Manatees in Crystal River

We are wanting to visit Crystal River this year and would like to know opinions people have regarding the many dive operators there and if people think it's necessary to stay more than one or two days in order to best capture the manatees?

Also if anyone knows the best operator to do a private tour with? - American Pro Dive?

Where do people stay when you're there. We're planning Nov/Dec.

Mahalos

Bryce

Birds Underwater is the best by far, for a private tour you will have to specify your own boat and it will cost you though. If you go on a weekday the group boat might not be so crowded anyway and don't go near a holiday or on weekends as it is not just crowded for you all but too many people for manatee also.

http://www.birdsunderwater.com

Absolutely don't go with American Pro Dive. Trust me on this, I go up there many, many times each season. The changed owners a year or two ago and I don't want to go into how poor their standards are now.

An alternative to Bird's is a guy named Charlie Slider, I think he named his boat Aquamarine Images or something like that. He worked for Bird's for years so he would be my second choice as I went with him a few years ago when he worked for Bird's. But the folks at Bird's are still better.

GO EARLY, VERY VERY EARLY AM!!!

Hope for a cold front. Manatee won't be there in force if it hasn't gotten a little cool.

Allow as many days as possible. I've had viz of less than 3 feet at Three Sister's Spring (the premier spot) one day, and viz of 150 feet the very next day Go figure. There are contributing factors but no one can ever figure it out. So many factors enter in.

Lots of stuff besides manatee, check out my website, diving cormorant, tarpon, freshwater turtles, gar at Rainbow River, etc etc. A fantastic experience and unrivaled photo subjects!!!

Best, Carol

Thanks Carol - Both of your recommendations were on my list before the post - I'll definitely look into them.

Aloha

Bryce

Birds Underwater is the best by far, for a private tour you will have to specify your own boat and it will cost you though. If you go on a weekday the group boat might not be so crowded anyway and don't go near a holiday or on weekends as it is not just crowded for you all but too many people for manatee also.

 

http://www.birdsunderwater.com

 

Absolutely don't go with American Pro Dive. Trust me on this, I go up there many, many times each season. The changed owners a year or two ago and I don't want to go into how poor their standards are now.

I concur. For more details check out the thread http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12814&hl=

Hi Bryce,

When are you planning to do this trip. I live a couple of hours from Crystal River and I am thinking of doing the trip as well. I have a place on the water on the East Coast of Florida, and get manatees there this time of year.

I can only get topside pics of them though when they come for a little freshwater cocktail, as the viz sucks for underwater in our canal.

Jeff

Thanks Steve - I searched in Wetpixel before posting, but couldn't find this thread. Glad I got to read it.

There is an article in one of the US dive mags recently on American Pro - that's the only reason I knew there name. Glad to read about your story. I'm always skeptical of the operators that make the mags (don't mean any disrespect here) b/c it seems as though the biggest shops (most paid advertising) always get the write ups/ratings, etc. As with most here I suppose, we way prefer the mom and pop shops most anywhere we go -

Jeff - not sure when or if at all. We're contemplating DEMA, manatees and Tiger Beach for a three week trip in November, but may be in Florida for Christmas and do it then........Still not sure, just looking into some things right now.

Aloha

Bryce

Keep in mind that you want to go when the ocean is as cold as possible. It is the relative temperature between the ocean and the springs that drives them into the rivers. I seem to remember that the best time is Feb when the ocean drops to around 68F whereas the springs are pretty much a constant 72F year round.

I went last January with birds and they did a great job. I was just in for a couple of days and had only 1 day to snorkel. 3 sister's spring has the best clarity but is also harder to get too. The water levels wouldn't permit them to go there when we went. We did see lots of Manatees but the viz wasn't the greatest 15ft?. If I were going down there for a few days, I would definitely consider renting a diveyak and make an adventure out of it. Just my two cents worth...BTW, its been one of my favorite trips. The friendly manatees do not disappoint!!!

Bryce,

I would do at least two days probably three to get some pictures. It costs less than $30 a day. There are tons of hotels within 3 miles of the dive/tour operators in Crystal River. I stayed at a budget hotel with internet wifi for under $50/night. I went with American Pro DIve because I wanted to get some diving in and I couldn;t find an tour operator who either got back to me in a timely fashion or were able to take me to the locations I wanted. With that said, American Pro DIve was run professionally with respect for the animals. I think it makes a difference that this was off season as they operate 9 boats. Birds Underwater supposedly pushes their overflow patronage to American Pro Dive.

An alternative or possibly a supplement to going to Crystal RIver is to see the manatees in Palm Beach with Jim Abernethy - http://www.scuba-adventures.com/manatees.shtml . If you do this you get can get some awesome muck diving right under the Blue Heron Bridge and some decent diving immediately offshore.

Laz who works at Jim Abernethy's and a wetpixeler can give more information about the later option.

hope that helps.

Absolutely don't go with American Pro Dive. Trust me on this, I go up there many, many times each season. The changed owners a year or two ago and I don't want to go into how poor their standards are now.

 

Best, Carol

My wife and I dove two days with American Pro Dive in January and had a great time. I have no clue what you are talking about with regards to their "standards".

With that said, American Pro DIve was run professionally with respect for the animals.

Maybe they respect the animals but my experience was that they certainly didn't respect the others on the river.

Birds is the way to go. Here is the number:

Maybe they respect the animals but my experience was that they certainly didn't respect the others on the river.

I agree with Dr. Steve. I am a local. I am a native of citrus county. They have no respect for anybody else on the water...unless it's another one of their boats. Some of their tour operators have been heard saying "this is OUR manatee, you need to get your own manate".......WHAT?! Is their name carved in the manatee's tail or something?! They're supposed to be "wild" animals. They certainly won't be for long.