I love animals, so swimming with them would be fun. Just a few miles south of Crystal River in Homosassa, Florida, is a state park called the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. I learned quite a bit about manatees on our tour and via all the research I did leading up to the tour, including the best places to swim with manatees in Florida. Before we get into specifics on where to swim with manatees in Florida, Im sure youd like to know what manatees are all about! Our guide in Crystal River informed us that when he started manatee tours over 10 years ago there was only a few hundred manatees. By law, these friendly creatures are protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; In short, these are the main requirements in order to be allowed to swim with a manatee. Too many people visit the place, so it may not be as fun as you imagined. YzgzM2M0M2M5NzhkMmRmZGYwMWEyMjMyYjVkOWM4ZDVkOWI5NDA3ZjdmMzky Manatees spend a large percentage of their days feeding and resting. eyJtZXNzYWdlIjoiMTlkZmU0YTkyMGE3NmFkZjBmYWEzZTVlYzMzYTMwMWI4 This post may contain affiliate links. Once upon a time manatees did live in Rainbow Springs. The springs have a constant temperature of 20C/68F, which they need to survive. Manatees are like big underwater puppies. Dani genuinely loves these animals and goes out of the way to provide really great information and make sure you have a memorable experience. Best swim with manatees near me in Orlando, Florida Sort:Recommended Price Open Now Online Booking Good for Kids 1. Do not touch or dive onto a resting, feeding or nursing manatee. amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "4 Set Packing Cubes,Travel Luggage Packing Organizers with Laundry Bag"; I imagine it is not impossible, just highly unlikely. They do not pose a threat or danger. As a result, the area is usually filled with too many tourists trying to find places to swim with the manatees in Florida. Manatee Swim Tour with In Water Photographer By Explorida 1,357 reviews Recommended by 99% of travelers from $72.00 per adult Check availability Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay laterFree cancellation Ages 3-99, max of 11 per group Duration: 3h Start time: Check availability Mobile ticket German, English, French, Spanish Features animals Best Jerome Arizona Hotels That May Be Haunted. The viewing centre is closed for the rest of the year which is probably positive as there is unlikely to be manatees around in the summer months. YWVmZTJiZmRmNGIzYzMxODFmNzAwZTI3NWIwMzVhN2UzOWIzZDdiOTY3YmUw Have you ever tried swimming with the manatees in Crystal River? Manatees are drawn to Homosassa due to the warm water provided by the Blue Springs. Orlando Star Flyer at Icon Park at 8.30am - 8265 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819. Here we will list the possibilities: If you want to swim with a manatee in Florida this is the best place to do it. You may also see dolphins, stingrays and other wildlife in the waters. I dont know that Id want to be in the water any longer, at least during March, because its cold. Go in winter if you prefer mass manatee viewing. Best Places to Stay. If you go with a reputable tour operator who is experienced with manatee swims, then yes, its ethical. If you are on a Florida Vacation, you might also like to check out our other posts on Florida to help you plan your trip: Categories Florida Vacation Ideas, Springs. Rent a clear kayak and observe from all angles and the manatee swim beneath you! For many years you could not see a Manatee in Silver Springs however, they have recently started migrating back to the area. Learn how your comment data is processed. During the winter months (November 15th to April 1st), the two regular inhabitants of the park move to a separate section of the park, and a fence that is normally closed between the spring and the river is opened, allowing wild manatees to utilize the spring as a warm-water refuge. All in all, getting to see these huge mammals up close was a memorable and fabulous experience that Id do again in a minute! To cut a long story short, the best time to see manatees in the Three Sisters Spring is during the winter months. It is free to enter and walk around the park. Featured Tours In West Palm Beach you will find Manatee Lagoon. This is the only place where you can swim with manatees; there are several dozen outfitters to take you out on boats and rent you gear. And I highly recommend going to Crystal River since its known as the best places to swim with manatees in Florida. NDc1OGE2MWI0ODkwNWNlZDQwNjk1MmFiODA0MGUyOTM3NjcyZWI4NzAzNjJm You will want to have a dry outfit once you get back and change out of your bathing suit. These two manatees have been retained owing to injuries they sustained. In doing so, Rockon provides the tour, activity, and rental companies withActivity Booking Softwarethat contains the tools, systems, and processes that help manage bookings, accounting, communications, and record keeping. MTY3OWJkMTE3YTA4NGM1MThjMWU4NzdjY2YxNTI5NGU2YTA3ODRkM2VhOTdl In addition, the park is used as a rehabilitation center for manatees that have been injured or become unwell before they are released into the wild. NWQ0NTE1MjMwZWI5MzhkY2Y2MmY4MDZkOTRlMzhiYWY3OGRmZjY5NmUxMDA2 Ive been seeing a lot of features in mass media lately about Black people enjoying the outdoors. Prevent your website from being banned on Google from using any part of the content, as we regularly seek, and report infringements to Google Legal, and Lumens database. Enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the playful manatees, and an airboat ride down the Withlacoochee River. Ive never swam with manatees (that I know of), but we just went to the manatee viewing center last week and it was awesome!!! I love your adventures! YWM0YmQ3YzhmYjNkNDYwMjljYmUwMjkyNmRiYzdmYTQwZmNkOTVkMmIwZDQ2 