anyone visit the manatees?

[Starfish]

Have any of you been swimming with the manatees?

My DH and I are going to Florida in November and are looking in to visiting the manatees. He grew up in the Clearwater area and last did this more then 10 years ago. I have heard that the recommended method is to snorkel, but he says they use to take a tank, sit on the bottom, and create as few bubbles as possible.

Anyone with any experience?

 

[jbd]

My sister did this a couple or years ago. She bought the video. It was fascinating to watch. I hope my daughter and I can make the trip this year. In the video of her group everyone was snorkling. I think you can scuba down the river from where they were at.

 

[100days-a-year]

Posted a trip report a coupla weeks ago.Snorkeling is the way to go.We dove the local springs and snorkled the ones with manatees .The folks diving (5'-8' mostly)mostly stirred up the silt and drove off the manatees.Be prepared for a crowd on the weekends,there will be quite a few idiots in the crowd.Early and late visits fing the most manatees and the fewest divers.Water is 72-76 degrees,vis from 5' to 40'.Trips cost from $25 to a few 100 for packages with lodging.It's a must do dive,almost a spiritual thing to be alongside them.We've had them approach and as we scratched them,they'd roll over on thier backs so you could scratch thier bellies.