatee snorkeling trip?

Bring a bathing suit and a towel. Everything else is provided. The operator supplies the wetsuit, mask, snorkel and foam noodle, so you don't need to own or rent gear separately.

Can my young children come snorkeling with manatees?

Children 3 years old and up are welcome on shared group tours with a paid ticket. Children under 3 can join only on private trips. Call the operator for private trip pricing.

Will I be able to see manatees up close, or do we just watch from the boat?

You're in the water the whole time, floating and snorkeling alongside the manatees. Your guide stays in the water with you and positions the group to observe the animals in a calm, quiet way that keeps them comfortable.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join this activity?

No experience is required. The guide teaches you what you need to know, and the wetsuit and foam noodle provide flotation so you can focus on the manatees rather than staying afloat.

What happens with the photos taken during the tour?

Your guide photographs you and the group throughout the three hours. At the end of the tour you can review the images, and photo packages are available for purchase if you want to keep them.

Is there parking at the tour center?

Yes, free parking is included. The facility is a full-service tour center with a gift shop and all the amenities you'd need before or after your snorkeling trip.