Everything is one time a day use. All three locations offer unique experiences when it comes to swimming with manatees. So while we saw only one manatee, I was not disappointed at all. These creatures are super sweet plant eaters (herbivores) and eat they do up to 15% of their body weight every single day. Have a bathing suit to wear beneath your wetsuit. Get up-close and swim with the playful manatees. There are particularly two manatees in the observatory all year round. You should only enjoy your time swimming with the mammals. These guys like it so much here that they dont bother with heading out to the Gulf of Mexico and back each year. Manatees are large aquatic marine mammals measuring 10- to 15-feet-long and weighing one ton. It is also possible to hire a kayak in Manatee Park to get a closer look at the manatees. Plantation on Crystal River 9301 W. Fort Island Trail Crystal River, FL 34429. Golden Corral Restaurant LBV at 8.00am - 8707 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821. Like the manatees, the animal residents are here for the same reason; they cannot live in the wild independently. Almost half of the world's West Indies manatees live in Florida. At Crystal River, you'll find a few different places that will take you out . We have a passion for delivering the best Manatee Tours, Nature Tours, Sunset Tours, Scallop Tours and more for the ultimate river experience! Manatees flock to the Crystal River due to the warm water provided by the Three Sisters Springs. Pictures like these though make me wish l knew how to swim as l think l would enjoy it. The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kings Bay, supplied by the springs, and protects manatees throughout the year. Our two guides jumped into the water with us to point out different fish and birds. The underwater observatory is a unique underwater construction that enables visitors to walk underwater under the springs surface to see the fish and manatees swimming around. You cannot access certain roped off areas in Crystal River during winter in order to protect the Manatees. In January 2016, there were 43 manatee deaths in Florida . It has never been on my bucket list. They have no aggressive or territorial . In winter in Florida you will have no trouble seeing a manatee. YmU5ZTBlNzAzODM2ZjE5Njg5MjcxZTY1YzY5ZjhmOTkxNzMxZWNkNzUwMzcz Tours can be anywhere from two hours to an entire day. Wear water shoes for swimming in the water to keep your feet from being cold. ZWUzNDc4Y2Q0MDQ5ZmI2NGEyNmYwMjZhYTgzOWRjYjA0ZGI3MjZhMTg3ZDVk 14 Best Florida Bachelorette Party Destinations! Equipment provided: mask, snorkel and fins. This lens allows viewers to get up and personal with these peaceful giants while also taking in the sights and sounds of the springs in all their calming glory. This post may contain affiliate links that compensate me for sales made via those links. Im so glad you enjoyed reading about our experience Kiwi! Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Carol Grant via Flickr/U.S. We were able to spend a substantial amount of time with the manatee (around 1 hour) and no-one else was around. We have shown you the top 3 places to swim with manatees in Florida legally, which are Homosassa springs, Crystal River Springs, and Ozello. However, the laws do not allow visitors to swim with these creatures in all these areas except in some designated wildlife refuges. Swimming with manatees at Silver Glen Springs in central Florida Silver Glen Springs Here is some manatee information we learned from Authentic Florida: The manatee, Florida's gentle giant (aka, the "sea cow"), may be spotted in the largest numbers during the winter and early spring months. There is concern as to whether its even ethical to swim with manatees. There will be the most manatee activity when water temperatures in the Gulf are below 68 degrees. We snorkeled, we swam, we listened and looked. Because manatees cannot survive in water temperatures below 68 degrees, they typically seek sanctuary in the warm, shallow springs found throughout the area throughout the winter. The park also exhibits captive creatures, including alligators, flamingos, key deer, whooping cranes, black bears, red wolves, and Lu, the oldest captive hippopotamus. You cannot swim with manatees here but you are able to view them from November 1 through April 15 each year. They cannot survive without warm water. MGIwZjczNWY2Y2Q2NjUwNmUyZWMzYWZiY2JlYTcxYTU4ZTAxNDY3MTY1ZjQ4 Come on down and get some of this Florida fun. Chassahowitzka River is a bit of a hidden gem in Florida as it is mostly known about by Florida locals. Slowly swim towards the area and make yourself known with a dive flag, try to be mellow in your movements to avoid disrupting resting manatees. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Dani explained that we saw many manatees with barnacles still on them which means they are migrants and have spent most of their time in the Gulf. Read on for some quick facts about manatees, then well jump into the best places to swim with the manatees. I never knew there were so many of them in one spot. Visit Website. Y2EiLCJzaWduYXR1cmUiOiIxYjk5YTM4MDMzMTdlNWFiZGMyMzFlY2M4YzM1 We are so happy to have you as part of our Florida Vacationers community! Whats your favorite place to see manatees in Florida? Homosassa Springs is the best amongst the top places to swim with manatees in Florida. If you have snorkeled before, you will probably be fine. Everyone knows this.So yes there could be gators lurking but its a remote possibility that youd see a gator while swimming with manatees. Water temperatures below 68 are dangerous for manatees and can be fatal for manatees. To enter the State Park it costs $6 per car. Spending time with manatees, also lovingly called sea cows, can be a fun and magical experience when visiting the Florida coast. There are certain