What to bring for a manatee swim in Crystal River
The operators supply the wetsuit and snorkel gear, so packing for a manatee swim is mostly about the hours around the water. Winter mornings on Kings Bay can feel cold even though the springs stay at about 72 °F (22 °C). Below, what each tour gives you, what to carry yourself and what to leave behind.
What the operators hand you
On Explorida's group swim from ~$69, the listing includes a wetsuit and snorkel gear, with float noodles on top. A master captain runs the boat while an in-water guide takes the group in.
Crystal River Manatee Adventures' semi-private swim from ~$76 supplies the wetsuit and snorkel gear too. It adds hot chocolate and coffee all year, and its boat is heated in winter, which makes a real difference after an hour in the water.
Kacey's clear kayak tour works differently. It supplies the kayak, paddles, life vests and safety gear, and its photo package is free, so your own kit list there is short.
Neither operator promises prescription masks, so if you wear glasses, ask before you book. Contact lenses under a well-sealed mask are what many snorkelers use instead.
What goes under the wetsuit
Wear your swimsuit to the meeting point, under your clothes. Explorida fits the wetsuits at its center before the van ride to the dock, so arriving ready saves time.
A one-piece or snug swim shorts work better than loose board shorts, which bunch up inside a wetsuit. Leave jewelry and watches at home or in the car, since rings slip off easily in cool water.
Why 72 °F feels colder than it sounds
The springs of Kings Bay hold about 72 °F (22 °C) all year, which sounds mild. After an hour of floating still in it, though, most people start to feel the chill, and the wetsuit only slows that down.
The harder part is the ride back. On a winter morning the air can be colder than the water, and wind on a wet wetsuit cools you fast. Manatees gather in the springs in the cold months for that very reason, as our page on the best time to go explains.
Pack a warm layer you can pull on the moment you are out of the water. A fleece or a hooded sweatshirt in a dry bag is enough, plus a hat in the colder months.
The bag for the boat
- A towel, since the semi-private swim says towels are not included
- A change of clothes, which Explorida lists for its swim
- A dry bag or waterproof bag for phone, keys and the warm layer
- Reef-safe or biodegradable sunscreen, put on well before you get in
- A hat for the sun on the boat
- A refillable bottle, even where bottled water is provided
A phone in a waterproof pouch can stay with you on deck, but leave it on the boat during the swim unless the case is made for diving. Both swims have an in-water guide who takes photos, so you lose little by keeping it dry.
Keep the bag small, as space on a six- or ten-person boat is tight. A soft dry bag squeezes under a bench far more easily than a backpack with a frame.
Sunscreen matters even on cloudy days, as you lie face down with your neck exposed. Choose a reef-safe one and let it soak in before the swim, so it does not form a film on the water.
Warm drinks and a heated boat
The semi-private swim keeps the group to six, and the boat is heated in winter with hot chocolate and coffee on board. Bring your own towel, as the listing leaves it out.
Packing for the kayak or the cruise
Kacey's clear kayak tour from ~$79 gives its own list. Bring a hat, a towel, biodegradable sunscreen and a waterproof bag, and arrive 15 minutes early at Pete's Pier Marina, where parking costs $10.
You may get splashed on the kayak, so quick-drying clothes beat cotton. Sunglasses help you see through the glare into the water, and a strap keeps them on your face.
For Explorida's viewing cruise at ~$50 you stay dry, so dress for the weather on deck. A jacket in winter and your own camera or phone are about all you need for 1.5 hours.
Getting changed after the swim
Peeling off a wet wetsuit takes longer than putting it on, so allow a few minutes back on land. Roll it down from the shoulders like a sock rather than pulling at the cuffs.
Dry clothes that go on easily over damp skin help a lot here. Loose trousers, a long-sleeved top and slip-on shoes beat jeans and laced boots after a morning in the bay.
If you plan a second activity the same day, keep a full spare outfit in the car. Our day plan from Orlando or Tampa shows how a swim fits around the drive and lunch in town.
What to leave at home
Explorida lists drones and alcohol among the things not allowed on its tours. Anything you would hate to lose overboard is safer left in the car.
Food for the manatees is out too, as feeding them breaks one of the six rules in the water. An action camera is welcome, and our guide to underwater photos explains how to use it without chasing the animals.
A note for nervous swimmers and families
If you are not sure about the water, the kit list will not settle it. Read whether non-swimmers can join first, since one of the two swims turns them away.
Parents packing for small children should add a spare warm layer per child and a snack for the ride back. Our page on manatee swims with kids covers ages and which tour suits a family.