A Manatee from last weekend

Spent last weekend up at Crystal River in North Florida snorkelling with the Manatees. Lots of backscatter, lots of people. Still got some nice images though. The buoys in the first image are placed there by the Fisheries & Wildlife Dept to restrict the areas that you are allowed to enter to interact with the Manatee - most of them sleep in the buoyed area, and come out to interact when awake.

I also shot a lot of actual B&W with the camera (rather than a PS conversion) to see what that looked like. Not too bad actually.

For more images from this shoot, see the DSI West Indian Manatee Gallery

Enjoy,

M

Boy I did enjoy. Thanks Marriard, super shots. The b&w shot IS nice. The backscatter certainly does not ruin the shot.

Nice to see pics of these wonderful creatures.

Mark

Any recommendations as to how to go about doing the manatees. As in with who and time of year. I have heard winter are the better months?

With in-laws there I am assuming during the week may reduce the silt-up problems more.

Any recommendations as to how to go about doing the manatees. As in with who and time of year. I have heard winter are the better months?

 

With in-laws there I am assuming during the week may reduce the silt-up problems more.

Yes - avoid weekends. Winter months are best as there are Manatee in lots of areas.

Unlike ocean ops, because all the operators use these small little pontoon boats (max 8 divers or 1,000 snorkellers) it is best to go with the biggest op in the area - American Pro Diving - extremely professional, and have boats docked all over the place or trailered so they can get where they need to go.

Also the Homosassa River site is much less visited (APD has boats docked to reach here, no one else really does)and has a larger viewing area, However the visibility is slightly less and the muck gets stirred up quickly - often by the Manatees. If you go to the left bank you have a good area if you can get a couple of them over there.

If you do any of the Crystal River sites - keep away from the buoyed off areas and go from boat to boat. There is normally a couple of manatees playing with the boats and you interact in a little quieter environment.

Don't dive Kings Cavern unless you are the only dive group there. Rainbow River drift was OK (no Manatees) and worth doing once.

Wish I had done Blue's Grotto or Devils Den while I was there, but I didn't have time.

:-)

M

Thanks for that.

Last time there we did Hal Watt's 40 fathoms and the one almost inside Ocala. I think Paradise something or other...too early to think I guess. Caverns were not my favourite as I like to see life more.

Hal Watt's was entertaining. He is a character. Had us demonstrate skills on his 15ft platform before going in. He then toured us around like a father and his kids.

Following all that he then offers you for the low, low price the ability to be a certified tour guide. (we are all instructors and divemasters)

I am going to Crystal River next week, they should still be thick, the cold weather keeps up north longer.. With me luck

20 year old advice. Snorkel only. We rented a canoe (this was pre sit on top Kayaks which would be much better. We canoed around the lake finding small springs that the tourists didn't go to. Had several small groups of Manatees all to ourselves as we watched pontoon boats full of tourist crisscross across the lake not finding any Manatees. Go early. We were in the water as soon as daybreak. This was easy to do when you were stationed on Parris Island. Go in the winter. The colder the water the better. The Manatee go their as the water is a constant 71 (I think) from the springs. The outside water is colder and the Manatee need the warmer water to survive.

Good shots! (and information)

At the b&w shot there are sign of software processing? Or some hairs of the manatee?

Good shots! (and information)

At the b&w shot there are sign of software processing? Or some hairs of the manatee?

That is actually Manatee hair - only processing was resizing and an unsharp mask.

M