Capt Mike's Ultimate Manatee Tour | VIP Tours

Captain Mike

We have been to Florida 5 times on holiday travelling from the UK we always do the theme park circuit however this time we wanted to do something different and therefore booked a trip with you 25th of April . We were met by Captain Rick and taken out with 2 American girls , for one brilliant amazing day .
Within 10 minutes we were swimming with 5 manatees although the water was very murky the contact was made by those wonderfully friendly animals coming to us . At the second location we had crystal clear water and were rewarded with a mother and baby which stayed with us for over an hour .
Our captain was very knowledgeable made us feel special and provide us with a very special day that was worth 9 hours on a plane and every dollar spent

Dawne Ian Craig Philip T

Capt. Mike,

Our swim with the Manatees was outstanding ! My wife, daughter and her
friend couldn't believe hour friendly those thousand plus pound animals
were. We had a great time and your accommodations on board were every
bit as good as you said they were. I looked at a n;umber of tour sites
operators on line before selecting yours as you limit the number of
guests to 6 , have a heated cabin with snacks and a bathroom facilities
which no other tour operator offers. In addition , your concern for the
Manatees and work with the local fish and game to help protect these
endangered animals is to be commend. We want to return to Florida if
just to enjoy that experience again. We will keep your contact
information for future reference Best of luck in your work on continued
relationship with the fish and game to protect the manatees and limit
the number of people that tour operators can take out at one time !!

Dear Captain Mike,

On December 21st 2010 my family and I left Lynn Massachusetts to spend our holidays in the Disney World area of Florida. Our means of travel was by car, not by plane. On our way to Disney we planned a side trip to Homossasa, and Crystal River to take a tour with Captain Mike and swim with manatees. We arrived in Homossasa on December 22nd. We spent the night at The Homosassa Riverside Resort, and got up the morning of December 23rd to swim with manatees.

I have to tell you swimming with the manatees was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! My family and I found this to be the HIGH POINT of our entire trip to Florida. It was even better than anything Disney World had to offer. Our tour guide Mike(not sure which one but he’s the mike who has a stepson that lives in Beverly Massachusetts, a town right next to where we live) was the best captain we could ask for. Please send him our most greatful thanks, and tell him to look us up when he visits his stepson in Beverly Massachusetts.

We are already trying to plan a trip to Crystal River for next Christmas. This time our trip will not include Disney, only manatees.

Thanks again for showing us these beautiful sea elephants.

Jeff
Lynn, MA

Good morning Captain Mike,

We had a great time yesterday.. a "wunderbar time" (dereck should understand)
Just this few words to tell you how we appreciated to live the manatee tour experience with Dereck and your compagny.
We will come back as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will recommand your friendly tour to our tour operator and also on www.tripadvisor.com.
Could just give or show this picture to our employee " dereck" who did his best to enjoy our honey moon.
Best regards.
Mr D
Ps: thanks Dereck for his good advise regarding the lunch " cracker's restaurant"

Ariel and I went on your tour Tuesday. Our Capt Mike was very knowledgeable and we had the greatest time. He was great at what he does and you can tell he really cares about the Manatees and the clients that he takes out. I have already recommended you and your services to many of my family and some of my friends that live in Florida but haven't tried this. I have wanted to do this for too many years and thank you for such a wonderful experience for me and my daughter.
MONTE

Hi there,

I took a boat with Capt. Mike Burns on 3rd October, and I wanted to
get in touch to say how excellent the whole tour was. Mike was
extremely knowledgeable, interesting and was incredibly helpful the
whole time. He was very obviously dedicated to the well-being of the
manatees and at the same time committed to helping the 3 of us get the
most out of the morning. He also did a great job explaining the
conservation side of things and we were all very impressed that the
Sunshine River tours put nature and the well-being of the manatees as
your priorities, not us tourists!

I could not want for a better experience and I will absolutely
recommend your tours to everyone I know. Thank you very much indeed.

I also made a slightly murky video about the fleeting romance between
myself and the male manatee that took a shining to me. I will never
forget the experience!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD0A2xaHBgI

Thanks,
Peter

Thank you SOOOO very much for such a wonderful and memorable swim. Here are the shots from the tour
http://robincookphotography.zenfolio.com/p624148332

I can't thank Jan enough for being a great tour guide and for being so wonderful, pleasurable and knowledgeable. I look forward to coming again when the water is CLEAR to catch much better photos and enjoy the manatees some more!

