Over the holidays went snorkeling with the Manatees at Homosassa Springs. Took my bother and his oldest daughter.
Showed up at Air Tank Divers bright an early at 7:30am. The shop also serves as Capt Don's home during the winter months when he is down doing the tours. He goes back up to New York in the summer time. Anyway... the shop is really colorful on the outside.. and inside too (ask to see the hot tub!). Watched the mandatory movie and Don explained about the trip and how the manatees will behave... really informative and put my bother and his daughter at ease. (twas their 1st time doing this sort of thing.) Then he got them geared up with wetsuits and fins/mask/snorkel.
(A small word of warning.. bring your own wetsuit... he only has shorties. If I had known in advance, I would have probly used someone else. 72F water is a bit cold for a shortie, if you ask me. But, me in my 3/2 full it was just fine.)
Well, get into his van for the ride to his boat. It is a small pontoon boat that maybe can carry 8 folks max. Has a full plastic cover on the boat to block out the cold wind, he also has a heater on board (dont touch it!)... and some really good hot chocolate.
Once we got near the park (more on that later) it was time to jump in. There were about 4 other larger snorkel tour boats already there. They left about 30 minutes or so after we got there. Got to spend about 2 hours with the manatees when, well... it just started to get too cold for them in the shortie. :errrr:
Then back to the dock, van ride to the shop to pay... and watch a cool video about a dolphin rescue.
After lunch ... we decided to go over to Homosassa Springs Park where they had educational shows on the Manatees and talk on snakes and opossums.
All and all it was a great way to spend a day.
If you haven't done a manatee snorkel... GO! :10:
My pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/536622246qVFkYi
Air Tank Divers:
http://www.manateetours.net/index.html
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park:
http://www.manateecam.com/
Showed up at Air Tank Divers bright an early at 7:30am. The shop also serves as Capt Don's home during the winter months when he is down doing the tours. He goes back up to New York in the summer time. Anyway... the shop is really colorful on the outside.. and inside too (ask to see the hot tub!). Watched the mandatory movie and Don explained about the trip and how the manatees will behave... really informative and put my bother and his daughter at ease. (twas their 1st time doing this sort of thing.) Then he got them geared up with wetsuits and fins/mask/snorkel.
(A small word of warning.. bring your own wetsuit... he only has shorties. If I had known in advance, I would have probly used someone else. 72F water is a bit cold for a shortie, if you ask me. But, me in my 3/2 full it was just fine.)
Well, get into his van for the ride to his boat. It is a small pontoon boat that maybe can carry 8 folks max. Has a full plastic cover on the boat to block out the cold wind, he also has a heater on board (dont touch it!)... and some really good hot chocolate.
Once we got near the park (more on that later) it was time to jump in. There were about 4 other larger snorkel tour boats already there. They left about 30 minutes or so after we got there. Got to spend about 2 hours with the manatees when, well... it just started to get too cold for them in the shortie. :errrr:
Then back to the dock, van ride to the shop to pay... and watch a cool video about a dolphin rescue.
After lunch ... we decided to go over to Homosassa Springs Park where they had educational shows on the Manatees and talk on snakes and opossums.
All and all it was a great way to spend a day.
If you haven't done a manatee snorkel... GO! :10:My pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/536622246qVFkYi
Air Tank Divers:
http://www.manateetours.net/index.html
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park:
http://www.manateecam.com/
