Swim with Manatees ?

[festusrules]

Is there a good place to take grandkids near here? Anyone done it recently? Thanks for recent info.

[Bogie Shooter]

Is there a good place to take grandkids near here? Anyone done it recently? Thanks for recent info.

Private Manatee Tours | Swim With The Manatees On A Houseboat | Manatee Swim Tours | Private Houseboat Manatee Tour | Swim With Manatees | Florida Manatee Tours (http://www.swimwiththefloridamanatees.com/)

Snorkel with manatees in Crystal River or Homossasa River FL (http://www.snorkelwithmanatees.com/)

Crystal River Manatee Tours, Native Vacations, Manatee Snorkel Tours, Swim with Manatees, Manatee Dive, Crystal River Boat Tours (http://www.nativevacations.com/)

[mac]

There are several places in Homossasa where you can snorkel with the manatees. This is a great adult activity but I would not recommend it for children. You must be very quiet in the water. I went recently and there were teens in the second boat who were too active for this activity. There are tours which allow you to see the manatees from the boat. Search online for places in Homossasa Springs and Crystal River for boat trips. Be aware that the water in the Gulf is getting warmer and there are fewer manatees in the rivers. The Wildlife Park in Homossasa is also a good activity and they have a viewing area where the manatees come in to feed. Excellent trip for younger children.

[cquick]

Blue Springs State Park near Deland is also a beautiful place to see manatee, and the nature boat ride is great, although I will agree with the earlier poster that the water is getting warmer, so some manatee might be heading back out to sea.

[JourneyOfLife]

Some Info from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

They are a protected species... there are Federal and State laws and rules....

Manatee Viewing Guidelines (http://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/viewing-guidelines/)

[Bonanza]

Some Info from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

They are a protected species... there are Federal and State laws and rules....

Manatee Viewing Guidelines (http://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/viewing-guidelines/)

Thank you for posting the laws for protecting the manatees and other wildlife.

It never ceases to amaze me why the public-at-large thinks it's okay to
bother animals in their own habitat,
or to take animals out of their environment for a human's own enjoyment,
or for profit (Sea World) and/or train wild animals to do tricks (circuses).
The same goes for race horses, canned hunts (which is worse, because they are killed), etc.

There are plenty of other things to do which make it safe for animals and still fun for people.

[Bogie Shooter]

Or walk a dog on the pavement when temperature is 95 degrees.

[Bonanza]

Or walk a dog on the pavement when temperature is 95 degrees.

Well, people who do that are completely unconscious!

[Bogie Shooter]

Well, people who do that are completely unconscious!

You will see it, this your first summer.................................

[Bonanza]

You will see it, this your first summer.................................

No, this isn't my first summer in Florida.
I originally moved to Florida in 1983, however, whenever I see this I say something to the pet owner.

Let them walk barefoot on black top or concrete to see what they are doing to their dog!

[festusrules]

I asked for recent info. Apparently no one has done this recently.

[Barefoot]

I asked for recent info. Apparently no one has done this recently.

Private Manatee Tours | Swim With The Manatees On A Houseboat | Manatee Swim Tours | Private Houseboat Manatee Tour | Swim With Manatees | Florida Manatee Tours (http://www.swimwiththefloridamanatees.com/)

Snorkel with manatees in Crystal River or Homossasa River FL (http://www.snorkelwithmanatees.com/)

Crystal River Manatee Tours, Native Vacations, Manatee Snorkel Tours, Swim with Manatees, Manatee Dive, Crystal River Boat Tours (http://www.nativevacations.com/)

Did you see the links that Bogie graciously provided on 3/20?

[festusrules]

yes, I found same on the internet. I was hoping a real live villager had recent experience at a site. This is a very time sensitive deal. There are times when they have moved out of these sites(I have read this).