Captain Mike,
I just wanted to say Thank you so much for a wonder tour, and a chance to swim with the manatees at crystal river. My best friend and took your tour on April 13, 2010 and we had a wonderful time! Our captain, Mike, was excellent as well as informative and knowledgeable about the river system and the manatees.
I’ve attached a few pictures for you, I’m not the best photographer but thought I would share.
Thank you again, and I’m already planning on coming down from Indiana for a winter tour! Rachel

On Friday, April 30, I was lucky enough to go out on a tour with my son, daughter and another couple with Captain Jan. The trip could not have gone better. She was very informative about the manatee and the conditions under which they live. She gave clear concise instructions on how we should behave around the manatee. She handled the boat expertly and efficiently. She made sure the trip was pleasant and non-stressful on the passengers as well as the manatee.

Swimming with the manatee has been something I have wanted to do for a very long time. The best part of the trip was when I got to swim with a mom and baby. It was a dream come true. I had to e-mail you and let you know what a great job Captain Jan did. She made the tour very enjoyable to say the least.

A Very Satisfied Customer,
Kathleen

As a very special gift for my oldest daughter for her 40th birthday, I signed us both up for the VIP Manatee Tour. It turned out to be a truly unforgettable Mother/Daughter bonding experience for both of us as well. We went out on April 2 with Captain Rick. It was the most incredible experience either one of us have ever had. We can't stop talking about it and looking at all the awesome pictures we took that day with our underwater cameras.

Just wanted to tell you what a fantastic trip we had! Got to swim with many of the gentle creatures, even a momma and her baby. Watched some dolphins having lunch in a school of mackerel and lots of beautiful blue water. Captain Rick was top notch and so was the whole operation. Thanks for the great memories! Shannon

Hi Captain Mike,
What an awsome trip to end our vacation in Florida. I would like to give Capt Jan and your company 2 thumbs up from Iowa. I will recommend your service to anyone that we know that are coming to the Crystal River area. When we return next year we will be back to see your crew and the most wonderful animal the Manatee. Please let Captain Jan know that the pictures she took with our camera are truly one of a kind. Thankyou Captain Mike!!!!!!!!!!
Mike and Kim

Captain Mike, My husband and I had such a great time this past Friday - Jeff was absolutely great. He was so personable, and made such a point to learn our names at the beginning. Throughout the tour, he would call to us to tell us from the boat to let us know that there was a manatee 10 feet to our left, just behind us, or, in my case, following me back to the boat! The only bad thing I can possibly say about Captain Jeff is that he wouldn't let me bring a manatee home with me. We had such a wonderful manatee encounter, and we got some great pictures. If any of them are useful to you, please feel free to use them as well as pass them off to Jeff if he would enjoy any of them. There are four particularly good ones of Brad Baker (the birthday boy on the boat) that my husband took. Again, we had such a great time. We'll be back! Jennifer Watson

Good Afternoon Captain Mike, I wanted to E-mail you to say thank you for the wonderful time, and professionalism you and your staff. My son Tyler and I went on this past Saturday's 6:00am tour with Captain Mike Burns. What an experience my son and I had, I can't put in words other than WOW. I have seen pictures and videos of manatees but until you are next to them in the water up close you really don't know what they are really like. This was my son Tyler 's and mine first time being in a wet suit and using a snorkel we laugh now because we actually put the suits on backwards the first time. This has been Tyler's dream for the past three years and because he is mildly retarded and has never been a great swimmer his mother and I were really nervous about this trip but you and Mike made it easy, we will try to make it back soon for another tour. I have enclosed a picture of me and Tyler you can use it how ever you wish again a big thank you, all the way home Tyler said over and over that his dream of swimming with the manatees finally came true. One question I had I know mike said that we could not wear flippers I understand that but could we wear swimming shoes? The only thing I didn't like was being bear foot and I was thinking that swimming shoes might be the answer but wanted to ask first. Thank you, Ken

Our manatee swim with Capt. Jan on Monday was beyond our expectations -- mostly because of Jan. She was a gracious hostess and knowledgeable captain. All six of us enjoyed learning about the river and manatees. And we'll never forget our manatee encounters. Thanks for providing us amazing memories to last a lifetime. By the way, I wanted to let you know I learned of your tours when I picked up your brochure at the Florida Capitol visitor center, Tallahassee. Gale

We took the tour on 24th as booked - we would like to compliment our skipper, Mike (no relation so he tells us). His knowledge of the wildlife including these incredible creatures made the experience for us and, contrary to some accounts of similar 'swim with manatee' tours, we saw that your team consider the welfare of the animals to be paramount. Thanks for an unforgettable morning, and the food at Crackers wasn't bad either! Ron

WOW!! What can we say? The Manatee swim was AWESOME! One of the best experiences we've had in a long while. The boat captain gave an OUTSTANDING briefing before we went out to swim. His name is Mike as well. With his experience, knowledge, and lecture it made our experience worth driving the distance to get there.
The wife and I were really grateful to get a chance to swim with the Manatees, not just to see them in their environment, but to actually swim with them. Though we could not go out and touch them, some juveniles came to us. Of course my wife can draw a crowd�animals especially�was awesome to see her happy. Not only did we see and swim with the Manatees, we saw two dolphins in the area from the Gulf and saw another dolphin play and eat a snapper.
We could not complain about the price. Very fair and was able to use the coupons at Cracker's. Their food was pretty good as well.
Thanks for the Memory!!
Respectfully,
Kenny & Trish

I just wanted to say thank you to Captian Connie for an awesome experience. My family and I went on the Manatee swim tour in July, the waters were very cloudy but Captian Connie was great in locating some manatees for our group. She was awesome!! I am still talking about my trip. You guys are doing a wonderful job. I have recommended the Sunshine River Tour to everyone. THANKS AGAIN FOR A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!!!

Captain Mike,
My Wife and I went out on the VIP tour last Wednesday (8/5/09). It's been my Wife's life long wish to swim with the Manatees. After surviving her bout with breast cancer two years ago, I gave her this trip for her 50th birthday.
We were not disappointed! Jan was absolutely WONDERFUL! Professional, caring and motivated to make our tour special. You really have a winner on your hands there. We had an unusually positive encounter. One my Wife will remember for the rest of her life.
I would highly recommend Sunshine River Tours to anyone wanting this experience. In addition, the VIP tour was exceptional.
Thanks for accommodating us!
Sincerely,
Joel
p.s., yea, I had fun too!

Just wanted to thank-you and our boat Captain Jan for a great time on our trip 7/6/09. Jan was a great tour guide and went out of her way to make sure my 82 year old mother and my nephews had a good time. Jack & I are trying to get a group to come back in December. Thanks again. Jean & Jack

I had a wonderful time. Captain Jan was very personable and deserves a raise :) I have uploaded an underwater video of my trip to youtube and would like to share the link with you folks. I will definately be returning. Hope you enjoy the video..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1vPqHkGtM Sincerely, Rose

Wanted to thank you for a great trip on Sat April 18th. We were able to interact with a big group of manatees by an island. We will be coming back to see y'all again

Just a note to let you know we had a great experience today. Capt. Jeff did an awesome job for us. We look forward to another visit next winter. Thanks to Capt. Jeff.

Sincerely,
Dr. Marty and family

We went out with Jan on Friday and had a great trip.

She did an excellent job getting us out quickly before crowds and was a great guide.
We'll be back in January! I'm working on an article about our manatee experience that will appear on http://www.insideflorida.com
Thanks again and see attached photos and pass along to Jan...
-Adam

Swimming with Manatees has been a dream for me since 10 years.
Ever since I've seen a manatee here in Holland in Artis Zoo.
So I dragged my husband with me on your private tour on February 11th 2009.
Our captain Jan turned out to be a great nature lover and very friendly woman.
I loved the tour, and so did my husband. I had the time of my life.
So hereby I would like to thank you and your organisation for the great experience.
I am sertainly recommanding this tour to all and will also go on it the next time I spend any time near Crystal River.
Thank you for making my dream come true!
Kindest regards, Nienke

Hello Captain Jan, as we reflected on our florida vacation i wanted to thank you for the most memorable morning i've ever had. The manatee encounter was incredible and anything beyond that we were hard pressed to beat. Only wished we could have stayed longer. Hope we will be able to do it next visit with you. Thanks again for the wonderful experience.
'''sincerely" janet rutkiewicz , jim, paulette and barrie.

Returned from floating with the Manatees. I am the Aunt Karen of Sue. Sue made the arrangements for us to have you, Captain Mike to take us out. My dream for many years was to float with the Manatees. YOU and your fine crew made my dream come true.March 5Th ,Thursday was the day we went out at 6A:M. Thank for making my drean come true. I shall remember this always. I would like to come back next year from Rochester,N.Y. Will be sure to book with you. When you see the other Mike,tell him the redhead sends her many thanks.
Most sincerely, Karen Rochester,N.Y.

