Swimming with Manatees: An Unforgettable Crystal River Snorkeling Experience

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Written By: Jocelyn Chiu

Photos By: Brent Paterson



In western Florida, there is a river as dazzling as a gemstone—Crystal River. It gets its name from its crystal-clear spring water, which shimmers under the sunlight, creating a magical sight. One of the most famous activities here is swimming with manatees during the winter months.

Two snorkelers smiling underwater while taking a selfie in clear turquoise tropical waters.
Aerial view of a turquoise blue pond with fish swimming beneath crystal clear waters surrounded by lush greenery.
A manatee swims in clear turquoise waters along a sandy ocean floor as rays of sunlight filter down from above.

Step into the Primitive Jungle and Feel Nature’s Call Why Choose Crystal River for a Manatee Experience?

From November to March, a large number of manatees migrate to Crystal River to escape the cold. This location is one of the few places in the U.S. where it is legal to snorkel with manatees, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Many tour operators along the river offer snorkeling experiences, allowing visitors to observe these gentle giants up close.


Manatee Snorkeling = A Cold Endurance Challenge!

For this adventure, we booked a tour with @manateetouranddive and specifically chose the early morning session, as manatees are most active during this time. Our trip began at 7:40 AM, starting with a brief safety video, followed by gear distribution, including wetsuits, snorkels, masks, and a thick jacket to stay warm after getting out of the water.


Although manatees come to Crystal River to seek warmer waters, the water temperature is still quite cold. On the day of our trip, the temperature was only 16-17°C (60-63°F)—and we happened to pick one of the coldest days of the season! The moment we entered the water, we were shivering uncontrollably. Even after getting out and sipping hot cocoa, my hands were still shaking so much that I spilled my drink! (I used to think movies exaggerated this kind of thing, but now I know—it’s real!)


Pro Tips for Staying Warm:

・ Wear an extra wetsuit underneath the one provided by the tour company (especially if it has a hood).

・ Bring a dive hood—the wind makes it even colder when you surface!

・ Pack a thermos with hot water to warm up after the dive.

Crystal River

Swim With Manatees

Our Snorkeling Journey: Three Sisters Springs

Before setting out, the tour company used a drone to locate the areas with the highest manatee activity. We were lucky to be assigned to the famous Three Sisters Springs! This location is not only the best spot for manatee viewing, but also one of the most breathtaking parts of Crystal River. Visitors can enter by foot, kayak, or snorkeling.


Entering a Magical Underwater World

Following our guide, we swam through the chilly water toward the springs, where visibility was about 5 meters (16 feet). As we moved forward, more and more huge shapes appeared—these were resting manatees! Their massive bodies remained still, resembling giant underwater boulders.

"Don't think we're stopping here! We’re heading deeper into Three Sisters Springs—that's where the true beauty of Crystal River is!" our guide announced.


As we swam further, the scenery transformed dramatically. Visibility increased to 25 meters (82 feet), and the crystal-clear water made us feel like we had been transported to an underwater paradise. We could now see the manatees' facial expressions and gentle movements. These peaceful creatures floated effortlessly, occasionally flicking their tails, and every 15-20 minutes, they surfaced for a breath of air—a fascinating sight to witness!

Underwater view of a snorkeler swimming near a manatee in clear blue tropical waters.
Aerial view of a rocky coastline with turquoise waters showing a large school of fish gathered in a natural cove.
Underwater view of a manatee swimming over sandy seabed in crystal clear turquoise water.

Planning Your Manatee Experience in Crystal River

・ Book your tour in advance—especially from December to March, as it’s the peak season.

・ Choose an early morning session—this is when manatees are most active!

・ Follow the rules—always practice passive observation. Do not touch or chase the manatees, as this helps ensure their safety and well-being.


What to Bring

・ A wetsuit (Tour companies provide them, but if you have a smaller body frame, you may want to bring your own for a better fit.)

・ An underwater camera (e.g., GoPro) to capture incredible moments.

・ A thermos with warm water—a lifesaver after getting out of the cold water.

・ A towel and change of clothes for when you finish the tour.


Our manatee snorkeling adventure in Crystal River was one of the most unforgettable experiences of our trip! Even though the water was freezing, being able to observe these gentle giants up close was beyond magical.

If you love wildlife, snorkeling, or simply want to experience the wonder of swimming with manatees, Crystal River is a must-visit destination!

-Jocelyn Chiu

@smilelikebean

Snorkeler swimming underwater above sandy seafloor with manatee silhouette visible in turquoise Caribbean waters.
Aerial view of a bright turquoise spring surrounded by lush greenery and a curved parking area in Florida.
Snorkeler swimming near a manatee in crystal clear turquoise waters over sandy seabed.
Aerial view of a winding river with turquoise water surrounded by lush green trees and small boats docked along the shore.
A manatee glides gracefully over sandy sea floor in crystal clear turquoise Caribbean waters viewed from underwater.
A majestic manatee glides over a sandy seafloor in crystal clear turquoise Caribbean waters.
A manatee swims in crystal clear blue waters near the sandy bottom of a Florida spring.

