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Crystal River Kayak Company & Dive Center About Us
Family-owned since 1996, the longest-running kayak operation in Crystal River, and still the only outfitter launching directly on the canals.
Family-Owned Since 1996
Meet Us at the Shop
Our shop, Dive Center, and canal launch share one Crystal River property. Stop in and see the operation behind the story.
Family-Owned in Crystal River Since 1996
Crystal River Kayak Company & Dive Center is the longest-running kayak operation in Crystal River, family-owned since opening in 1996 and still the only outfitter launching directly on the canals. That history also includes a full NAUI Pro Gold dive center under the same roof.
Built Here. Learned Here.
We opened in 1996, when paddling to see manatees was still something locals did and many visitors had barely heard of. The business grew on the same water it still serves today, from a canal-side dock only about ten minutes from Three Sisters Springs.
Decades of operating here have shaped how we train the local team, choose routes, explain changing access, and set honest expectations about wildlife. The people working today inherit that operating knowledge instead of pretending every morning on the water is predictable.
Our Dock Is Here Ten Minutes. No Open-Water Crossing.
We Take Care of This Place
The springs are why visitors come and why we are still here, so stewardship has to be operational rather than decorative. Three Sisters Springs volunteers launch free from our dock because the people protecting the system should not have to pay to reach it.
Every guest watches Manatee Manners before launch, and every guided experience follows passive observation rules. We would rather reset an expectation than crowd an animal that came here to rest.
What That Means Here
- Three Sisters Springs volunteers launch free from our dock
- Every guest watches Manatee Manners before going out
- Guided experiences follow passive observation rules
- Wildlife is respected, never treated as a guaranteed attraction
Kayaks Up Front. A Real Dive Center in Back.
The “& Dive Center” in our name is not decoration. We are a NAUI Pro Gold Center and DAN member facility, training divers from their first pool session through professional ratings, leading freshwater dives, and operating the only nearby NAUI VA Testing Center for veterans using GI Bill® benefits.
Start with the Dive Center, compare guided Kayak Tours, or choose Kayak Rentals when you want to explore independently. The same local team can help you choose the right path.
Plan your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Crystal River Kayak Company been in business?
Since 1996. We are the longest-running kayak operation in Crystal River and have remained family-owned throughout that history.
Are you really the closest launch to Three Sisters Springs?
Yes. Our dock is the only outfitter launch directly on the canal system, about a ten-minute sheltered paddle from Three Sisters Springs with no open-water crossing. The next closest launch is roughly two and a half times farther.
Are you a kayak company or a dive shop?
Both. The kayak operation runs rentals and guided tours from our canal dock, while the Dive Center provides certification, refreshers, guided freshwater dives, equipment support, and a GI Bill® pathway for eligible veterans.
Is the company still family-owned?
Yes. Crystal River Kayak Company & Dive Center has remained family-owned since opening in 1996, supported today by a local team that answers the phone, works the dock, guides trips, and runs the Dive Center.
How are you involved with protecting the springs?
Three Sisters Springs volunteers launch free from our dock, every guest watches Manatee Manners before going out, and guided experiences follow passive observation rules.
Come See Why We Are Still Here
Launch from the canals, explore with a local guide, visit the Dive Center, or set your own pace on the water. Choose the experience that fits your day and meet the local team behind it.