Just a quick note to let you know that we all had a wonderful trip to see the manatee yesterday. The manatee were very friendly and many to see. Our captain Mike was just great! Gave us lots of very helpful information and made the trip very interesting. We were all amazed at how warm we were while in the water with the temps only being in the 40's when we got in. Now getting out was a totally different story. It will be an experience that well all will never forget.
Thank you so much .
Ron & Tari, Chuck & Judy and Dianne

I wanted to send a quick note thanking you and your company for a wonderful Manatee tour on February 17, 2009. Mike was our tour operator and he took great care in making sure the experience was good for the people on the tour as well as the manatees. It was truly an exceptional experience. Mike made sure everybody understood the rules of engagement with the manatees to respect them in their house. Our general observation was that other tours didn't take the time to explain to their participants these rules. If the opportunity presents itself in the future, we would certainly like to come back and visit the manatees on your tour. I will most definitely pass your name along to anyone who will be in the area and encourage them to take your manatee tour.

Thanks again for making this the highlight of our trip to Florida .

Stephen and Theresa

I just want to thank you for such a great experience. It was wonderful, I still can't get over it! I have done a lot of interesting things with animals, have 15 of my own various rescued pets living with me, work in seabird rescue in Sarasota, and have "swam with dolphins", but nothing has come close to my experience with the manatees through your company. It was absolutely amazing, you offer everything that you advertise and more, and if I can help you in any way with this endorsement it would be my great
pleasure. THANK YOU!!
Deb from Sarasota

I just returned from Florida after going on both your tours! I was supposed to go on two of the private tours but am glad I overslept and ended up going on the group tour first and then the private tour the next day! They were FANTASTIC!!! Both Captains were wonderful and Captain Jan should even turn hers into a Manatee and Dolphin tour! :) Captain Jody was great as well and I am figuring out how to come again with my daughter. Thank you again for making this a trip to remember!
Janine

On 1/19/09, Kate and I took the Ultimate Manatee tour with captain Jan. This note is to advise you that we had a terrific tour and we thought Jan did an excellent job. Not only was Jan very knowledgeable, she was also very pleasant, did an excellent job finding and pointing out Manatees, and dealt very well with private boaters. We will recommend your tour to our friends.
Pete and Kate

Captain Jan,
On behalf of my family I would like to thank you for making our Manatee tour on the 28 th October 2008 an exceptional experience, what a way to spend your birthday
We thoroughly enjoyed the day and have left with not only a greater understanding of these wonderful creatures but with fond memories. We were over in the USA for four weeks doing the usual theme parks etc however we all agreed that the Manatee tour was the highlight of the holiday.
We would definitely recommend Captain Mike's tour and yourself as Captain/guide to anyone we know who is planning a visit to Florida and if we come back we would love to do it again.
From first meeting us on the dock to the end of the tour you made us feel very welcome and at home on the boat. The facilities on the boat were excellent, the warm drinks and snacks were a nice touch and the enclosed cabin/heater was most appreciated.
I have attached a couple of photographs that you took for us and also a couple of scanned images from our disposable underwater camera, please feel free to use them.
Once again Captain Jan, thank you.
Kind Regards,
Pete, Diane, Laura, Hannah and Luke

Hi Capt. Mike,
My friend Kathy (from RI) and myself had the great pleasure of taking

your ultimate tour on Monday. We had an absolutely fantastic time. Capt. Jan was awesome and she helped us interact with several manatees. She was very patient when I had some initial trouble with the snorkle and helped me have a great time. Kathy interacted with several manatees including a mom and baby. We/I have told all our friends about your tour and I will definately be back. Thanks so much.
Cheryl

Mike, I wanted to tell you that Tim and I went out with Jan on 10/16/08 and had a fantastic time. What a wonderful, caring person she is - she made the trip so nice for the whole group! She searched long and hard and found us 4 manatees including a baby! But what impressed me the most about her was her love for the animals, and the sensitivity she showed them and taught us. I learned so much from her. I have already told other people about her, and your tour's. We have already talked about coming down again, and I told Tim I'd also like to try some of the other things you offer. I like the way you do business! Thanks for making it so great for what you offer, and the type of employees you hire!Sally

My dad and I had a wonderful time with Captain Jan! She was wonderful. I was so excited to get to touch a manatee. The 15 plus year wait to do this trip was worth it. I will deffinately be back in the future with my husband and two children so they can be with thesew onderful gentle giants also. Thank you so much!! Misty Cederholm and Paul Hathaway!!! I have attached a pic of my dad and I with one of the manatees. How wonderful of Jan to use the camera for me!!!

