Manatees?

[Ninnybobs]

Originally Posted by Malone

Sorry to hijack - again!

I'm not sure about swimming with them, and it looks like we're there at a bad time, (manatee nookie time), late Nov, early Dec.

Can we see them another way? Boat trip or something?

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You could try the manatee viewing area at Tampa Power Station. It's great (and free).

[AnnaB]

We went to Blue springs in January and there were over 200 - no I didn't count them they have a sign on entering my understanding is that they come into the springs when the sea cools down over the winter months.

[Guest]

We'll be staying in Clearwater for a week next May - where would be the best place to give us a chance to see any at that time of the year? We are thinking of doing a kayaking trip or similar and I understand this is not the best time of the year to spot manatees but is there anywhere they might be?
Thanks.

[Guest]

I am thinking about a Manatee swim as a surprise for my partner at Crystal River (?). Are they about in August?

[DebsMK]

Two years ago there was one in the sea at Stump Pass Beach in Englewood in July so you could be lucky in August! My daughters were really surprised when it appeared swimming around them in quite shallow water.

[Greyfriars]

Originally Posted by Malone

Sorry to hijack - again!

I'm not sure about swimming with them, and it looks like we're there at a bad time, (manatee nookie time), late Nov, early Dec.

Can we see them another way? Boat trip or something?

See more...

Just take a trip to Blue Springs up the I4. There will be over 100 in the spring although you cannot swim with them.
There is also a great boat trip sjrivercruises/

[Guest]

There are many great springs to see manatees, however your chances of seeing them in the summertime are slim. Your optimal time is in the winter months when the ocean cools off to much for them. The temperature of the springs is a constant temp and doesn't cool off like the ocean. I have been blessed to have swam with them or should I say they swam by me and ran into me in the Weeki Watchee springs near Brooksville Florida. There you can also visit the mermaids park.

[MinnieStrawb]

I'd love to do something like this as a surprise for my mum. I went to florida June this year, a few weeks later I had booked again but with my mum. We go October 2014 (and it'll be my mums birthday whilst we are there) so I want to book something without her knowing, a surprise!
What companies would you recommend? Is October a good time to see them? How much does this sort of thing cost?

[Guest]

we saw manatee last Aug at Blue Springs went out on a kayak tour and saw loads of wildlife and a few manatee then afterwards we went for a dip in the springs water was very cold and a mum and calf swam up to us the calf was chewing my sons swim trunks. It was an amazing experience as it was totally unexpected, you are not allowed to touch them but we had no choice as they decided to touch us! So you can sometimes see the Manatees during the summer, I would think going to a state park like Blue Springs would be your best bet.
We booked the Kayak tour with expedition Florida Adventures at Blue Springs State park and it was great and very safe our son was aged 11 shared a double kayak.

[Guest]

We have been so lucky to see Manatees in the wild and go to a place called Safety Harbour which is a few miles from Clearwater. Funnily enough we have been at different times of the year and only seen them in September/Oct months. They are beautiful creatures and quite majestic