Dolphin encounters and swimming with manatees

[Freyja]

Has anyone been on a dolphin encounter tour or gone swimming with manatees? Where did you do it, with which tour operator did you go? Would you recommend it?

 

[FLParadisevilla]

I have done Discovery Cove with the dolphins! and I want to do this place http://www.manateecam.com/

 

[Freyja]

Looks great. I´d like to do Discovery Cove in a couple of years when all the kids are old enough to swim. It´s also quite pricey for a family of 6 so it better be a "special occasion"

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Just FYI, while you will find numerous tour operators promoting swimming with manatees, they are an endangered species and the ecotourism guide I use encourages people to NOT swim with the manatees if you care about them. They can be safely viewed from a kayak or canoe.

The manatees you see will be covered with scars from being hit by boat motors. I encourage you to view the manatees in the most humane way possible which generally is considered to be from non-motorized boats and from a distance (no swimming with or touching).

Those of us who love animals want to be close to them , but it is better to let these wild, endangered animals have some peace in their habitat.

 

[FLParadisevilla]

Looks great. I´d like to do Discovery Cove in a couple of years when all the kids are old enough to swim. It´s also quite pricey for a family of 6 so it better be a "special occasion" [/QUOTE
I know if you buy a fun card or silver passport from Seaworld you can get discount tickets for Discovery Cove for certain times of the year. That may be something worth looking into if you ever want to do Discovery Cove. I don't remember the prices off hand they told me but they were very good prices for Discovery Cove, but honestly it was worth the $239.00 or so that we paid for it! Another thing we did was we had a group of us all pitch in for the pictures and Video, then brought it home and made copies for all of us from the original. It made the cost much easier for everyone!

 

[Amity 3]

most of the manatee tours in the Crystal River area offer about the same experience. I'd highly recommend you rent wetsuits. it's a great way to spend some one on one time with them, and if you're lucky, their calves.

 

[Louissa]

Right now if you purchase a Fun Card for Seaworld it costs $89 for a non dolphin swim day at DC, if you have a silver passport it will cost $79 and if you have a gold or platinum passport the cost is $69!!

If you want the dolphin swim just add $100 to any of the above.

We did the dolphin swim last year and for us we don't feel it's worth the additional $100, but we absolutely love Discovery Cove overall and we are going twice this year so the savings are definately worth it for us.

 

[ducklite]

Just FYI, while you will find numerous tour operators promoting swimming with manatees, they are an endangered species and the ecotourism guide I use encourages people to NOT swim with the manatees if you care about them. They can be safely viewed from a kayak or canoe.

The manatees you see will be covered with scars from being hit by boat motors. I encourage you to view the manatees in the most humane way possible which generally is considered to be from non-motorized boats and from a distance (no swimming with or touching).

Those of us who love animals want to be close to them , but it is better to let these wild, endangered animals have some peace in their habitat.

I couldn't agree more. Please don't help habituate manatees to humans any more than they already are--that is what causes them to come near watercraft and be seriously injured and/or killed.

Anne

 

[Freyja]

Thanks everyone!

I definately do not want to be part of anything harmful for the manatees! Thanks for pointing that out.

I always thought Discovery Cove was all about the dolphins. I still think it´s quite expensive even without the dolphin encounter. Did you still feel it was worth it?

 

[Amity 3]

I couldn't agree more. Please don't help habituate manatees to humans any more than they already are--that is what causes them to come near watercraft and be seriously injured and/or killed.

Anne

manatees are hurt and killed by idiots on boats that disregard the 'no wake - manatee' zones. they're not attracted to watercraft by any means, they're just too slow to avoid the collision.

up close, they're very curious and affectionate with humans. the Crystal River area is the only place in the USA where you can swim with them legally. they are an endangered species, but if it had an adverse outcome on the population, they'd shut the tours down.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

manatees are hurt and killed by idiots on boats that disregard the 'no wake - manatee' zones. they're not attracted to watercraft by any means, they're just too slow to avoid the collision.

up close, they're very curious and affectionate with humans. the Crystal River area is the only place in the USA where you can swim with them legally. they are an endangered species, but if it had an adverse outcome on the population, they'd shut the tours down.