Just wanted to say my husband and I had a totally
great time IT ROCKED. Jan was our captain on Oct 8 for the ultimate tour. We seen a mom and her calf , and a single adult, then a youth. The springs were really tranquill, and just floating with the gentle giants was something we won't forget anytime soon. We truely enjoyed ourselves. And if life would workout we will be moving down there to enjoy more that that area has to offer. We liked the area that much. Thanks Again. Kelly & Steve M

MY NAME IS DEBBIE AND ON 9/10/08 I TOOK THE TOUR C MANATEE TOUR.I CAN'T EXPRESS IN WORDS HOW EMOTIONAL AN EXPERIENCE IT WAS.JAN WAS A TERRIFIC TOUR GUIDE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES I EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Captain Mike - Our family went on an "Ultimate" tour with Captain Stacy
on July 31. We had the most amazing day! Stacy was knowledgeable,
encouraging, enthusiastic, and fun. She was also persistent - trolling
until she found manatees in clear water. When Stacy found out our middle son is considering a career with marine mammals she shared a lot of helpful information with him. Watching the manatees feed and hearing them chew was an incredible experience. Our older boys are already planning"spring break" when the Crystal River will be full of manatees. To quote our 20 year old, " It was cool to chill out with the manatees." We loved our day at Discovery Cove with the dolphins, but this extended time personal tour was tops (and less expensive).
Sincerely, Brent, Beth, Benjamin, Paul, and David

I took the Ultimate Manatee Tour on Thursday july 31st. We had an amazing time! Captain Jan was fantastic and we will be coming back again and asking for her! We got to experience dolphins swimming next to the boat and saw close to a dozen manatees. Three of which let us spend almost an hour in the water with them! We will remember this tour forever and will definitely be telling all our friends and family about you! Thank you for a spectacular time!
Kody

Dear Captain Mike,
I had the most AWESOME time on the 6 hour ultimate mantee tour on july 23, 2008. Captain Jan was outstanding and she made sure we had a great time. The other I was with were great people and we all got along great. My husband, who didn't go in the water, served as first mate and helped spot manatees and take pictures! It was an experience I will NEVER forget! Keep up the good work and let more people know that these endangered gentle giants need to be protected! Thanks again!
Debbie and Gordie

Good Morning, I just took the ultimate manatee tour with Capt. Jan on June 13, 2008. I cannot explain what a great time we had. You should be very proud to have an employee such as her. She was one of the greatest people I have ever met. She made our day one of the greatest days all of us have ever had in our lives so far. That coming from a 12 year old boy that spend the week at DISNEY. He said he would swim with the manatee again before he would go back to DISNEY. Please let Jan know how much we appreciate all that she did for us. Again it was awesome. If you could give me an address I would like to forward her a Thank You note.

Thank You again & let her know SCUBA STEVE said THANK YOU. (She will know what this means. )
Paul, Michele, PJ, Trevor

I have to write and tell you what an absolutely amazing time we had on one of your tours. Captain Jan was SO wonderful. She was professional from the moment she docked the boat to the time of unboarding. My son and I had the experience of a lifetime. I don't think we could do it again and get a better trip. We swam with manatee from the time we hit the water. We never went more than 10-15 minutes without someone swimming by a manatee. My son and I actually swam with them close enough to touch for over an hour. The three sisters springs swim was a joy as well, something out of a dream. Jan made sure we were dry, warm and fed! Our party ranged in ages from 13 to I'm guessing mid-60's and she was able to accomodate everyone. We all left totally thrilled and convinced we'd had an experience of a lifetime. I would highly recommend your firm, and especially Jan! I have cousins that have lived in the Orlando area for over 20 years and have never been, so I'm expecting them to make a trip booking soon.
Kristal

Dear Capt Mike,
Thank you for sending us Captain Doreen to take us on our Ultimate Manatee Tour yesterday. She was lovely and witty, a delightful lady undisturbed by the ebullience (and appetites-thank goodness she had a deep stash of snacks!) of our two sons, 6 & 7. She made sure that we had the best experience possible, even though the pickings were scarce due to the weather and winds, she persevered in scouting out the manatees and
provided us with an unforgettable experience that our family will never
forget. We will be sure to recommend you to our friends!
Keep up the efforts to protect these wonderful creatures and educate the
public.
Most sincerely,
The Clan

