River Ventures Crystal River Snorkelling

This epic tour starts with manatee education and wetsuit fitting with your experienced guide before joining your coast guard certified captain on board our luxury pontoon. Cruise around King's Bay National Wildlife Refuge while looking for a manatee or two to kick off this awesome day of adventure. Once you've had your fill of snorkeling with manatees, we head out to the shallow grass beds in the Gulf of Mexico to hunt the delicious SCALLOP ! With the direction of our Captain and guide, the scallops may not jump in your bag, but the harvest will go as smoothly as possible. Having a phenomenal Captain can make all the difference, and this VIP tour will be staffed by ONLY THE BEST! Your guides will assist in the harvesting of your catch, identifying wildlife all around while keeping your safety in mind at all times. They will go above and beyond what is expected serving snacks and beverages including beer and wine!
We provide you with everything you need….just bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, a sandwich and a smile and we will gladly take care of the rest! Relax and enjoy this taste of the Nature Coast the way that only River Ventures can serve it.
Included in your Ultimate Voyage Package:
* 6 hours of adventure on our fast, luxury pontoon ‘The Voyager’
*Manatee education

*Mask, snorkel and wetsuit (for manatee portion)
*Fins, scallop net and license to harvest scallops
*Captain and in-water guide to assist with scallop catch and manatee manners
*Photographer to record the adventure (purchase of photo package additional)
*Snacks and beverages, as well as beer and wine
*Runs daily with a minimum of 3 passengers; a max of 6
This tour DEPARTS from River Ventures - Crystal River 498 SE Kings Bay Dr.
ATTENTION: This Gulf adventure is recommended for STRONG SWIMMERS, the condition in the ocean can vary greatly and change quickly. The Gulf can get choppy and you may be scalloping in water anywhere from 4 feet to 10 feet in depth (depending on tides and local of scallops). It is strongly advised not to bring children under 5. You are ultimately responsible for your child while out scalloping and if you choose to bring a child, include them in your total passenger count.
SCALLOP TOURS ARE DONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WHERE CONDITIONS ARE VARIABLE. THE BEST SCALLOPING CONDITIONS ARE ON SUNNY DAYS AT LOW TIDES…BEST CHANCES AT AVOIDING AFTERNOON STORMS WILL BE ON THE EARLY MORNING DEPARTURES. RAINFALL, WINDS, TIDES, MOON CYCLES AND SUNLIGHT ALL HAVE SIGNIFIGANT EFFECTS ON VISIBILITY AND ROUGH WATERS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO ENDURE. KEEP IN MIND WHILE BOOKING YOUR SCALLOP TOURS THAT WE CAN NOT CONTROL MOTHER NATURE, PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
What to Expect From your Scallop Adventure.....
This is a HUNT! We snorkel at the top of the water and when you spot a scallop you must dive down to
retrieve it and put it in your bag. Being a strong swimmer is a good idea, and taking small children out to
scallop is not recommended. WE DO NOT ALLOW INFANTS ON OUR SCALLOP BOATS.
Ideal conditions would be clear shallow water, but during higher tides water can be 10 to 12 foot deep.This can be much more difficult to manage. NO ONE REACHES LIMIT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IF YOU WANT THE CHEAPEST, MOST PRACTICAL WAY TO ACQUIRE SCALLOPS, THEN THE SEAFOOD SECTION AT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE MAY BE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU. IF YOU WANT GOOD TIMES AND ADVENTURE, THEN COME SEE US!
Your Captain will demonstrate how to clean the scallops, but will not clean them for you. They will have suggestions of where you can go to find someone who will clean them for you if you prefer. Most people choose to do it themselves, it is truly part of the experience! Your car will be waiting for you when you return, so your group is free to go about your day at your own pace.