Safe And Confident Tours In The Time Of Covid-19

Here at River Ventures, there is nothing more important to us than the health of our visitors and employees. We have always prided ourselves in maintaining a safe and clean working environment, but moving forward we will go above and beyond what is suggested by the CDC to ensure the safety of our guests. These guidelines will be updated regularly to reflect the most up-to-date suggestions for safe operations.

Here are just some of the examples of changes in our operations to keep you & your family safe...

snorkel with manatee river ventures crystal river

All employees/contractors will be screened for symptoms, and temperatures and will only be assigned work days if they have been completely healthy for 30 days. Our customers will only come in contact with healthy staff... that is our first line of defense.

Any visitors exhibiting symptoms on the day of their tour will be asked to cancel or reschedule, and will not be allowed on the boat. If anyone in your group has experienced symptoms in the last 14 days, we will honor refunds or rescheduling.

Groups will be limited to 10 or fewer passengers for ‘group experiences’ or private tours; and 6 or fewer on all semi-private tours. Some vessels are open and provide plenty of fresh air and we encourage guests to book ENCLOSED HOUSEBOATS privately.

Please call us if you have any concerns and we can talk about private options.

Tour times will be spread out to ensure less gathering at our facility. Groups will be encouraged to quickly depart after their tour for the safety and comfort of all.

Boats and all gear will be thoroughly sanitized between tours per recommended protocols from CDC and Dive Alert Network in association with Duke University. We use bleach and hospital-grade sanitizer and also will have sanitizer on hand for our guests’ use on request in the shop and on the vessels.

We encourage you to bring your own mask and snorkel, but we will offer freshly sanitized gear complimentary! Low-price snorkel sets will also be available for sale and will be yours to take home at the end of your tour if you purchase.

Safe sanitizing practices will be diligently followed for all surfaces and common areas. Door handles, check-in area, bathrooms... these areas will be available and cleaned after every group. Hand sanitizer will be displayed in common areas for use by both staff and visitors.

All visitors will be required to practice social distancing rules and respectfully offer space to other guests while at our shop. Those that make others uncomfortable will be asked to leave the premises.

Visitors who prefer to proceed with the protection of a surgical mask or gloves will need to provide their own. Our crew will follow CDC recommendations in regard to face protection when in close contact with our guests.

To avoid gathering, we will offer photo package viewing from home. You will be sent a link to your email for viewing and purchase of your photos. If anyone wishes to avoid viewing the ‘Manatee Manners’ video in a common area, we will provide a link so this can be viewed from your mobile device in the comfort of your car or open air of the parking lot.

We will only allow paying customers in our facility; the general public will not be allowed to enter our building to use bathrooms or take complimentary items.

Our large, spacious facility will be fully ventilated at the beginning and end of each day; and wiped down with bleach.

Pre-booking online with your credit card is highly recommended and will minimize customer interaction. Any visitors uncomfortable entering our facility can fill out paperwork and view the required video outside on request.

We will perform our daily duties in CONFIDENCE and with gratitude. When you believe it is safe to travel, we will be providing the same incredible experiences that you have come to expect from our crew. We are not afraid.... but we will be diligent and thorough in the face of these challenging times. If you feel unsafe or anxious about travel or our services we encourage you to STAY HOME. If you are here and ready to enjoy life again, then get ready to have fun with River Ventures as your guide!

We encourage you to minimize your personal risks and stay informed to best care for your family. Check these links out for tips, updates, and suggestions......

US Center for Disease Control (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Visit Florida - https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/florida-now.html

Discover Crystal River - https://www.discovercrystalriverfl.com/covid-19/

Diver’s Alert Network – https://diversalertnetwork.org/covid-19/