We were on Doreen's houseboat on January 25th. It was
my husband and I and our daughter and one other lady
and her two kids.
I just wanted to let you know that we had the best
time! My daughter decided she didn't like swimming
with the manatees but she still had a great time and
really enjoyed Doreen. Let me just say that Doreen
was an excellent captain, guide and nice person. I
came home and have told everyone what a wonderful
experience we had. We had no idea what to expect and
it far exceeded anything I could have imagined. I
have loved manatees for 20 years and I have always
talked about either swimming with them or going into
the wild to see them. This was the highlight of our
trip to Florida! When we went to Epcot and saw the
manatee there with no tail, we could tell people we
SWAM with a manatee that didn't have a tail.
Again thank you and lunch at Cracker's was great when
we finished.
Please let Doreen know what an awesome guide she was
for us. I plan on coming back next year!
Karen N

I just returned from your Ultimate Tour with Jake as our guide. Swimming with the manatees has been a dream of my wife for years and I arranged the tour for our 20 th anniversary. The experience far exceeded all or our expectations. Jake took us to an area away from all the crowds and spent a great deal of time with the manatees. We were very careful not to be too intrusive but they were so playful, we had them around from the time we got in the water until the time we left. We also had a great time with the other couple that was on the tour. We ended up having lunch together afterward and enjoyed a great time.
Most people can look back on their lives and count on one hand the truly special days they have experienced. I would have to say that this was one of those days. Thanks for a great experience and making our 20th anniversary a very special day; we want to come back again and bring our kids. I'm sure we will be calling you again.
Gary R
Stuart, FL 34994

We just completed our tour with Doreen and we wanted to drop a quick note of thanks and congratulations to both yourself and Doreen. My wife and I think you have one of the better / classier tours on the go and we found Doreen to be a fantastic captain and tour guide. Thanks again and a very Merry Christmas to yourself and all your staff.
Regards, Rob

I just wanted to tell you how great of a time we had on the Ultimate Manatee Tour. We were guests of Capt Doreen on November 30th. All I can say it it was the best experince of our trip to Florida. My husband is still talking about it as well as my twin boys age 8. Capt Doreen was great. We have told 2 of our friends that will be travelling in Florida it is a "must do". Very reasonable for the money. Thank you again for a great family memory. Happy Holiday. Diane B.,Merrimac,MA

We just wanted to let you know how enjoyable our manatee tour was on
November 9th. Capt Doreen was absolutely the most personable and fun
loving guide we could have hoped for. She was knowledgeable and so cordial that we felt like old friends. It was an adventure of a lifetime for us and Doreen made it so. The other couple on board were to say the least, a little full of themselves and if it had not been for Doreen's pleasant demeanor we could have easily regretted the company. As it was, we all had a great time. We chatted with another boat captain, Wayne who photographed us and said he would get the pic back to Doreen to be forwarded to us. She can feel free to use this e-address if he does find the time to get the photo to her. Once again, thank you so much. You can rest assured that we will recommend you highly to everyone we know. A special Hi to Doreen with much thanks.
Randy and Kathy

I felt compelled to send this e-mail. We just completed our tour with
Capt. Doreen on 9/12/07. I just wanted you to know that I think Doreen is the best. She was patient, informative and you can tell that she loves her job and loves the manatees even more. It was such a pleasure to experience her joy for the animals while allowing us to have a great experience. She is very thorough and was great with my wife and I as well as the family of 4 that we shared her boat with that day. Even though it was the "off-season" and the manatee were not as numerous as one would hope - she found them for us, helped us find them with her (by showing us what to look for and such) and she made sure that everyone on the boat got adequate exposure to the animals. We were exhausted by the end of the experience but very satisfied. You will see us back next year - likely late October or early November - and we would very much like to have Doreen as our captain again.
Thank you for the opportunity to see and experience these wonderful
animals by doing what you do. I will forever be "altered" by my experience and have come to a new appreciation for the manatee and their needs for continued survival. Please share my appreciation for your services with Doreen - she really is A-number one!!

