manatees

[foamer86]

I know this has been posted many times before once actually by me, but I can't find any of the information so I am asking again if any one can give me any information about diving/snorkeling with the manatees, or even the links to the previous threads. I might actually be able to get down there in a few weeks and any infromation would be very appreciated (dive shops that people have gone through, where the best spots are ect ect...)

Thanks
Craig

 

[simbrooks]

Try the following links:
http://69.93.91.170/t44256.html
http://69.93.91.170/t46131.html
http://69.93.91.170/t44617.html
http://69.93.91.170/t42669.html
http://69.93.91.170/t39704.html
http://69.93.91.170/t29857.html

They are all about snorkelling with manatees, there are others, but i got bored looking - please learn to use the search function, its fairly simple.

There are various operators in the Crystal River area, Birds http://www.birdsdivecenter.com/index.html, American Pro, http://www.americanprodive.com/, Manatee Central (out of the Best Western) http://manatee-central.com/ and another one i cant recall the name or website of. You can even search using yahoo for "manatee crystal river snorkelling" or such search terms.

This was a really fun experience, we made a weekend of diving on top of the manatee part, its well worth the effort, however, the manatees may be leaving the springs in the next month or two as the waters get warmer in the gulf.

 

[aihfl]

If you're combining diving with snorkeling, I personally recommend American Pro (the last post lists the URL for their website). When I was looking for a Crystal River dive operator, they were the only ones I found that did both on the same trip to Kings Spring - everyone else did one or the other. The divemaster at American Pro said that you can potentially see manatees in Crystal River all year, but I've always heard the likelihood diminishes dramatically on or about the end of March.

 

[pipedope]

http://www.manateecam.com/manateecam.html

The cam is in the park just about 2 miles north of where I live.