Where To Swim With Manatees in Florida (Legally!)

Wondering where to swim with manatees in Florida? Not to mention, how to do so legally? Here we will cover all the best places to swim with manatees. While there are many exciting activities to try in Florida, none are quite as magical or unique as this!

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If you are heading to Florida, you cannot miss the incredible opportunity to swim with manatees. Florida is one of the only places in the world where you can see these strange creatures, let alone swim in the same waters as them.

First and foremost, it is imperative to avoid disturbing manatees. We are, after all, entering their home when we plunge into the water.

But, if you are able to follow the rules laid out below, you will have a fun and enjoyable time swimming with wild manatees in Florida.

If you are wondering how and where to swim with manatees, I’m going over the whole process below!

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Table of Contents

Everything You Need To Know to Swim With Manatees in Florida

Is it safe to swim with manatees?

Yes! Manatees are very friendly and docile animals. They are known to be slow-moving and curious.

I have had the pleasure to swim with manatees in Crystal River and Peanut Island, and both times the manatees would float nearby, curiously nudging their noses toward swimmers.

Is it legal to swim with manatees in Florida?

In most areas, it is only legal to observe manatees from the land or above the water. However, there are several locations in Florida where it is completely legal to enter the water and swim with manatees.

Note that there are rules in place to protect the manatees, regardless of where you are.

What not to do when swimming with manatees:

Swim over a manatee. Rather, it must come to you.
Stretch your arm toward a manatee.
Ride or grab a manatee.
Kick while in the water.
Feed a manatee.
Harass or separate a manatees away from its group.
Enter into any protected manatee sanctuaries.

But as long as you follow those rules, both you and the manatees should be happy and content.

What to pack when you’re swimming with manatees?

Here is everything you should pack for a a fun day swimming with manatees:

Reef safe sunscreen to protect the marine life.
Rash Guards for unexpected sand or rocks.
Your snorkel gear to see everything clearly!.
A lightweight beach towel for drying off afterwards.
Your best wide brim hat to get to and from the water.
Sunglasses
A bathing suit (obvious, right?)
A dry bag to protect phones, books, or anything that can’t get wet.
A kimono or coverup.
A waterproof action camera to document!

if you need further packing suggestions, check out my Florida packing list post!

Where to Swim With Manatees in Florida

First and foremost, manatees love swimming in warm water. They need to be in waters at least 68 degrees in order to keep their internal body temperature at the correct level.

One interesting fact about manatees is that they can live in both saltwater and freshwater. This means they have a lot of options when it comes to winter migrations. And, because of this, you’ll find them in both types of water throughout the seasons.

1. Peanut Island

Located near West Palm Beach, Peanut Island is one of the best places to swim with manatees in all of Florida. It is also one of the best snorkeling spots in the USA!

Best visited in the winter months, manatees migrate through the salty ocean waters and into the Peanut Island lagoon. Snorkelers will likely come face to face with these gentle giants without even trying (like I did!)

Check my full guide on visiting Peanut Island to make your visit a breeze.

2. Crystal River

Located on the west coast of Florida, Crystal River is a ridiculously gorgeous turquoise river surrounded by lush greenery. It is one of the prettiest places to swim with manatees, and is the first place I ever did so!

Crystal River’s water temperature hovers around 72 degrees year round, making it an ideal spot for manatees even in the winter. In fact, winter is when you will see the most of them, huddled up underwater.

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Book a Crystal River , Florida Tour to Swim with Manatees!

3. King’s Bay

King’s Bay is in Homosassa, Florida is an incredible spot to swim with manatees. King’s Bay is situated in a great location in Homosassa, Florida. If you’re up for an airboat ride, you can explore all of the wildlife above the water before getting in the water with the manatees.

King’s Bay is also the perfect place to access other parts of Crystal River, including Three Sisters Springs which we’ll talk about below.

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4. Three Sisters’ Springs

The Three Sisters’ Springs are warm freshwater springs connecting to the more famous Crystal River. The three springs are mainly visited by boat since there is no parking near the springs.

Three Sisters Spring is such a great place to swim with manatees because of the untouched crystal clear turquoise water. It is wild, natural land and it feels like a magical place.

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5. Silver Springs State Park

Located near Ocala, Florida, Silver Springs State Park is a great off-the-beaten-path place to swim with manatees. It is much quieter, but, be forewarned – there are not usually as many manatees here and you must visit during warm water seasons to see them.

Silver Springs State Park can be visited in an easy day trip from Florida. It is about 1.25 hours north of the big city.

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FAQs About Swimming with Manatees in Florida

Where to swim with manatees in the summer?

In the summer months in Florida, manatees can often be found swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. It is most common to find manatees in the Caribbean waters or the Gulf of Mexico at this time.

Manatees tend to live closer to the shallow coast so they can easily find sea grass, their main source of food.

Where to swim with manatees in the winter?

The best time to swim with manatees in Florida is actually during the winter months. When the ocean waters get too cold, manatees swim in droves to the rivers and lagoons of Florida.

Visiting the spots mentioned above in the winter almost guarantees that you can swim with a manatee due to their search for warm waters. The freshwater springs at Crystal River and the warm lagoon on Peanut Island make for the perfect environments.

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Can you swim with manatee without a tour?

Yes, potentially. In man of the areas listed above, you can swim in the waters without a tour. However, in many cases, you still need to hire a boat or take a shuttle to get out to where the manatees are.

Do manatees bite?

While manatees have plenty of teeth, they actually don’t bite. Their teeth are primarily used to chew on seagrass and other vegetation. Manatees are known to be very docile and curious towards humans.

How big do manatees grow?

Manatees can measure up to 14 feet long and weigh as much as 3,000 pounds!

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Swimming with manatees in Florida is one of the best activities to try, particularly if you are visiting Florida in the winter.

Now that you know where to swim with manatees in Florida, what are you waiting for? Get out there and try it!

Have you ever swam with manatees before? Let me know below!

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