Sincerely,
Scott J., MD
Van Wert, OH

On August 1st, We took a private tour on your boat to swim with the manatees. We just wanted to let you know that was the best trip ever. Dorean our captain was the best. She actually got in the water with us. You have got the right Captain on that boat. We can see how much she loves the manatees. We will be back and hope that we have her as our Captain. Dorean even took us to the 3 sisters springs. That was beautiful. Thank you very much. Vicki D & Shirley

I just wanted to tell you about our enjoyable experience during our
ultimate manatee tour on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007. I was very impressed with Dee, her vast boating knowledge and her
exceptional pleasant personality. Everyone enjoyed the experience
especially myself and my wife, Kathy. We plan on returning sometime in the winter with our two sons to go on the tour when the water is clearer.

I let Dee use my Maui Jim sunglasses and she was able to see the manatees much clearer in the water. I know she would really appreciate getting a pair to use at work and while boating. She is quite an asset to your operation. Dee found at least ten different manatees for our group to swim with and she was very professional and courteous to us and the other boaters. There was even a group of two people that we ran into on the water and they remarked how nice and professional your web site
comes across to everyone who goes onto your web site. I agree, it is a top notch web site.

I plan on telling my friends of my manatee experience and sharing my
insight with them about your first class operation. Thank you for providing such an enjoyable and memorable service with your manatee tour. I will remember my manatee experience for the rest of my life.
Thank you,
Michael

Dear Capt. Mike, Just had to add our positive comments to the others you get...Capt. Doreen was WONDERFUL and the experience for my son Brian, my wife Elsa and myself was out of this world!!! One manatee was so cooperative that even Elsa, a non swimmer, was able to touch him from the boat as it played the ladder game!!! We WILL come back, hopefully during the winter, and appreciate so much the memories we have been given from this first time!!! Thanks again Doreen and thanks Capt. Mike for making this possible!!! Cal, Elsa and Brian

I just had to e-mail to thank you on behalf of myself and my boyfriend
Stephen. We visited Florida a few weeks ago and spent the most wonderful day out on the Crystal River with Capt. Doreen (or perhaps Dorleen or even Darleen) - the crazy blond one anyway!!!
Stephen had never seen a manatee before but turned out to be the best
'manatee spotter' on the boat. I really cant thank you enough for such a
fantastic experience, and wanted to let you know that we have already
booked our next trip to Florida (this time in the Winter thanks to those
fantastic photos of Manatee tours in Winter time!) and we will be certain
to get straight on the phone to make a reservation with you guys when we get there.
Once again, thank you and see you in November 2008!
Kind regards, Michelle & Stephen
Top Manatee Spotters, England, UK, June 2007

Captain Mike,
I just wanted to thank you and Doreen for the most wonderful day I have had in a very long time. My Best Friend popped into town unexpectedly a few days before my Birthday from California to surprise me. We decided to take you private tour to swim with the manatee. What a wonder experience we had.
We enjoyed all the lovely accommodations on your ever so clean house boat. We just could not believe how prepared your Captain Doreen and the boat was for us on the day. ( Coffee, Tea, Soda, Water, Snakes, Wetsuits..........etc.). I have to tell ya, THAT IS THE WAY TO DO BUSINESS!!
Doreen was our Captain for the day and she was cheerful and very knowledgeable. What a great person. She was so wonderful to stay and honor us at lunch which we had forgotten was included as well in the tour.
WE CERTAINLY FELT AS THOUGH WE GOT OUR MONEY'S WORTH AND THEN SOME.
Thanks Again!!!
We are looking forward to coming back to Swim with the Manatee with your company.
Best Regards, Kat B

We just wanted to ensure that you know that Doreen made our day trip fantastic! Our swim with the manatees day was the highlight of our 2 week holiday. Thanks Sylvia

Just returned from a Florida vacation having included as part of it an ultimate Manatee Tour with Yourselves(10th April).What a fantastic experience & it was great to get away from the crowds & see another part of the country.Great tour, great boat & please pass our thanks on to the other "Captain Mike". My 10 year old daughter Katie who has been looking forward to theme parks etc for the last 5 months rated this the best part of her vacation. Why people would pay £160 for 15 minutes stroking a trained Dolphin at Discovery Cove when they can interact with these beautiful creatures in their natural environment for a number of hours beats me! & at a fraction of the cost. "3 Sisters" was spectacular. I unreservedly recommend this tour.
Very Best Regards, Helen, Katie & Peter UK

We had a wonderful trip last August on your Ultimate Manatee tour and have been meaning to forward this picture to you.
It is of our son in the water with the name of the tour in the background....it may be useful for you to use on your website!
It is very cold, damp and windy in the UK at the moment so it cheers us up to look at our holiday snaps.
All the best for the new year.

