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Yes! Manatee season runs from November 15th through March 31st each year. The colder the water gets, the more manatees come into our local waters. During the coldest days we can get up to 800 in the area! Our waterways in Crystal River are 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius year-round, and manatees must seek refuge is the warm waters 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 day.
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Yes, starting April 1st 2024 you can paddle inside of Three Sisters Springs. Three Sisters Springs is closed to all kayaks or paddleboards during manatee season (November 15 – March 31) as it is a manatee sanctuary. On some days though, you are allowed to tie off outside of Three Sisters Springs and SWIM inside only. Those days are determined on a combination of things including how many manatees are inside already, and the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. If it is too cold the manatees must come in to survive and Three Sisters Springs will be blocked off for all activities. There are several other springs to visit including Jurassic Springs, Hunter Springs, and others. We provide a map of the area and will highlight all of the places that you can explore.
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Official Manatee Season is from November 15th through March 31st each year.
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YES, 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 kayak or paddleboard RENTALS with you but must stay on your vessel while inside of inside Three Sisters Springs. 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.
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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.
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Yes, we do. Waterproof phone cases are $10 to rent for the duration of your rental or tour.
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Yes, we do rent them and are $15 ro rent. We also sell them starting at $24.99 in our shop. We do rent waterproof phone cases for $10 per day and sell them for $24.99.
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We recommend bringing water, a bathing suit or comfortable clothing, sunscreen, hat, polarized sunglasses, a towel, and dry clothes.
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We rent sit on top kayaks and hard paddleboards.
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YES, during manatee season! 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 $30.00 and is REQUIRED from November 15th through March 31st in order to swim with manatees. The wetsuit helps to keep you buoyant so you do not interfere with their space which helps keep them protected. This package includes wetsuit, mask, snorkel, dive flag, anchor, and swim noodle.
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Our single kayaks can hold 250 pounds plus equipment, our tandem kayaks hold 420 pounds plus equipment, our paddleboards can hold up to 225 pounds. We have special tandem kayaks that can hold up to 500 pounds so please call to book one of these kayaks if necessary.
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Three Sisters Springs by kayak or paddleboard will take anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes from our launch point depending on skill level and weather conditions.
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Our age restriction per our insurance company is 3 years of age and older. The child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, sign a waiver, and is supervised the entire time.
In order to paddle on your own vessel you must be 12 years of age or older and must have an adult aged 18 years or more to rent.
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Our tours are roughly 2 hours for our clear kayaking tours and roughly 2 1/2 – 3 hours for swim with manatee tours. Depending on the weather or what type of tour it is, we try our hardest to find manatees even when it is difficult some days and that might take a little longer than normal. It is a natural environment so spotting them is not guaranteed but our highly trained guides know how to spot them.
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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 they are definitely appreciated for our hard-working staff 🙂
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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.
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THE BEST IN CRYSTAL RIVER! We have no cancellation penalties on rental products if you cancel 30 minutes 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 Get Your Guide, the cancellation policy is 24 hours on all rentals and tours, no exceptions.
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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 they are not necessary.
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Yes, they are protected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