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中文

與海牛共游：難忘的水晶河浮潛體驗



Written By: Jocelyn Chiu
Photos By: Brent Paterson



佛羅里達州西部有一條宛如寶石般的河流——水晶河（Crystal River），它因清澈見底的泉水得名，陽光灑落時波光粼粼，彷彿水晶一般。這裡最著名的活動，便是冬季與美洲海牛共游。


每年11月至3月，大量海牛會游進水晶河避冬，這裡也是美國少數允許合法與海牛浮潛的地點，因此吸引了許多旅客慕名前來。河畔有許多船家提供浮潛體驗，讓遊客能夠近距離觀察這些溫和的巨型生物。

Two snorkelers smiling underwater while taking a selfie in clear turquoise tropical waters.
Aerial view of a turquoise blue pond with fish swimming beneath crystal clear waters surrounded by lush greenery.
A manatee swims in clear turquoise waters along a sandy ocean floor as rays of sunlight filter down from above.

海牛浮潛即低溫挑戰

這次，我們選擇了 @manateetouranddive 的行程，並特意預約了清晨時段，因為這時候海牛最活躍。行程從早上 7:40 集合開始，首先會播放簡單的活動安全影片，接著領取裝備，包括防寒衣、面鏡呼吸管，以及一件厚外套，方便上岸後保暖。


儘管上面我們說了海牛是來水晶河避冬的，但水溫依然很低。當天氣溫僅 16-17°C，我們選了當週最冷的時候去，結果一入水便冷得發抖，就連上岸後喝熱可可，手還是不停顫抖，把可可都灑出來了！（以前以為電影誇張，沒想到真的會冷成這樣...）因此我們非常建議自己有防寒衣的人（連帽的最好）可以把防寒衣套在裡面，外面再套店家提供的防寒衣，有潛水帽的也可以備著，因為出水面時，風吹更容易感受到寒冷！  


我們的浮潛旅程：三姐妹泉（Three Sisters Springs）

在出發前，店家先用空拍機查看哪個區域的海牛最多，結果我們幸運地被安排前往最知名的三姐妹泉！這裡不僅是觀賞海牛的最佳地點，還是水晶河最美的區域之一，旅客可以徒步、划船或浮潛進入。


我們跟著教練，在低溫中慢慢游向泉水區，能見度約5公尺左右，隨著前進，越來越多巨大的身影浮現——那是正在休息的海牛！成年海牛體型龐大，在水裡一動不動，看起來就像水底的岩石。「不要以為我們只停在這裡！我們還要繼續游進三姐妹泉，那裡才是真正的水晶河！」教練說道。當我們游進泉水核心區時，景色瞬間變得驚人！能見度提升至25公尺，泉水清澈得讓人誤以為來到了水下天堂。這時，我們能清楚看見海牛的表情與動作，這些溫柔的生物靜靜地漂浮，有時緩慢地擺動尾巴，甚至還能看到牠們浮上水面換氣的模樣。


海牛小知識：

海牛約15-20分鐘就需要浮出水面換氣一次，所以靜靜地觀察牠們上浮呼吸，是最療癒的畫面之一！

Underwater view of a snorkeler swimming near a manatee in clear blue tropical waters.
Aerial view of a rocky coastline with turquoise waters showing a large school of fish gathered in a natural cove.
Underwater view of a manatee swimming over sandy seabed in crystal clear turquoise water.

如何規劃你的水晶河海牛體驗？

・預約行程：水晶河有許多店家提供浮潛體驗，通常需提前預約，特別是冬季旺季（12月至3月）。

・選擇清晨場次：海牛在早晨最活躍，這時候去看見海牛的機會最高！

・遵守規則：請務必遵守「被動觀察」原則，不觸碰、不追逐海牛，確保牠們的安全與舒適。


建議攜帶

・ 防寒衣（亞洲人體型較小，店家的防寒衣可能偏大，可自行準備合身款）

・ 準備水下相機捕捉珍貴畫面！

・ 有保溫瓶的話可以預先準備溫熱水，浮潛後暖暖身體

・ 毛巾行程結束後換衣服用



這趟水晶河的海牛共游體驗，絕對是我們此行最難忘的回憶之一！雖然水溫低得讓人直發抖，但能夠近距離觀察這些溫柔的水中巨人，真的超級療癒。如果你喜歡野生動物、浮潛，或單純想體驗與海牛共游的奇妙感受，那麼水晶河絕對是你的必訪之地！

-Jocelyn Chiu

@smilelikebean

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