anyone done crystal river/swim with manatees?

[julieannbabe]

i saw a travel show on this - any good?

thanks,

xjx

 

[FLParadisevilla]

No but if you do it I would love to hear how it was!

 

[Amity 3]

i saw a travel show on this - any good?

thanks,

xjx

yes it is.

 

[GOODoldPAL]

One of Florida's best kept secrets for experience & price! shhhhh don't tell!
We booked with www.birdsunderwater.com ~ believe them when they say they are the first ones at the hot spring!

Christmas 05, for our family reunion, my brother insisted on taking 16 of us as his gift ~ he had gone the year before and wanted to share the wonder.
We had ages 7 thru 64 for varied sizes & experience levels.
The tour co. provided gear & wetsuits, donuts, coffee & hot cocoa ~ it was cooooold and foggy in the enclosed flat bottom boats but as soon as we hit the hot spring it was clear & warm.

Besides the manatees there were enourmous schools of fish - the hot spring had flat rocks all around the perimiter so one could stop and rest (we were out there for over 5 hours I think).
Highly recommended - pm me if you have any add'l questions

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I would LOVE to do this... the only problem is that we won't be driving

 

[lsayd]

We've done it twice - once in Feb., once at Christmas. At Christmas the manatees were everywhere, in Feb. we still saw them, but there were fewer of them. We rented a boat ourselves instead of doing a tour. There were 7 of us, I think we stayed out around 3 hours and it was pretty inexpensive (we did not rent wet suits, the air and water was warm enough without them). It is incredible when you see one of them lumbering up to you, I'll never forget the sound of my daughter's squeals of delight through her snorkel tube the first time one came up to her! If you'd like more info, pm me and I'll dig out who we rented from (last time was in 2002 so I can't remember off hand, but I have the receipts and stuff tucked away somewhere!) and the cost.

 

[Amity 3]

We've done it twice - once in Feb., once at Christmas. At Christmas the manatees were everywhere, in Feb. we still saw them, but there were fewer of them. We rented a boat ourselves instead of doing a tour. There were 7 of us, I think we stayed out around 3 hours and it was pretty inexpensive (we did not rent wet suits, the air and water was warm enough without them). It is incredible when you see one of them lumbering up to you, I'll never forget the sound of my daughter's squeals of delight through her snorkel tube the first time one came up to her! If you'd like more info, pm me and I'll dig out who we rented from (last time was in 2002 so I can't remember off hand, but I have the receipts and stuff tucked away somewhere!) and the cost.

three hours in 72 degree water in the winter without wetsuits? you're tougher than I am. I've got a 2 mm shorty westsuit I use just for springs diving in the hottest months.

the manatees don't begin to move out of the area until the outer water temps start to rise above 72. even then, there are some that remain behind and call the Crystal River area their home all year. less manatees means more food for the ones that remain.