Hi - we're planning a trip to florida next month (mid-april) and are trying to find a place to swim with manatees. (a friend of mine did this some years ago but i can't remember where.) has anybody done this or do you know a good resource for information? thanks very much!!

What part of Fl are you going to?

Just google it. I found 5 companies on the first page. It all depends on where you are staying.

i googled it too and chrystal river came up, but there seemed to be only a luxury hotel and the rest looked like dives. can you recommend any place in this area in particular? also, do you know of other areas where there are manatees at this time. thanks.

Manatees are interesting creatures and I'm always glad to see vistors take an interest in them!

You can see a list of manatee viewing areas here:
http://www.savethemanatee.org/places.htm

Just be aware that they are an endangered species, and are protected under federal and state laws, so you need to know what you can and cannot do if you are in the water with manatees.

http://www.savethemanatee.org/Tips.htm

Mid-April may be too late for manatees. We took our children to Crystal River several years ago in late March or early April and saw only three the whole time - and were told we were lucky to see them. The "luxury" hotel at Crystal River isn't all that luxurious.

I think I would skip this and try and view the manatees.

It would be akin to running around a coral with a bunch of elephants.

because they are an endangered species in Florida some counties would prefer that you NOT swim with them.

I hope you realize that these manatees are approximately 750 to 1,000 pounds. There are many locations where you can find and see manatees lazying around. I say that because they do not move fast, they're actually quite slow. Most areas around the intercoastals have manatees. Sometimes you'll find a few in the canals, other times no.

You can observe the characteristics of a few manatees at the Mote Aquarium in Sarasota or see "Snoopy" at the Planetarium on Bradenton.

Give the poor creatures a break.

Their life is not enhanced by having your and your children annoy them.

You won't be able to swim with them this time of year, and anyway you get in trouble if you try to bother them in Crystal River. The rule used to be you could touch them if they came to you (which they did years ago), but now so many people harass them that they usually take off when the first human arrives.

If you want to see them, consider Homosassa Springs Park on the Gulf Coast south of Crystal River.

lydie, just so you know, swimming with the manatees is no longer a widely accepted practice in Florida. It's legal in the Crystal and Homosassa Rivers, but probably won't be for long. The idea dates back to the days when Florida was happy to exploit its natural resources, which seemed inexhaustible then, to attract tourists.

Today, when manatee populations are so endangered, people are wising up and realizing that wild animals, however gentle by nature, are best left undisturbed. Laws against harassing manatees are being enforced, and the 15 year plan for the state's wildlife refuges may well include an outright ban on organized "swim with manatees" tours. This will obviously put tour operators out of business, which is the only sticking point.

So please, reconsider your plan and start a trend of doing the right thing. Manatees are actually very easy to see from designated viewing areas (at the right times of year). We often see them when we go kayaking, too.

Enjoy your trip!

I sincerely hope you'll rethink this and not do it. You are right, the places to stay in that area are few and far between, and are dives pretty much. The area is quite a drive from where most tourists head in FL. The experience, even if you could find them there in April, (and this has been a warm winter so even less likely than normal) would be very short lived for the long drive and bottom end accommodations.

I had one come up within a foot of my hand as I was leaning over rinsing a boat motor after coming in. S/he just stayed looking at me and it was the neatest experience...but what she wanted, I realized, was for me to let her have some of that nice fresh water from the hose. They have become too accustomed to people and our ways, to their detriment.

I am trying to discourage you, it's true, but all the above are also true. I hope to heavens this practice is banned!