Crystal River Manatees
The Florida Manatee is a sub species of the Indian Manatee. Manatees are also called sea cows, because they eat the aquatics plants that grow in the shallow waters. A female manatee is called a cow, a male is called a bull, and a young manatee is called a calf.
Manatees are found throughout Florida’s waterways, including rivers, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas, where the sea grasses and other aquatic plants grow.
Manatee fossils found in Florida date back 45 million years, and it is believed that manatees evolved from a wading, plant eating land animal. The manatee’s closest land relative is the elephant.
The Crystal River area (including the Homosassa River in Citrus county, FL) is the only place in the United States that you can legally get into the water and interact with a manatee under strict guidelines.
Manatee Protection
Manatees are classified as an endangered species and are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The Florida Sanctuary Act of 1978 designates the entire state of Florida as a manatee sanctuary.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has their field office here in Crystal River on Kings Bay, and they issue special permits to Dive/Snorkel operators so they can conduct manatee passive interactions for the public under strict guidelines. Each permit holder is required to show a video to each guest and explain the rules in detail. The manatee encounter is a snorkeling only activity. SCUBA diving with manatees is not permitted.
Swimming with the manatees is one of the most memorable and unique experiences you will ever have. This gentle giant will warm your heart and you will come away with an understanding of the need to protect this mammal. If the manatees survive for future generations, it will mean that we were successful in preserving the sea grasses, maintaining water quality and making our waterways safe. In short, we will have preserved the ecosystem that both man and manatee depends on for survival.
Orlando Dive & Snorkel Tours Inc. and Crystal River Watersports are located at the Days Inn Hotel Crystal River and have been providing manatee tours for 23 years. We offer guided dive and snorkel packages and dive the crystal clear rivers, the spring and the entry level caverns of the area. You can find us online at www.FloridaManateeTours.com and on facebook at www.facebook.com/ManateeSwim.
