Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Manatee season runs from November 15th through March 31st each year. The colder the water gets, the more manatees come into the area. Our waters in the area are 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celcius year-round and manatees have to come to survive when the gulf water is colder than that. During other parts of the year, there are roughly 30-50 resident manatees that live here on any given year.

Unfortunately for the 2023 season you can NOT paddle into Three Sisters Springs.  From 11/15/2022 until 04/01/2024 Three Sisters Springs is closed to all kayaks or paddleboards.  There are several other springs to visit as well as the largest attraction, King’s Bay, so you will have a very large area to explore.  We provide a map of the area and will highlight all of the places that you can explore.

Official Manatee Season is from November 15th through March 31st each year.

Of course, we are 🙂 There are a couple of rules that go along with bringing your pet along though. First, there are NO PETS ALLOWED ON TOURS!  They can come on the kayak or paddleboard RENTALS with you but can not swim inside Three Sisters Springs. They must remain in the kayak. Also, there are no dogs allowed at King’s Bay Park where we launch so they must go directly from your vehicle into the kayaks and then back to your car when you are done with your rental.

We have a VERY simple process. You come to Paddles Outdoor Rentals at 469 NE 1st Street in Crystal River, pay for your rental or tour, watch a video from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, then drive to the launch point where your equipment will be waiting for you.

Yes, a child 8 or older is allowed to rent their own water bike ONLY if accompanied by an adult and waivers are signed. ONE small child between the age of 3 and 7 may ride along side with a parent as long as the maximum weight of 325 is not reached.

Yes, we do. Waterproof phone cases are $10 to rent for the day.

No, we do not rent them but we do sell them for $29.99 in our shop.  We do rent waterproof phone cases for $10 per day and sell them for $24.99.  We also rent Dry Boxes for $15.00.

We recommend a bathing suit or comfortable clothing, sunscreen, hat, polarized sunglasses, a towel, and dry clothes.

We rent Crescent sit on top kayaks, or Perception brand kayaks and YOLO paddleboards.

YES!  You must first watch two videos from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, wear a wetsuit, snorkel, and mask which we rent. Our swim package is $25.00 and includes wetsuit, mask, snorkel, dive flag, anchor, and swim noodle.

Our single kayaks can hold 250 pounds plus equipment, our tandem kayaks hold 420 pounds plus equipment, our 11′ YOLO paddleboards hold 225 pounds, and our 12′ YOLO paddleboards can hold up to 250 pounds.  We have special tandem kayaks that can hold up to 550 pounds so please call to book one of these kayaks.

The weight capacity of a water bike is 325 pounds plus equipment and 350 pounds total.  ONE rider per water bike unless it is ONE child between the age of 3 and 7 riding with an adult.

Three Sisters Springs by kayak or paddleboard will take anywhere from 20 to 35 minutes from our launch point depending on skill level and conditions.

Our age restriction per our insurance company is 3 years of age and older.  As long the child is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, signs a waiver, and supervises the child the entire time. We love it when families join us so we try to accommodate the best that we can.

Our tours are roughly 2:00 – 2:30 hours, depending on the weather or what type of tour it is. If it a swim with manatees tour, we try our hardest to find them even when it is difficult some days and that might take a little longer than normal.

No 🙂 Our tours are priced as an all-inclusive event. Our swim with manatee tour includes your choice of kayak or paddleboard, wetsuit, snorkel, mask, and one of our amazing guides. Gratuities are not included but appreciated for our hard-working staff though.

Yes, we give a 5% discount with groups of 20 or more. Call personally before booking online and we will handle the booking for you to make it easier.  Any bookings made online will not receive the discount.

THE BEST IN CRYSTAL RIVER! We have no cancellation penalties on rental products if you cancel BEFORE the designated start time.  A 24 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE IS REQUIRED FOR GUIDED TOURS OR NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN.  If you book with a third-party source such as Tripadvisor or Expedia, the cancellation policy is 24 hours on all rentals and tours.

No, we DO NOT ALLOW the use of fins on our Swim With Manatees tour. You are floating near manatees and not actually swimming with them. The fins tend to stir up the bottom and limit visibility. Most of the water in the area is under 6 feet deep so there are really not necessary.

Yes, they are protected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and this link explains everything there is to know about manatees.