You are mistaken to think they would shut the tours down if they had an adverse outcome on the population. There are WAY too many people harrassing manatees in Crystal River. The boat lobby (and to a lesser extent, divers and tour operators) use their lobbying and political pressure to prevent necessary laws from being passed to protect manatees.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/11/Citrus/Manatee_abuse_caught_.shtml

You are also mistaken if you believe that manatees are only hit by people violating the "no wake" zones. They are hit by boat propellers, whether these boat propellers create a wake or not. Propellers are turning whether the boat is creating a wake or not. The huge number of motorized boats with people manatee-watching, diving, and fishing in Crystal River result in more and more boat vs. manatee accidents.

I believe most of the peoiple who want to swim with the manatees mean well and don't realize that close contact with these wild, endangered animals is tremendously affecting their habitat.

 

[FLParadisevilla]

Thanks everyone!

I definately do not want to be part of anything harmful for the manatees! Thanks for pointing that out.

I always thought Discovery Cove was all about the dolphins. I still think it´s quite expensive even without the dolphin encounter. Did you still feel it was worth it?

Yes I do think Discovery Cove is well worth the price! Its definately a Higher Quality Park to go to. They have a great lazy river, an Avairy which is very interesting and the birds will fly up and land on you! They have a great Coral Reef to snorkel on, however I could not get the hang of the snorkel and sucked in some water. You can wade in and feed the sting rays... that made me quite nervous but it was very interesting. All of this is supervised!
They now include breakfast, Lunch, all your drinks and snacks all day long as well! Thier food was wonderful we only got free lunch but it was still so worth every penny! I would do it again in a heart beat! The Dolphin encounter was Awesome( not long enough) but still so much fun! We got a DVD of the encounter and all the photos that they took of the encounter as well on a CD! They have a great beach to hang out and watch the dolphins and the encounters all day long with nice lounge chairs.... Ok so I guess my answer is YES ITS WORTH IT!

 

[FLParadisevilla]

http://www.discoverycove.com/ex_featattract.aspx

For a limited time, save 10% off per reservation when you book at least 60 days prior to your visit. Discovery Cove has wonderful all-inclusive admission packages offering an adventure like nowhere else in the world. Choose from our dolphin-swim package, non-dolphin package, or Trainer for a Day. For additional information please call 1-877-4-DISCOVERY to speak to a reservations specialist or book now.

Available 2007 dates:

May 1-19

Sept. 5-Oct. 7

Nov. 12-Dec. 20

At least one dolphin-swim package must be included per booking. 10% savings applies to full retail-priced packages only. Can not be combined with any other offer. Not valid for bookings of 10 or more participants per booking. Not valid on previously booked reservations. Based on availability. Black-out dates apply.

All-Inclusive detail description
30 minute Dolphin-swim session
Snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish in the Coral Reef.
Wading with the rays in the Ray Lagoon.
Hand-feeding birds in the free flight Aviary.
Relaxing in the Resort Pool and swimming along the Tropical River.
Continental breakfast, sumptuous lunch, plus all snacks and beverages throughout the day.
Snorkel gear, swim vest or wet suit, towels, lockers, sunscreen, beach chairs.
All day self-parking.
Complimentary photo portrait of you and your party as you enter Discovery Cove.
Admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay* for seven consecutive days. Or a combination pass with admission to both parks for 14 consecutive days for $30 more.
Passes valid for either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are valid before or after your Discovery Cove visit.

 

[Amity 3]

You are mistaken to think they would shut the tours down if they had an adverse outcome on the population. There are WAY too many people harrassing manatees in Crystal River. The boat lobby (and to a lesser extent, divers and tour operators) use their lobbying and political pressure to prevent necessary laws from being passed to protect manatees.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/11/Citrus/Manatee_abuse_caught_.shtml

You are also mistaken if you believe that manatees are only hit by people violating the "no wake" zones. They are hit by boat propellers, whether these boat propellers create a wake or not. Propellers are turning whether the boat is creating a wake or not. The huge number of motorized boats with people manatee-watching, diving, and fishing in Crystal River result in more and more boat vs. manatee accidents.

I believe most of the peoiple who want to swim with the manatees mean well and don't realize that close contact with these wild, endangered animals is tremendously affecting their habitat.

until Florida invents no boat zones in manatee migration areas, they're going to get hit by props. humans and manatees can exist and swim together.

the tour operators aren't to blame, the moron private boat owners are.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

until Florida invents no boat zones in manatee migration areas, they're going to get hit by props. humans and manatees can exist and swim together.

the tour operators aren't to blame, the moron private boat owners are.

What facts do you have to back up your claims? I would love to see some articles written by ecologists and environmentalists (not tour operators or dive trip operators) that support your claims.