After checking in at the front desk, all tour guests will go through our manatee education program. During this, you’ll watch USFWS Manatee Manners video, go through a snorkel briefing and get fitted into a wetsuit. Guests are then shuttled to the marina to meet your crew where you will be guided onto Kings Bay to swim with manatees. The tour is 3 hours total, including prepwork and time on the water. Things to keep in mind: Manatee swim tours are a wildlife experience. In the winter, large aggregations of manatees come in due to cold fronts so they can gather close to the springs where the water is typically clearer. As the weather warms up, manatees will go to other areas of the bay where visibility varies. Kings Bay keeps a resident population of manatees year-round, allowing us to have manatee experiences outside of peak winter conditions. Please remember that since manatees are wild, every tour is different and varies day to day and even trip to trip. We perform tours year round, all day long, but we do suggest booking a morning tour when possible due to cooler outside temps and less crowds on the water.