Manatees

The peak season for observing manatees on a paddle board or kayak is between November and March, and the local manatee population swells to its largest size between December and February. You can spot manatees in our waterways all year round, but the population is much smaller during the summer months. In the colder winter months, you are virtually guaranteed to see a manatee on one of our rentals because there are hundreds of manatees in King’s Bay congregating near the springs, such as Three Sisters Springs. In the warmer summer months, you have roughly a 50% chance of seeing a manatee with no guarantee because most of the manatees migrate to better feeding grounds in the Gulf of Mexico and those that remain in King’s Bay are dispersed throughout the bay. However, in the warmer months, there are still approximately 25 – 50 manatees including some mother-calf pairings that remain in King’s Bay.

We provide local knowledge of where manatee sightings are most likely to occur increasing your chances of a manatee encounter on one of our kayaks or paddle boards. Also, the longer you are out on the water and the more area you are able to cover, the better the chances of a manatee encounter. Therefore, a 4 hour paddle board or kayak rental would help your chances of seeing a manatee compared to a 2 hour rental.

The beauty and clarity of Three Sisters Springs makes your day on the water worthwhile with or without seeing a manatee. Crystal River has more to offer than just manatees, so whatever the time of year you decide to visit, we’re going to give you the best rental experience that the water has to offer!