We had Captain Troy and Carlos was our guide. What a fantastic tour!! We saw a dolphin within 5 minutes of being in the boat. Captain Troy had found a manatee within a few minutes- do yourself a favor and make sure you ask for Captain Troy because he is the “Manatee Whisperer” and we were constantly swimming among the manatees, In fact, I was highly impressed that he helped other boats find manatees so others could experience swimming with them. This impressed me that River Ventures had someone like this on their team and we will be clients any- and very time we are in the area. Carlos explained everything SO well and made sure we did the right thing while swimming amongst them. Carlos is a newer guide and he did a super job in making our day, one will will never forget! Carlos also captured over 200 plus photos of our remarkable experience. Carlos and Capt Troy are super knowledgeable and I would HIGHLY recommend them. They also informed us that they do a scallop hunt and we will be back to partake in that hunt! This is a bucket list MUST DO and with Captain Troy and Carlos it will be the experience of a lifetime!

We had a great time with Captain Ryan and our guide Storm. They were both very knowledgeable and friendly. We were able to find manatees to swim with and even saw a dolphin in the bay. Great experience!!

We saw a lot of manatees even though the manatee season was over. Our tour guide Nataly and the captain were very attentive and friendly and took good care of us. The photos unfortunately weren't that good .- We were able to use only one photo - the group photo at the start of the tour, and one video of a manatee.

Had an amazing experience swimming with Manatees our captain was Troy and in water guide was Carlos they gave us a warm welcome and were very informative and made us feel at ease and nothing was too much trouble.

What can I say but wow…. What an incredible experience myself and my family will remember for the rest of our lives. Capt Kelly is so incredible and our Guide Dave (the bosses fiancé) had us laughing non stop from the time we arrived to we departed almost 4 hours later. Capt Kelly was a great spotter for manatees taking us away from where large groups of other tours were assembling for a more intimate/private experience. Dave was so knowledgeable and knew exactly how to behave around and respect our underwater friends passing the knowledge and care to myself and family and thus truly immersing us in this experience. The staff and crew shuttling us to the docks were friendly and amazing in every way. GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR MONEY!!!! You won’t regret a thing. Definitely recommend the VIP tour!

Michael and Captain Tanner are a Delight. Funny, Knowledgeable and great People to be around. As middle aged People it was an easy and fantastic experience. Thank you Guys. PS. The Check in was very easy and great People at the Front desk.

Took a mini vacation to do something different. The VIP private ride was very enjoyable and was worth the money and time. Captain Troy and First Mate Mike were both great! The rest of the staff was all also friendly and helpful. Overall very nice, friendly, knowledgeable and fun! It was so cool to swim with the manatees! Overall wonderful experience for all of us! Pictures were also worth the package offered.

The whole experience was great ! I can’t wait to bring my four grandchildren. Natalie and Kelly were great- knowledgable, helpful and so nice. Wonderful time - the manatees are magical!

The captain and the guide Mike was amazing! It was such a fun time. We saw a good 6 or 7 manatees, and the springs were beautiful. I highly recommend.

Trish and Captain Wade were absolutely wonderful. Before the trip began we were shown a short 7 minute video and given detailed instructions on what to expect and how to safely interact with the gentile, giant manatees. Wade explained and fitted the mask and snorkel then put us in the perfect place to swim with the manatees. Trish was with us the entire time as we swam, giving us directions and assisting with positioning. Wade stayed on the boat and gave us information about approaching manatee. Trish took wonderful pictures and videos of our trip in and out of the water. The pictures and videos do cost an additional $41.34 and are sent to your e mail for viewing and purchasing. The boat was clean and at a pleasant temperature as the plastic sides can be closed and heater turned on. Included in the price of the trip was transportation to the dock and back, dry suit, snorkel, mask, pool noodle, hot coco, coffee and snacks. Please be sure you bring a swim suit, towels and perhaps a blanket to help warm up after the swim. The water is about 72 degrees F. We went on the 9:45 am swim. The air temperature was about 75 degrees F but did warm up as the time passed. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of manatee for the time of year. There were a number of boats, but the captains are courteous and kind with each other and allow plenty of space for each group so there is no over crowding. Over all we were exceptionally pleased with the trip. We did do the slightly more expensive tour that had heat and only up to 6 people. We chose this option for the heat and a more personalized experience. It is well worth the extra bit of money. This was my second trip with Wade and Trish. Ask for them!

It was super fun. Captain Troy and Guide Crosby were phenomenal, they took us right to where the manatees were and one of my kids got to get a baby manatee surprise hug. It was truly a wonderful experience for my family. Thank you so much! Our driver Bri was an excellent driver as well! <3

We had SUCH a great time! Crosby and Troy were the perfect guides! They were perfect hosts - attentive to our kids, knowledgeable, and respectful of the manatees. We will absolutely do this again!

Our family of 4 went on the small group tour in the morning in March 2024 (one other couple was with us so 6 customers total). We had Liz as our guide and JJ as our captain and they were both very personable and knowledgeable. Liz did a great job of explaining everything about the manatees and their conservation, and how to act around them. Our guides were very friendly with other tour operators, communicating where some manatees had been sighted, and taking turns with groups getting close. We went down a quiet canal and observed a younger female manatee for a while. Later someone spotted a tour group with a mama and baby, but then those manatees took off so we didn't get to see them. There are also hot springs you can see underwater. We had snacks and coffee/hot chocolate and they turned a space heater on after because we were cold (remember to bring your own towels and warm clothes for after you pull down wetsuit). We had a great experience and I recommend River Ventures. It was a great value for 3 hours of a memory that will last forever.

Just went on out today with captain Mike and guide Carlos! It was the most magical experience. Manatees are my favorite animal and this has been a bucket list item for me to do. The team made it everything and more! Would 10000% recommendation and I will be back again! Thank you for making a dream come true!

We swam with the manatees with Caption Wade and Diver Master Trish. They really made it a fun and informative adventure. We had a great time and plan to come back and do it again.

This was amazing! Dave and Troy were excellent, and we were able to see several manatees. A great time was had by all, from the kids to the grandparents!

This tour was a 10th birthday gift for our twin boys and we had a wonderful time. Crosby and Troy made sure we found a manatee for our boys. We were able to spend quality time with the manatee and after we returned to the boat, the guys took us on a boat tour. Crosby and Troy were very knowledgeable about the area and it's wildlife. The heated pontoon came with snacks and drinks aplenty and the team made sure we had all we needed. 10/10 recommend to anyone considering!

Snorkeling with the manatees and watching them eat, surface to catch a breath and then submerging again to forage for food.

Best of three tours we did. Guides made sure we saw manatees in clear water, making for a great experience

The small group VIP heated tour was absolutely amazing! The staff was so accommodating to my six year old daughter and I on the trip. Our guide Marissa was so knowledgeable and kind! She took special attention to my daughter and made her feel very included. They were very hospitable on the boat, offering drinks and snacks multiple times, which I appreciated very much! I would 10/10 recommend and I will likely go again on my next trip down!