Swimming with Manatees

[Hal]

On 14th April I did a swim with Manatees with Captain Joe of fun2dive.com - it was fantastic. We saw 10 manatees including several mothers and calfs. I had a fantastic swim experience with one playful calf about the size of a fridge and its mother who was as large as a car.

Whilst we (me, and my 2 DDs) were there, we saw another manatee swim experience with 10 or so Brits from Gateshead as the swimmers. They were just dumped in the water with no guidance from their "guide" . It was our guide (Capt. Joe) who guided them to the manatees. I went through a whole film of underwater camera photos - hopefully some will be good enough to post after I have them developed*.

The bottom line is fun2dive.com is thoroughly recommended. :wavey:

*Photos of the baby manatee added below (copied from a later post):

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man1.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man2.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man3.jpg

[aly]

Hi hal, we went with captain joe in 2004. He's a great guy and we had an amazing day.

[nick]

Just want to know before we book this day trip are there any alligators in the river where the manatees are as we really don't want to come across one whilst enjoying the day?;)

[Hal]

Yes - but they are rare in the stretch you will be in, and you will not come across them. Your mind is, shall we say, focused though.

:wavey:

[BigCol]

Is this out of Tarpon Springs?

[Hal]

Crystal River. :wavey:

[robbinsretreat]

Thumbs up for capt Joe too. We wnet 2 years ago and it was excellent. Like you said other guides (on much bigger boats - fun2dive oly take a max of 6) were radioing him to ask for help on where to find the manatees.
Phil

[Jo&Stew]

Can this fun2dive thing be booked through travel agents or is it something you book while you're there? We looked at one where you get lunch and then go to an animal park and get an airboat ride (I think). Is that with Cptn Joe?

[RSSPENCE]

Jo&Stew,
the one you describe with the animal park sounds like the one I did. Brilliant day and very good guides, I am sure that Capt Jo specialises in the Manatee interaction and sounds like he cant be beat. But for a full day and a variety of things to do the brochure trip is excellent.

[Hal]

Can this fun2dive thing be booked through travel agents or is it something you book while you're there? We looked at one where you get lunch and then go to an animal park and get an airboat ride (I think). Is that with Cptn Joe?

You need to book in advance on-line at www.fun2dive.com

No - its just the manattee tour.

:wavey:

[BarryandCaron]

I would love to do this as they are such fascinating creatures.

Barry

[Jo&Stew]

Thanks for the link :)
Just been and had a look - seems good. I e-mailed them cause we won't have a car and not sure how we'd get there :(
Hopefully they'll get back to us soon - so exciting!:spin:

[Ruben Scouse]

......hopefully some will be good enough to post after I have them developed.




I would love to see them photos!! Have you had them developed yet?

[Heather1957]

Thanks Hal - it's on my list for November. I wanted to go last year but no-one would come with me :(

They've promised they'd come this time. Yay!!

[Hal]

I would love to see them photos!! Have you had them developed yet?

Yes - and I think they are surprisingly good. I am on hols in Spain at the moment but will post them in a week or so.
:wavey:

[Jan Strassen]

Is this near to Orlando, or is it in the keys, the address looks like Orlando, but I wasn't sure if this was just for diving or if it was the manatee tour, I would be very interested in doing this.

Cheers,

Jan

[Hal]

The dive shop is in Sanford but the actual snorkelling site is 2 hours north west of Orlando on the Gulf Coast.

:wavey:

[Jo&Stew]

The dive shop is in Sanford but the actual snorkelling site is 2 hours north west of Orlando on the Gulf Coast.

:wavey:

That's the problem for us as we don't have a car, so because of this may have to go with a tour that has transport :( I was hoping to do this fun2dive one as sounds the best but neither me or Stew want to drive so we'll have to compromise I think.

[Mickiengland]

That's the problem for us as we don't have a car, so because of this may have to go with a tour that has transport :( I was hoping to do this fun2dive one as sounds the best but neither me or Stew want to drive so we'll have to compromise I think.I might be wrong, but I'd thought that fun2dive do provide transport from the Orlando area, albeit that its an early start (6am....). I guess this might need you taking a taxi to the diveshop, but better than finding your way to Crystal River.

I was very tempted by the tour, but have taken others advice that July/August is not the best time to see Manatees so maybe next time:(.

[Hal]

I would love to see them photos!! Have you had them developed yet?

Heres some of the baby manatee:

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man1.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man2.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/554/medium/man3.jpg

:wavey:

[summerlily2002]

Oh Fantastic!!! Just seeing a pic of these beautiful creatures brings a tear to my eye (i don't know why:confused2)

Am definatley doing this in 2010, i can't wait, thanks for the pics!

[Angellore]

Just bumping this because someone else was asking about this.

I am so going to go!

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the link. I really want to do this on our next trip.

[Lucky Lass]

Thanks Hal - it's on my list for November. I wanted to go last year but no-one would come with me :(

They've promised they'd come this time. Yay!!

Exactly the same. Have meant to do this the last three times, and have promised faithfully to go this Nov as well.:d::d:

[wirrallad]

When is the best time to see manatees? This is something i really want to do but want to make sure i can see them when i do it...

[Hal]

When is the best time to see manatees? This is something i really want to do but want to make sure i can see them when i do it...

Peak season is 1st Oct - 31st March. November, when you are there, should be perfect. :thumbs-up

:wavey:

[wirrallad]

:Peak season is 1st Oct - 31st March. November, when you are there, should be perfect. :thumbs-up

:wavey:

Thanks for that, Will have to book it I think. :spin::grin: