Looking for a good outfit to dive with. Would like to do a manatee dive/snorkel and a good second dive that day. Looking for a outfitter that caters to more experienced divers. Thanks for the help.
December dive in Crystal River are
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ScubaRon
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I recommend you rent a jon-boat to go snorkeling with the manatees. That way you can stay away from the crowds and cruise the crystal river at your own pace.
You really don't need a guide to find the manatees and diving does not really add anything as the manatee's are generally in shallow water (or: you won't find them in the deep water).
The jon-boats are about $15 for a few hours.
This website has some information about where you can rent them.
ScubaRon
You really don't need a guide to find the manatees and diving does not really add anything as the manatee's are generally in shallow water (or: you won't find them in the deep water).
The jon-boats are about $15 for a few hours.
This website has some information about where you can rent them.
ScubaRon
For the manatees, go to Birds Underwater. www.birdsunderwater.com If you get lucky you may find them yourselves but Bird does this for a living and you are much more likely to see them. We went with Birds last Feb and had at least a dozen or more manatees come up to the pontoon boat we were on and hang around for at least 2 hrs. I had on chase ME down to get scratched. If you want to dive the springs later, rent a pontoon boat instead of a jon boat. They are a lot more comfortable and easier to get on and off of. They are a little more expensive but well worth it. You can rent either type boat at a dive shop up the road a ways from Birds behind the Best Western motel. http://www.manatee-central.com/
100days-a-year
Contributor
Pontoons work better for diving.Jon boats are tippy even with just snorkelling.Scuba is cool for the Kings spring, but manatees aren't impressed.photo ops for really big tarpon and other SW fish wintering in warm water.
scubanewbee
Guest
American Pro Divers is also great for the Manatees snorkle trip - it was a great experience looking face to face to a manatee!
make sure that you are in the water EARLY.
The manatees are most active during the early morning hours (say 7-9am). After that they spend most of their day sleeping.
Also, as the day goes on, the area becomes much more crowded. Since the bottom is extremely silty, that means things get stirred up to the point where the vis is very poor.
Have fun!
The manatees are most active during the early morning hours (say 7-9am). After that they spend most of their day sleeping.
Also, as the day goes on, the area becomes much more crowded. Since the bottom is extremely silty, that means things get stirred up to the point where the vis is very poor.
Have fun!
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