Snorkelling Crystal River

This epic tour starts with manatee education and wetsuit fitting with your experienced guide before joining your coast guard certified captain on board our luxury pontoon. Cruise around King's Bay National Wildlife Refuge while looking for a manatee or two to kick off this awesome day of adventure. Once you've had your fill of snorkeling with manatees, we head out to the shallow grass beds in the Gulf of Mexico to hunt the delicious SCALLOP ! With the direction of our Captain and guide, the scallops may not jump in your bag, but the harvest will go as smoothly as possible. Having a phenomenal Captain can make all the difference, and this VIP tour will be staffed by ONLY THE BEST! Your guides will assist in the harvesting of your catch, identifying wildlife all around while keeping your safety in mind at all times. They will go above and beyond what is expected serving snacks and beverages including beer and wine!
We provide you with everything you need….just bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, a sandwich and a smile and we will gladly take care of the rest! Relax and enjoy this taste of the Nature Coast the way that only River Ventures can serve it.


Included in your Ultimate Voyage Package:
* 6 hours of adventure on our fast, luxury pontoon ‘The Voyager’
*Manatee education

*Mask, snorkel and wetsuit (for manatee portion)
*Fins, scallop net and license to harvest scallops
*Captain and in-water guide to assist with scallop catch and manatee manners
*Photographer to record the adventure (purchase of photo package additional)
*Snacks and beverages, as well as beer and wine
*Runs daily with a minimum of 3 passengers; a max of 6


This tour DEPARTS from River Ventures - Crystal River 498 SE Kings Bay Dr.


ATTENTION: This Gulf adventure is recommended for STRONG SWIMMERS, the condition in the ocean can vary greatly and change quickly. The Gulf can get choppy and you may be scalloping in water anywhere from 4 feet to 10 feet in depth (depending on tides and local of scallops). It is strongly advised not to bring children under 5. You are ultimately responsible for your child while out scalloping and if you choose to bring a child, include them in your total passenger count.
SCALLOP TOURS ARE DONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WHERE CONDITIONS ARE VARIABLE. THE BEST SCALLOPING CONDITIONS ARE ON SUNNY DAYS AT LOW TIDES…BEST CHANCES AT AVOIDING AFTERNOON STORMS WILL BE ON THE EARLY MORNING DEPARTURES. RAINFALL, WINDS, TIDES, MOON CYCLES AND SUNLIGHT ALL HAVE SIGNIFIGANT EFFECTS ON VISIBILITY AND ROUGH WATERS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO ENDURE. KEEP IN MIND WHILE BOOKING YOUR SCALLOP TOURS THAT WE CAN NOT CONTROL MOTHER NATURE, PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.


What to Expect From your Scallop Adventure.....


This is a HUNT! We snorkel at the top of the water and when you spot a scallop you must dive down to
retrieve it and put it in your bag. Being a strong swimmer is a good idea, and taking small children out to
scallop is not recommended. WE DO NOT ALLOW INFANTS ON OUR SCALLOP BOATS.
Ideal conditions would be clear shallow water, but during higher tides water can be 10 to 12 foot deep.This can be much more difficult to manage. NO ONE REACHES LIMIT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IF YOU WANT THE CHEAPEST, MOST PRACTICAL WAY TO ACQUIRE SCALLOPS, THEN THE SEAFOOD SECTION AT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE MAY BE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU. IF YOU WANT GOOD TIMES AND ADVENTURE, THEN COME SEE US!
Your Captain will demonstrate how to clean the scallops, but will not clean them for you. They will have suggestions of where you can go to find someone who will clean them for you if you prefer. Most people choose to do it themselves, it is truly part of the experience! Your car will be waiting for you when you return, so your group is free to go about your day at your own pace.

If you are visiting Florida hoping to enjoy all the water activities we have to offer, then this is the tour for you!

Slow cruise in the manatee zone ? Check! Option to snorkel with our endangered friends? Check! Diving into a freshwater spring? Check! Island hopping for a picnic or salt water snorkel ? Check!
Laughing and bonding with your friends and family during a day filled with adventure?
Check, check, check!!
Let us customize a tour that can deliver you memories and fun for your entire family or group!
Envision your ultimate day, and let River Ventures handle the details!

Let the kids unplug and the adults unwind, there is something so special about spending a day together in fresh air and sunshine! There is no other tour quite like this in Citrus County and no other tour Company does it quite like River Ventures. Have no doubt when booking, everyone in your group will have an awesome time!
Departs daily, approx 5 hours from start to finish
Your choice of activities: snorkeling with manatees, springs exploration, island hopping or a combination of all 3!
Six person covered pontoon with a Master Captain at the helm
We welcome adults and children of all sizes, but moderate physical ability is needed to disembark onto the islands and into the springs!
Bottled water provided, parking and gear included in price!
Please call to book within 48 hours of tour date.


***PLEASE BE ADVISED OF CURRENT TOUR CONDITIONS***
Remember that once the weather starts to get warm in March, manatee begin their migration away from the springs and become more elusive. It is very important in the warm seasons to have REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS about how many animals you will see, under what conditions and how long it may take to find them. The COLD weather brings them to the area to enjoy our fresh water springs, but once the Gulf temps begin to warm, the manatee become more difficult to find and tend to be located closer to food sources where the water is not always clear. Also, spring brings hundreds of people to the area hoping for a glimpse of these amazing animals…COME EARLY MORNING if you hope to avoid the crowds. We add tours later in the day as capacity demands, but conditions deteriorate as the day goes on. If you are hoping to see dozens of manatee in clear spring water, than a springtime visit may disappoint. If you need more details about what to expect when visiting us in spring or summer, please visit our conditions page or call us anytime! We are always honest about conditions and encourage our visitors to do their research!