Swim with Manatee - Manatee Snorkel
Manatee Expedition
Snorkeling with manatee Trichechus senegalensis
Swim with manatee in their winter home, experience them close-up by small boat in a relaxed peaceful setting. The manatee seem to enjoy meeting us in the shallow spring waters of Florida. Use your snorkels and masks to swim with these gentle creatures in water between 3ft and 8ft deep. We can photograph or video them in the shallow springs. Our group size will be between five and eight guests, plus our captain and myself. This small group size means we don't crowd the manatees and we all get wonderful encounters and great photos. Manatees can be extremely friendly mammals, somtimes rolling over and nudgeing your hand to give them a belly rub.
Friendly Manatee
About manatees !
The West Indian manatee belongs to the scientific order Sirenia, and the Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Other Sirenians include the Amazonian manatee, West African manatee, dugong (ocasionaly seen on our Western Australia and Andaman Islands expeditions), and Steller's sea cow which was hunted to extinction in 1768. The manatee's two closest land relatives are the elephant, and a small gopher-sized mammal called a hyrax. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal.
Outside of Florida, not much is known about the population of West Indian manatees or other Sirenians in the world, the largest population by far is found in Florida. Elsewhere, they are found only in small pockets throughout their range. All Sirenian species in the world are listed as endangered or vulnerable by the IUCN – World Conservation Union.
The average adult manatee is about three meters (10 feet) long and weighs between 362-544 kilograms (800-1,200 pounds). Some have been known to reach 1300kg (3000lbs). Manatee can be found in shallow rivers, canals and coastal areas. Manatees are a migratory species. Within the United States, West Indian manatees are more concentrated in Florida in the winter due to their desire for warmth from the inland springs and warm water outflows.
Manatee swim expedition itinerary
Day One: You can check in anytime after 2pm. If room is ready you may be able to check in earlier. If you are a scuba diver (bring your BC & regs), you can choose to add a two tank day boat dive off of Palm Beach today for $85 including snacks, fruit and cold drinks. To add a free shore dive (to see seahorse, horseshoe crab & octopus) at the famous Blue Heron Bridge, the cost is just rent a tank. There is also some excelent snorkeling at the end of the white sand beach, and manatee are often encountered at this time of the year.
Day Two: This morning at 10am we will take the 4 hour drive (with comfort stops) accross from South East Florida to North West Florida. You can drive your own rental vehicle if you have one (I will provide a detailed map). Around 2pm we will check in at our picturesque riverside motel cabins in the beautiful area of the crystal springs. This area is idyllic with Spanish moss hanging from old-growth trees, where pelican, egret, osprey, anhinga, ibis and heron make their homes. There are many varieties of fish too, including mullet, largemouth bass, snook and tarpon. This place is truly a nature-lovers dream come true. Our riverside cabins in West Florida have 2 large beds, a/c and heat, color TV, coffee makers, private bathrooms, and are in a wonderfully relaxing setting, that puts me in mind of 'Huckleberry Fin'. The beautiful wooden decks overlook the river. Picnic style lunch included. Evening at leisure.
Manatee are very photogenic and friendly...
Happy manatee... happy people...
Lunch will be picnic style onboard our pontoon boat. We can spend some more time with the manatee before a scenic afternoon cruise back to our cozy cabins. The late afternoon/evening will be at leisure. You may want to rent a canoe, go fishing or just enjoy the climate on your verandah. In the evening there are some great local restaurants to try....fresh sea food is abundant here.
Clear spring waters....
The early morning mists over the river are beautiful...
For more information contact:
It's good to take a nap every now and then...
Pelicans in the branches...
Self drive available: 4 day/3 night 24-27 January
Included in 5 night trip:
5 nights motel accomodation
Welcome dinner day 1
Manatee expedition by boat to snorkel with manatee days 3 & 4
State Wildlife Park visit day 5
Picnic brunch/lunch/snacks on days 2, 3 & 4
Scenic Florida journey by road days 2 & 5
Scenic river cruising with great views of Monkey Island (yes lots of monkeys live there) and some great bird watching opertunities along the river banks. Days 3 & 4
Our first manatee of the day is always a wonderful sight. When we find a good area we will stop and anchor the boat and be free to enter the water to snorkel or photograph these gentle giants. We will spend most of the day (8am-4pm) in the manatee's favorite places, you can swim or stand with them in shallow 72f (20c) water. Hopefully we can get some wonderful photos of these amazing creatures. Some are sleepy, some are inquisitive and playful, others just love to have a belly rub and roll over with joy if you oblige.
Manatee like to floss daily...
Our group will be between 3 - 8 participants, so a nice small group, great for underwater photos and video. We have full days with the manatee, not just a couple of hours like the tourist boats.
A 3000 pounder gives Bob a hug...
Manatees are wild animals, and we can never guarantee how many we will see. However we always choose the best times of the year to visit them, and have not had a day without manatees so far.
Kazuyo is surrounded...
