Manatee swim via kayak

[Katch]

Has anyone swam with the manatees via kayak around the Crystal River area? I am planning to do a manatee swim later this week or next week. I was going to schedule a charter, but since I will have a kayak - maybe I'll just go myself. Does anyone know a good place to put in the water?

I know some of the basic rules including the restricted areas, no touching, no scuba, etc. Is there anything else I should be aware of?


Thanks,
Steve


(I was going to post in the kayak forum, but it doesn't look like that is visited very often)

 

[mscott556]

There is a kayak rental place near Three Sisters Springs that my group launched from last year. We tied off outside the entrance and it worked out great.

 

[Johnoly]

..... Is there anything else I should be aware of?

You bet....Rules are about to change dramatically. Read this:
Fish and Wildlife Service News Release System

 

[mscott556]

FWS is going overboard with these proposed rules and I'm drafting my comment now.

 

[Katch]

Booked a reservation at The Port Hotel & Marina. The place isn't the greatest except for location-location-location. It is on the water less than 1/10th mile from Banana Island - where many manatees hang out (you can see 100's even from Google Earth). The Google Earth image was taken exactly 1 year ago.

The hotel was only $60 and they have a bar/restaurant onsite. How bad can it be?


I read about Three Sisters being off limits to swimmers and boaters (even kayaks) in the winter. At least there is a lot of open areas around the rest of Crystal River. Three Sisters is just a small little area.

I did this with American Pro about 4 years ago - and even got the PADI card

 

[Katch]

Had an awesome time with the manatees. I stayed at Port Hotel and Marina since it was on the shore and near Banana Island where I went on a charter a few years ago. The area was less than a 1/10th mile from the hotel dock. I had no luck in the afternoon when I arrived. The next morning, I kayaked up to 3 Sisters Springs and manatees were everywhere. I wore my drysuit because the outside temps were 40-50s.

FYI, you can still swim up in the springs (just cannot touch land). I even saw a kayak paddling up through the pillars at the entrance. I also did not see any signs saying you could not do that. I just tied off at the entrance and donned the snorkel gear. I am so glad I went. There were a bunch of curious manatees that wanted attention.

[video=youtube;syXPVcBAEp8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXPVcBAEp8[/video]