Discover snorkeling at Crystal River Florida with the best spots, tours, tips and manatee experiences for an unforgettable Florida experience!
Florida in general has some amazing wild views but Crystal River Florida is where you are guaranteed to get the viral, glass-like clear water. Not only will you find waters that you can see all the way down in, you might also spot a manatee or two swimming around.
Crystal River Florida is known as the manatee capital of the world! Manatee season officially starts November 15th and carries through to March 31st but anytime it’s cool outside, you are likely to see them.
Whether you are wanting to snorkel our crystal clear waters or hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a manatee or a little of both, Kaceys Custom Adventures has a tour for you!
Best Spots in Crystal River for Snorkeling
Crystal River has plenty of beautiful scenery but specifically talking about spots to snorkel, there are two main places I would recommend. Three Sisters Springs and Hunter Springs park.
Hunter springs park is a small, man-made beach with a roped off swim area. There are picnic tables, a playground, bathrooms and even a kayak launch. Hunter Springs is great for a low-key picnic with a quick dip in the water.
Three Sisters Springs is a first magnitude spring. Meaning, Three Sisters Springs pumps out over 2800 liters of water per second! Because the springs push soooo much water out each day, the water is constantly flowing and never sitting stagnant. There are spots within Three Sisters Springs that can reach depths of up to 20 feet and still offer you views all the way down to the bottom.
Unfortunately you cannot get into the water from Three Sisters Springs park, but the boardwalk is beautiful. You must either paddle or take a boat to the area in order to be able to get into the water.
Snorkeling tours, Manatee Tours and More!
There are a few different types of tours that can be found in Crystal River. To name a few, there are boat tours, clear kayak tours and sunset/glow tours!
In the summer, the most common tour to be booked is the clear kayak snorkel and swim tour! Each tour lasts about two hours and takes you to Three Sisters Springs which is where you find the incredible crystal clear water. Swim tours through companies like Kaceys Custom Adventures are typically only available in the spring through the fall as there are so many manatees swimming around in the winter that, combined with the temperature, you don’t need to get in the water to have a great time!
Clear kayak tours change a bit once we hit November. November 15th, Florida Fish and Wildlife head out onto our waterways to place buoys and ropes in the water that block paddlers from going into certain areas so that the manatees have their own spaces. So our tours change from snorkeling Three Sisters Springs to paddling around looking for the possibly hundreds of manatees that call Crystal River home!
Even though the manatees are most commonly seen in the winter, that does not mean you will not find one or two during the summer. It is simply less likely. The best time of year to both be able to swim in the Three Sisters Springs and spot manatees is either late spring or fall when the weather is still cool but not cold enough that the springs get closed for the manatees!
Whether you go in the heat of the summer to play mermaids and see what you can spot through your boat, or in the dead of winter hoping to have a manatee swim right past your boat, you are guaranteed a good time!
Click here to learn more about guided tours and book today!
Sunset Glow Kayak Tour
Have you ever seen a video of people paddling at night while their kayaks illuminate the water around them? That would be our sunset and glow kayaking experience! We start before sunset to explore Three Sisters Springs before finding ourselves a great spot to watch the sunset, then we wander over to Hunter Springs park where you get to play with your glow lights!
The “glow” part of your experience comes from two LED light bars that are placed in the bottom of your kayaks. There are plenty of colors to choose from, you can’t go wrong. When the glow from your kayaks hit that crystal clear water, it’s like magic!
It is worth noting that there is not typically swimming offered on this tour as the tour as it is an evening tour and we have to time it just right to be able to both catch the sunset and have plenty of time at the springs with the glow lights.
Click here to learn more about Sunset Glow Tours and book today!
Tips For Your Adventure
A great view can be spoiled by things like a bad sunburn, dehydration and improper attire. Make sure to bring what will work best for you! Some companies will offer things like complimentary snorkel gear for guided tours or snorkel gear rentals for kayak rentals but there are a few things you are probably going to need to bring yourself! Click here to rent snorkel gear for your trip.
- Sunscreen
- Water Bottle
- Hat and/or sunglasses
- Optional: phone or camera to take pictures
- Comfortable clothing. For some, it’s a bikini, for others it’s loose linen pants and a long sleeve SPF shirt
Pictures are included on our guided kayak tours but it is always best to bring your phone or camera in case you’d like a different point of view!
Overall, the most important tip for snorkeling in Crystal River is to remember to always bring a smile. Rain or shine, winter or summer, there is beauty to be found!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 Can you snorkel at Crystal River?
Yes! Just remember certain areas like Three Sisters Springs gets closed off during manatee season.
Q.2 Where is the best place to snorkel in Crystal River?
In our opinion, Three Sisters Springs.
Q.3 Can you see manatees while snorkeling in Crystal River!
It is always possible but never guaranteed!
Q.4 What should I bring snorkeling in Crystal River?
Sunscreen, water, sunglasses, and whatever outfit you feel is best for paddling and swimming.
Q.5 What is the best time to snorkel Crystal River?
Late spring through early fall as Three Sisters Springs is closed for snorkeling during the winter.
Q.6 Do I need a guided tour to snorkel in Crystal River?
Not necessarily but if you have never been to the area, having a guide could not hurt. You can check out our paddle board and kayak rentals here!
