SWIMMING WITH MANATEES. BALLOONS AND WHATS NEW!!!!

[jaynekent]

hi all

getting on with planning our 2nd visit for feb this time with the grandparents in tow! wondering how much will have changed in 3 years.:D

my children aged 13 and 11 would really like to swim with the manatees having already done the dolphins
Can anyone recommend a paticular place ?
looked back on the old threads but as it was 2005 wasn't sure if anythings changed.

also what about afamily friendly balloon trip as this also on the agenda .I know absolutely nothing about them, and to be honest i'm not sure i really fancy it!!!!

aNY IDEAS/INFO appreciated!!!!

thanks:)

[Cowboy]

Hi Jayne,
Why not visit the 'Baloon Rides' link on the Orlando Villas tool bar?
I don't really know up to date information on Swimming with Mantees but if you type it into google you will find lots of information.
You will find many changes such as more communities, shops, restaurants, improved roads etc. since your last trip. Have a wonderful trip.

Mike and Kath.

[Madabouttigger]

Hi Jayne, we went to Blue Springs State Park where you can swim in the river with the Manatees BUT you can't interact with them or touch them, if one comes near you you have to swim away, but you can get fairly close to them and if you take goggles look at them under water too. It really is a beautiful park.

Have a good one.

Diane

[Karen]

We went to Homosassa State park a few years ago and had a lovely day. You don't swim with the Manatess but you get to learn about them. They also have river trips near by, which you can get to go in the water and from what I have heard the manatees come up quite close, but we did not have enough time to do that.

[mizzy]

the balloon rides look great and there's some fab pics on here

i'd give it a go without any hesitation but dh says no[msnsad]

you don't say when you are going but there's a new aquatica water park being built at the moment i think it will be ready april 08

there's a few tours you could do with the kids at seaworld, like saving a species and the polar expedition, we did this earlier this year and the kids loved it, the cost was very reasonable, the guide was very informed and answered questions no matter how silly, it's always my child who asks the most inappropriate question, wanting to know about their poop[msnembarrased] some trivial information is that we told to stand at the side of the penguin to touch it as when it poops it shoots it backwards up to 50 foot[msneek]

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/mizzy/20074317547_pen.jpg

[SDJ]

Sounds as though you are planning a great trip, enjoy whatever you decide to do.

Sandra

[mfairhurst]

You will see lots of things changed and only for the better .
Hope you get to see the mantatees at Hommasssa Park they look after the injured one as some get cut with the boats on inland water ways .
Enjoy your next stay .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Macka]

We were on Siesta key beach in April, and a Manattee swam past, everyone scarpered out of he water, they tought it was a shark, not me, I put my goggles on and swam out to it (not pc I know) got to within 6 feet of it, it was HUGE! it swam away gently. Made my holiday it did. It's the second time I've seen one wild. Don't hesitate to do it Jayne.[msnsmile2]

[Katys Grandad]

Hi Macka

I know the temptation is strong but please, please don't swim towards manatees in the wild like that if you're privileged enough to spot them again. They will let you know if they're OK with your company by coming near to you. I've seen beach patrols fine others doing similar things.

Hope you take that plea in the spirit it's intended.[msnsmile2]

[mizzy]

[website link edited]

i've checked the sponsored links and it looks OK? to post the website link

this is not swimming with the manatees but looks like a good place to visit[msnsmile]

i think, but not 100% sure that it's unlaw to interact with both the wild dolphins and manatees in the florida waters (i can vaguely remember reading about it when i was looking at boat tours) if i'm wrong i'm sure someone will come along and correct me, that's maybe why the beach patrols fine people

[Jill]

We took our boys to swim with the manatees at Crystal River and booked a tour with Bird's Underwater. They also rent out wet suits for those travelling without one. Our youngest thought a visit to a theme park was 'the best thing since sliced bread' (his experession not mine) until he swam with the manatees and now he is hoping to repeat the experience this Christmas when we visit Florida.

[dsv77]

We are going to Florida in Dec to celebrate my daughters 18th , she has swum with dolphins already but would like to now swim with the manatees , can any one give me a bit more detail of how their trip to crystal river went ? ie did you actualy get to swim with manatees? and was it like Seaworld where you are herded into a tent to buy $100s of photographs after the 20 min swim .
Thanks

[chrissb]

Hi Angela

I swam with the Manatees at crystal river a few years ago and had a great time. I went with American Pro Diving Centre (if you put this into google you will find their website) Day started with a briefing in the dive shop, where people were also sorted out with wet suits. It was a reasonably small group, 10 - 15 I think. Then we got onto the boat and set off to look for manatees. We saw several of them and were allowed to swim with them. You must remember that they are in the wild and can swim away, if they do you cannot chase them. We found that some of the manatees swam towards us and we could touch them. Total trip time was approx 3 hours and we spent well over 1 hour in the water. American Pro Diving Centre make a video of the day, which is pretty good and you are able to view before you decide to buy or not. I did not feel pushed to buy either the video or anything else from them. Had a great day and will be going again soon with our 2 boys.

[dsv77]

Hi CHRIS

Thanks for the info we have decided , to book a tour so cant wait.

Thanks
Angela

[KerryandAndy]

if you are lucky and we have been everytime we have been there is sunset Bar and grill, last causeway before Cocoa Beach on the right we sit eat have a beer and watch manatees and dolphins in the bay. the manatees come up to the deck area because they like the hoses used for the boats. there are always dolphines in the bay. it is nature so i hope that others have a much luck as we have, been going there for the past 6 + years. the do do boat trips from the jetty, dont know times or cost.

[mistert]

Kerry & Andy,

Is there any particular time of day that you usually go to the Sunset Bar & Grill and see the Manatees?

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Madabouttigger
Hi Jayne, we went to Blue Springs State Park where you can swim in the river with the Manatees BUT you can't interact with them or touch them, if one comes near you you have to swim away, but you can get fairly close to them and if you take goggles look at them under water too. It really is a beautiful park.

Have a good one.

Diane
[/quote]
You cannot swim with the manatees in February at Blue springs, but would recommend going and doing the boat ride on the St Johns river, so informative and a great way to spend a couple of hours. You can see te manatees close up in the spring where they stay in the winter

[Jill]

The Crystal River is another place where you can swim with the manatees we used Birds Tours (try google for the address). A few years back they were still around early March so it does depend on how warm it is.

The boat trip Shirley mentions is also excellent and very informative.

[Nina A]

We went to Crystal River last year. There are several boat companies that take people to swim with the manatees. We were the only 2 people on our boat and had a brilliant time. The manatees come in from the gulf to seek warmer water for winter. I think they come in around October, the end of the season is the end of March. There are rightly very strict rules for any interaction. Areas where they tend to congregate are roped off. You cannot go into the roped off areas, you have to wait outside and hope they will come to you. The secret is to stay very still, they are very curious and will come to investigate. I didn't want to be in the water but Pete went in and had an amazing time. There was one youngster who wouldn't leave him alone, he had to swim away in the end. They have volunteer wardens who patrol on kyaks to ensure everyone is obeying the rules. It was the most amazing experience, I'll try to work out how to post some of our photos. We went to Homosassa Springs the next day and saw more manatees there. It's well worth the visit.

We also did a balloon trip in Kissimmee, would recommend it and can't wait to do it again.