We were EXTREMELY pleased with our 6 hour private manatee tour we took on 11/27/06. We went out with Captain Doreen who took us on an adventure which far exceeded our expectations. I will recommend this trip to anyone seeking a truly unforgettable experience. I think it's important to state that we now have a greater respect and appreciation for manatees, and all wildlife because we went on your tour. I realize the Florida fish and wildlife dept keeps a close eye on these magnificent creatures and they should know what a truly thought provoking service you provide. They should allow these trips to go on forever, for it was our trip to the manatees that gave us such respect for them. My entire family will now be "manatee protectors" even from here in Maine. Thank you for what you do.
James B
Burnham, ME

Just what to say thank you for a wonderful trip my daughter and myself took on July 6th, it was fantastic and we are planning on coming back next year to do it again. You are a FIRST CLASS OPERATION!!!!
Thanks again
Mark

I wanted to thank you for the wonderful time that my family (two boys ages 7 and 12, my husband) and I had on March first. We went out on the ultimate Manatee tour and I think that this was the best $400 dollars that we spent during our two weeks in florida. We were so excited to go and see the manatees and the hospitality of our captain and the accomidations on the boat made it perfect. We love the DVD! I think that we have seen it four times allready. The lunch at Crackers was a nice way to tie it all up. Thanks again for the very memorable and exciting day. Thanks again. Kip, Anna, Patrick, and Kreig

Hi,
I couldn't wait to say "thanks" for the Ultimate Manatee tour. It was the most memorable time of our vacation.

I was a bit apprehensive about the tour because I am a "plus sized girl" and I was terrified of the wet suit. Let me say this to all you girls out there: A wet suit is very forgiving "stretchy" and it is black. What could be better? LOL

OUr guides were CAPT'S DON AND SHAROL and they were very warm and welcoming. I can not imagine ANYONE I would prefer to go out with than these two. They make a great team and compliment each other wonderfully. Captain Sharol piloted the house boat to the perfect spots, where we interacted with so many manatees there was no need to "search" for them. They were hanging off our boat the entire time. Don and Sharol were very caring and concerned about the manatee and you could tell they really loved these helpless creatures. We were advised several times (in a warm and friendly way) that This is the manatee's home and we are the visitors. They instructed us in proper manners when swimming and shared a true respect for the animals.

I heard that this is one of the 10 best "dives" in the world, according to a book out of the UK, however, my husband and I have no dive experience. We soon learned that snorkeling is the best way to join with the manatee, as they are frightened off by the bubbles released from a tank. Captain Don took us out and showed us the springs (three sisters) and along the river. We had as much freedom to interact as we wanted, however following with Don we were guided to the most wonderful places and saw the most amazing things. He took his job very seriously and was always watching out for us. I felt completely safe in the water with him. He even stopped a group of kids from another boat from chasing a smaller manatee. Nicely Done Don!!

I have yet to watch the DVD and may even write again after I do.

All in all....I would ONLY choose Captain Mike's Sunshine tours, and I would strongly advise the "ultimate manatee tour". The cost is not so much more than the big, open boats, but the service, comfort, and individual interaction is PRICELESS. If you get Sharol and Don as guides, you are very lucky indeed.

Don and Sharol: We wish you many wonderful years together , and we are so glad to have spent some time with you.

Joan & Randy

Please will you convey our thanks to Capt Cheryl for the wonderful trip we had last Friday (16 Dec), she was warm, friendly, charming and very knowledgeable. We truly did have the 'ultimate' manatee experience I believe there were a record 108 manatees at our location, but it was the quality of the interaction which was most important.

We were involved with 3/4 very friendly manatees and 2 particularly playful young ones who were fascinated by Cheryl's camera and my yellow mask. Because we had the houseboat, we were able to spend a long time in the water and return to warm up indoors when we got cold, and use the invaluable 'restroom' before setting out on another swim after the crowds had gone. Most were asleep or grazing this time, but one of the young ones still wanted to play. We were particularly privileged not only to see a young manatee suckling from his/her mother, but also later a pair mating!
The DVD is a fantastic idea too, as we can now watch the manatees, and us interacting with them for ever. (it did work on our English DVD player after all)

An all round great day. If we ever get the opportunity to swim with the manatees again we will certainly do it this way it is SO much better than the usual boat trip, we got to spend more time with these wonderful creatures, and it is so much warmer and comfortable in every way.