Manatees in Crystal River

[Meb]

Want to see the Manatees in July, I know it’s not the right season so what’s the chance of actually seeing them. Will be doing a day trip from Orlando and it’s a birthday treat for hubby and daughter.

[princess allie]

I bought a manatee swim for next month on groupon. Perhaps you could give them a call and ask if you would be likely to see manatees in July? You could say you were thinking of booking, but weren’t sure if it was worth it etc., a bit cheeky, but I’m sure they would tell you.

[jools1302]

Hi,

We went on this trip in July (although it was a few years ago now) and we didn’t see any at all... I was really dissapointed... hadn’t thought to research beforehand if it was the right time of year for them. But maybe we were just unlucky?

[John]

Some manatees stay all year round, it's just a matter of finding them

[SimonV]

Increasingly, there are some manatees in Crystal River (the King's Bay area) year-round. They are definitely more plentiful from Nov-Apr, but the Bay area has been very successful in restoring much of the sea-grass there (that the manatees eat), and they are hopeful that will keep more of them (especially mothers with babies) in the Bay through the summer, when manatees typically head out to sea. That isn't to guarantee it, but your chance should be better.

[Ridersmom]

We have seen manatees at the manatee overlook at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (near KSC) several times in August.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Meb

Want to see the Manatees in July, I know it’s not the right season so what’s the chance of actually seeing them. Will be doing a day trip from Orlando and it’s a birthday treat for hubby and daughter.

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Hi Meb... text below from THIS website, it may help:

Crystal River always has a large number of resident manatees regardless of the time of year. In fact, over the last nine years, the manatee population in Florida has increased drastically and allowed for successful manatee trips every month. Generally, manatees are found in warm shallow waters of estuaries, rivers, coastal areas and bays and rarely swim in areas that are deeper than 20 feet. So during the summer, many of them can be found along the North American East Coast. In the winter months, manatees migrate in large groups to the warm waters of Florida, making it easier to find and swim with them in Crystal River.

Best months to swim with manatees

While Crystal River has resident manatees throughout the year, the numbers vary significantly in different months, with fewer manatees in the summer than other months. The best months to swim with manatees in Crystal River are between November and April when manatees are crowded around warm water springs. There are more manatees in Crystal River springs in December, January and February than in any other time, but you will still have a top notch experience in the months of March and April. Water is also very clear during these months, making it easier to locate and swim with the manatees. For the best experiences, midweek trips (Tuesday through Thursday), early in the morning (6:30 to 8:30 a.m.) is ideal as the springs are less crowded. Manatees are also very active and playful in the morning.

All year experiences at the national wildlife refuge

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is home to the biggest number of manatees in Florida. During the summer, the area has at least 40 resident manatees that you can see and swim with. In the colder months (November to April), between 400 and 500 manatees migrate to Crystal River and tourists are likely to come across large groups of manatees at the National Wildlife Refuge. So if you are interested in seeing and swimming with manatees at any time of the year, the refuge is a key area to visit.