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[starlagurl]

I've heard of swimming with dolphins in Florida, but never manatees. Sounds interesting, I wonder if it's more dangerous.

Here is a nice story about it: http://holeinthedonut.com/2009/03/17/swimm...-river-florida/

[mmbcross]

Lovely story. Being from Florida, it means more to me. I will certainly try to get up to Crystal River one of these days. On the other hand, nothing is quite what it seems, and there is strong sentiment against swimming with manatees.
http://manateeprotection.com/.

We see manatees in all the state rivers in winter. Although there are manatee areas with reduced speed zones, regrettably they still get cut up by irresponsible speeding boaters. Because they usually swim near the surface, and are often not visible from speeding boats, the vessels pass right over them and the propellers cut through their backs. It's a horrible thing, but lots of people with boats don't seem to be concerned at all.
http://savethemanatee.org/

[jeremystravels]

I am doing that in 2 weeks if its still colder out!! The scuba class goes down there every year to get certified and I am going with them this spring break. If it is colder out and the manatees are still in that area we are going diving with them. Crossing my fingers on it. I'll be sure to write about it on here if we do!

[starlagurl]

Wow, that is a terrible thing.

Jeremy, I'd love to read it too.

[jeremystravels]

Wow, that is a terrible thing.

Jeremy, I'd love to read it too.

Just found out I wont be diving with the manatees. . I guess the region we're going to they leave when it starts to get warmer. Oh well, we're still doing almost 10 dives in four days so I can't complain. I think we're going to try and go to a rehabilitation center instead now though.

[huckabmm]

I've never done it commercially but we were vacationing with some friends on Captiva Island and one day we were swimming in the water and this manatee came out of nowhere. It swam around us for a few minutes just looking at us (and us at him) and then swam off...it was pretty surreal.

As someone who was born/raised in Florida, and someone who has swam with one in the wild I support http://savethemanatee.org/