MKC
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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?
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I'm in Atlanta, not northern Fla., however, I'm at a loss to understand this. They make this *diving* trip all the time: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.
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
Perhaps.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.
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
Fabulous pics, Rick... looks like snorkeling's the way to go...
What time of year was this?