Crystal River on Florida's Gulf Coast is built around one thing: wintering manatees. When Gulf water drops below about 20°C in November, hundreds of manatees move into the constant 22°C outflow of Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs to stay warm. The town's snorkel-tour economy exists because this is one of the few places in the world where regulated in-water manatee encounters are legal. The experience is snorkel-only; rules prohibit chasing, touching from above, or obstructing the animals. Summer is off-season — the manatees disperse back to the Gulf.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 20–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 20–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 22–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 21–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 20–22 °C
- Viz
- 10–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Three Sisters Springs
Iconic spring with clear water and wintering manatees.
- 02
Kings Bay
Larger bay network with multiple spring outflows.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Tampa (TPA). Visa: ESTA or visa required for most non-US nationalities.
Best months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Avoid
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct