MKC
Registered
I would like to scuba dive with Manatees. I was thinking of doing this at Crystal River Florida. However I can only find snorkelling and swimming with Manatees. Is it possible that we are not allowed to dive with them?
Is it legal to scuba with Manatees?
- Thread starter MKC
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It is illegal in the state of Florida to dive with manatees. If caught you will be heavily fined. They don't like the bubbles anyway. They're more likely to hang out with you when you're on snorkel. Crystal River is also not very deep and not worth scuba diving.
Katch
Contributor
American Pro has a good morning trip. You start by snorkling with the manatees for an hour or so. Then you get back on the boat and don your scuba gear. There is a cave about 50 feet deep right below where that manatees were. It was a good one-tank dive. American Pro also has a PADI manatee specialty class for about $35. It was somewhat a gimmick, but very educational (manatee rib bones are solid and heavy). Boat propellers aren't nearly as harmful as the boats actually hitting and shattering their rib bones.
Manatee Tour Crystal River or Homosassa
Manatee Tour Crystal River or Homosassa
Rainer
Contributor
Is that true, Rob? I had a friend go down to FL to do a (O2) CCR class and I could swear he said he went diving with them. He did mention it was absolutely illegal to approach them, but that if they came over to you, it was ok to stay.
I'm in Atlanta, not northern Fla., however, I'm at a loss to understand this. They make this *diving* trip all the time:
https://www.seaventures.com/travel/crystal-river-manatee-trip
Katch
Contributor
It is probably like the dive I mentioned above. The manatee part is only snorkling; but the rest is scuba. I don't think there is ever any manatees at Devils Den or Blue Grotto. The cave I dove at in Crystal River just happened to be right underneath the manatees. The guide did mention not to approach the manatees with scuba gear on, but if they swam up to you...that was ok.
BgDadddy
Contributor
Snorkeling with them is awesome! Everyone should do it once.
Go with Birds Underwater though. Bird's Underwater Manatee Tours - BOOK ONLINE! The owner was my cave diving instructor and he is awesome. American Pro sucks!
Here are some pics from when I took the family out with Bird's in January:
Manatee Snorkeling Tour with Bird's Underwater
Oh, and the bubbles from scuba scare the manatees away. Just use snorkel gear, float on the water and they will come right up to you. The early morning trip is the best and you need to get in there quick before it starts to warm up too much. The manatees only hang out in the springs in the winter.
Go with Birds Underwater though. Bird's Underwater Manatee Tours - BOOK ONLINE! The owner was my cave diving instructor and he is awesome. American Pro sucks!
Here are some pics from when I took the family out with Bird's in January:
Manatee Snorkeling Tour with Bird's Underwater
Oh, and the bubbles from scuba scare the manatees away. Just use snorkel gear, float on the water and they will come right up to you. The early morning trip is the best and you need to get in there quick before it starts to warm up too much. The manatees only hang out in the springs in the winter.
American Pro has a good morning trip. You start by snorkling with the manatees for an hour or so. Then you get back on the boat and don your scuba gear. There is a cave about 50 feet deep right below where that manatees were. It was a good one-tank dive. American Pro also has a PADI manatee specialty class for about $35. It was somewhat a gimmick, but very educational (manatee rib bones are solid and heavy). Boat propellers aren't nearly as harmful as the boats actually hitting and shattering their rib bones.
Manatee Tour Crystal River or Homosassa
BgDadddy
Contributor
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