protected areas of the State Park where manatee swimming is not permitted. Receive Receipts, Confirmations, and More, Crystal River is one of the best places to swim with manatees in Florida. Photo by Tracy Colson, USFWS. All rights reserved. Have a bathing suit to wear beneath your wetsuit. What manatee tour should I book? Do you know how wet suits work? Theyre naturally curious and might try to swim up and get close to you. There are very cool paddle board tour to see manatees and dolphins in Daytona Beach. Florida manatee swimming at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. You should be provided a wetsuit, snorkel equipment, and a flotation device by your tour operator. When we were researching about Manatees in Florida it was a little hard for us to work out where you see them and also where you can swim with them. We host 2 . Bring 2 towels; one to dry off your body and one to wrap your head because it will be cold when you get out of the water. They need water warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit for survival. Because the springs run at a consistent temperature of 72 degrees, the waters appeal to a wide variety of swimmers throughout the winter. Manatees do not usually go into Three Sisters Springs but it is a beautiful, crystal clear spring which you can only swim in by boat. If youre looking for a life-changing experience thats close to home and doesnt have a huge price tag, swimming with the manatees could be perfect for you. (Squee!!!) There are many ways to meet manatees without taking a swim. During our tour in October, we swum with 1 manatee. This is a small settlement located between Crystal River and Homosassa. You must have heard a lot about Manatees. For example, all along Crystal River there are big mega mansions houses built. We went to the park in summer and did not see a single manatee. Silver Springs is known for its incredible water visibility so if the manatees are there you can clearly view them from the comfort of your kayak. Maybe we will see you soon! YTU4YzZlNGM3YzYzOTA3MzdkM2NkZTJmNTJhY2JkNjRkODc1MjBhZTQ1ZmQ4 1. Manatees innately know they need warmth so they naturally gravitate to the warmer water found inland during winter months. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), favorite outdoor adventures in the winter, Book your manatee swim with Crystal River Watersports, 16 U.S. Cities with Black History Sites You Must See, New Downtown Tampa Riverwalk Outdoor Activity, Visiting Blowing Rocks Preserve One of Floridas Best Secret Beaches, Top 10 Florida State Fair Food Favorites To Die For, 41 Spectacular Things to Do in Orlando for Adults - ThemeParkHipster, Where to See Manatees in Florida - My Cornacopia. ), The Ultimate Arizona Itinerary For A 7 Day Road Trip (2022). amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "outddiva-20"; Crystal River is located about 90 minutes north of Tampa and in addition to it being the only place to legally swim with manatees in Florida, its also the winter home to many, many manatees as well as lots of fish! This is what they do every day and they are extremely knowledgeable about all the wildlife around, not just manatees. 14 Best Places to See Manatees in Florida. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "outddiva-20"; There are usually around 1000 in Crystal River in winter which congregate together in the protected areas. If you do not spot a manatee you are likely to see a large alligator at this State Park. Nope! To swim with manatees in Florida, first, you need to understand the animals and listen to the rules. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 99 manatee deaths each year are related to human activities. You will be instructed to watch a short video that explains how to properly interact with manatees because they are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Our tour was two hours and I felt this gave us the right amount of time in the water. amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom"; In the summer months, manatees can often be spotted in Chassahowitzka River & The Seven Sisters Spring. This means that when you visit, you are not only guaranteed to have an amazing experience, but you can also do so secure in the knowledge that you will be treading lightly, that you wont be stressing the manatees, and that others who come after you will also be able to share a similarly beautiful experience in the future. You also dont necessarily have to go to Crystal River in this case. 4. I've low key loved the gentle water creatures since I was a kid and the thought of getting to see them up close in the water was a dream come true. It must be a bucket list activity for a lot of people as after we finished our tour in Crystal River in Florida our guide commented Okay folks, another thing you can cross off your bucket list!. During the winter, Crystal River is one of the best places to swim with manatees in Florida and the world. This is where we did our swim and theyre definitely pros here. Seeing manatees in the Springs in Florida is one of those bucket list experiences. YjVmZDY3NGI4MjYyZTc4MjhkZTlkMzViMDFkYzExMTFhN2UwZDc5MzgyZGM4 Guests will find a full-service resort with classic rooms, excellent dining, a lagoon-style pool, an Aveda spa, and a world-class, traditional golf . The best time if year for swimming with manatees in Blue Spring State Park is winter. Its $20 per person to catch a trolley from the welcome center and view the manatees from the boardwalk above Three Sisters Springs. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; You aren't provided flippers because they don't want you to stir up the bottom or accidentally poke or kick a manatee. Swimming with Manatees; Fun Facts; Manatee Communication; Winter Manatees; Endangered Species; Things To Do. 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