Mid October in Florida/possible to dive with manatees?

[DougK]

Have a trip to Florida in a few weeks. I have non-diving stuff to do for some of the trip. But I want to either head to key Largo OR if it is the right time of the year maybe the west coast if Manatees are possible.

I have done little reserach on the Manatees, but have the impression it is more of a wintertime adventure.

Please advise what is possible this time of year and any locations to consider?

If not the keys will be a good backup.

Thanks,

DK

 

[El Orans]

Manatee watching should be possible.

I'm going to try and find a few at the end of October, probably Crystal River.

 

[matts1w]

Manatee watching is a winter thing. The water in the Gulf of Mexico is still 85-88 degrees. The manatees are thick in front of my place on the beach. They head into the spring fed rivers and power plant discharges to avoid the cold ocean in December until March. There may be a few around Crystal River, but most will still be in the ocean and estuaries.

Keep in mind one does not dive with manatees as scuba spooks them. Snorkels work best. You will have a better experience diving on the Atlantic side. head down to the Fort Lauderdale area if Key Largo is too far.

 

[fisheyeview]

Manatees are more of a winter thing. When the water temps get too cold they head into the springs where the water temps are alwyas 72 degrees. However, there are some manatees that stay in the springs year round. Your chances of seeing them is less likely in warmer conditions. If you really want to swim with the manatees you should try Bird's Underwater in Crystal River. They are a great operation.

I'd second the Ft. Lauderdale or Key Largo recommendation. You will have a better time that time of the year, and can actually dive.

 

[Tom Winters]

Diving with manatees is vastly overrated - just like diving with whales. People think it's real cool, but they forget a real basic fact of nature. Manatees aren't so bad - I had some come cruising by me up in Sebastian a few years ago. I didn't know what was bumping around all me - I was glad it wasn't bullsharks since the viz was zero. The manatees didn't exactly help the viz, and I was glad that they hadn't eaten at Taco Bell. But they are fun to be around.
When you swim through a cloud of whale sh... uh, relief, you really begin to appreciate the efforts of the Krill Liberation Army. The whales are making all those cute whistles and squeaks just to cover up what they're really doing after they load up on dinner.
And these were just humpbacks offshore in Hawaii and not blue whales. Those babies would be EPA-time.