Crystal River After Christmas

[Scuba_Jenny]

I am thinking of doing the manatee thing after Christmas.. looks like either Dec 29 or 30th. I will be travelling from up north and will have puppy with me along with Mom and Hermit Crab. Any suggestions on an operator? Anybody want to join us and we can rent a boat then? Hotels in the area that are pet friendly?

[deeper thoughts]

Best Western and Days Inn are both pet friendly

[Scuba_Jenny]

Thanks

[cyberfed]

You are better off renting a pontoon boat. I did that just a few weeks ago with a total of 8 people. It came out to like $15 per person for almost the whole day (about 6 hrs). Plenty of room for dive gear, food ect..

Let me know when you are going I'm in and I can probably get at least 3 or 4 people to join, if you want of course!
Cheers

[Divergirl4U]

Sounds like fun ..... rent a boat and we can spend 1/2 day with the manatees

[ctx120]

can someone tell me where is the location of doing the manatee

[rockinrebel]

My wife and I just got back from Crystal River. We rented a pontoon boat from Port Hotel and Marina and went to Three Sisters Spring and snorkeled with DOZENS of manatees. One of the best experiences I've had in the water and I wasn't even on scuba.
Have fun.

[cyberfed]

Best places to see the manatees are:
3 sisters springs, no boat traffic can come in here, you park your boat by the spring entrance, swim in and snorkel, there will be TONS of manatees in there. No need to scuba, max depth is like 20ft. Crystal clear spring water. This is a snorkel spot.

Another good place is Kings Spring, this is a cavern you can dive with depths of about 50ft. A light is needed because vis is bad in this area, manatees are known to hang around King's spring as well. Along with sheepshead.

You can also see manatees around many of the channels around homes. Keep in mind of boat traffic, tow a dive flag if you do this. I wouldn't recommend it though stick to the springs.

Make sure you put a dive flag up on your boat even if you are renting one. Cops are out in full force to ensure regulations.

Don't do anything stupid like try to ride the manatees or harass them, this comes with a BIG fine (up to $100,000 I believe) and the rangers are out looking for these people. It never fails that someone or sometimes even a certain BOAT CHARTER COMPANY does something stupid to harass them.

Sanctuaries are also setup all over with markers indicating no boat traffic or swimmers/divers. Make sure you dont find yourself in one of these, big fines again.

[Goindrinkn]

I will add one thing as my wife and I do the trip about twice a month. think about the idea of renting a kayak or 2. there's a few benefits. You are right on the water and can pet the manatees from the boat... You won't hit them with your prop. (Nothing personal, but I'm from Sarasota and rental boats are EVIL. not all, but many of them don't know the rules of the water and run to close and too fast to dive flags, manatees, and no wake zones) You can also get into areas that the motor boats can't (like right into the 3 sisters.)

There's a few outfitters close by, and they do most of the work for you. A few go in at the park by Pete's pier so it's a short and sweet paddle over to the sisters.

I would agree with you choice of timing. My favorite is to go there or to Silver Springs for new years day morning. While everyone's sleeping it off we get up (ok a little hung over) and have the monkeys or manatees to ourselves!)

[Scuba_Jenny]

kayaks.. now that sounds really nice! Hmmm maybe even stay dry?? Know of anybody that rents kayaks?