EcoFriendly Crystal River Swim With Manatee Tour

Captain Mike’s Sunshine River Tours are Fun, Educational Experiences

Apr 3, 2009 Dawn M. Smith

Catering to small groups, teaching respect for manatees and encouraging environmental awareness mark this tour as a one of the best snorkel with manatee tours in Florida

Crystal River in Florida is the winter home to hundreds of manatees seeking warmer waters as temperatures drop. Some manatees remain in the Crystal River area year round, so it is always possible to see these gentle mammals when swimming or snorkeling here.

Choosing a Swim With Manatee Tour on Crystal River

Citrus County is the only county in Florida where swim with manatee tours are allowed. There is now a push for tighter regulation and fewer people being allowed to participate. There are many tours available for those wishing to snorkel with manatees but supporting manatee tours that adhere to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge guidelines, increases the chance that these tours will not be banned.

While many agree that injury and death from boat accidents is a bigger threat, swim with manatee tours may be having an impact on feeding and resting behaviors of this endangered species.

In searching for swim with manatee tour operators who were eco-friendly and strong supporters of manatee protection, Capt Mike’s Sunshine River Tours came to the top of the list.

What Makes Capt. Mike’s Manatee Tours Different

• Supporting Local Manatee Protection Effort

When visitors book a swim with manatee tour on Crystal River (there are also Homosassa River manatee tours available), they are assessed a surcharge which goes to Friends of Chassahowitzka. This non-profit organization helps fund enforcement of manatee protection laws and environmentally important projects that keep the Crystal River healthy.

• Smaller Groups for Less Impact on Manatees and More Personal Attention

Capt. Mike’s swim with manatee tours do not fill their boats to full capacity which increases attention to the guests on board and reduces the number of people in the water at any one time. Guests learn about minimizing impacts on manatee habitat while on the boat and in the water.

• More Flexibility in Where Guests Swim With Manatees

Smaller groups allow for more flexibility in where the tour goes. In Crystal River there are three prime areas for swimming with manatees. Many of the tours only take people to the Three Sisters Springs area where the most manatees tend to congregate.

But that means that the snorkelers also concentrate there. Capt Mike’s Crystal River manatee tours often spend time in the other places where manatees are found. The numbers of manatees in these areas may be fewer but with fewer swimmers around the manatees are more likely to approach and interact with snorkelers.

With increasing pressure to stop all swim with manatee tours in Florida, choosing an environmentally sound tour that puts the welfare of the manatees first may help ensure others have this opportunity in the future. Booking with Capt. Mike for a swim with the manatees tour is a good way to do that.

For more information or to make reservations:

Capt Mike’s Sunshine River Tours

5297 S. Cherokee Way

Homosassa

FL 34448

+1 352 628 3450

The copyright of the article EcoFriendly Crystal River Swim With Manatee Tour in SE U.S. Travel is owned by Dawn M. Smith. Permission to republish EcoFriendly Crystal River Swim With Manatee Tour in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Manatee Swims in Crystal River

A Manatee Appproaches a Stationary cameraman

Boat Accident Scars on a Crystal River Manatee

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Comments

Apr 15, 2009 9:50 AM

Guest :

I would like to thank you for the article written about my company. To date,4/15/09 my customers have contributed over $20,000.00 to the Friends of Chassahowitka. A smaller amount from this fund has been sent to Keep Citrus County Beautiful for monthly cleanups in Kings Bay of which Traci Colson supervises. I am posting this comment to promote others to contribute to the Friends of Chassahowitzka. Recently this organization along with the City of Crystal River and the Citrus County Commisioners spearheaded a community wide effort to secure the funding to purchase Three Sisters Springs. Their efforts has secured grants along with funding from the City of Crystal River and the County that will assure funding to buy this very sensitive springs and keep forever natural and away from development. This in turn protects manatees as well as the health and clarity of our springs in this area.

Cordially,
Captain Mike

May 6, 2009 9:41 AM

Guest :

Hello Dawn,

I would like to post a follow up comment on a project that I am working through. I have just installed 2 electric trolling motors on one of my boats for manuevering and to use as partial power in conjuction with my 4 stroke motor. A sort of hybrid. Phase II of this project will be the study of lithium batteries to be used to power more powerfull electric motors along with a propane powered generator for on water recharging.

Cordially,
Captain Mike

May 6, 2009 9:55 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Great news in both cases, Captain Mike! Hopefully readers are putting the Friends of the Chassahowitzka on their charity lists as they make their plans for taking one of your swim with manatee tours. And knowing they will be going out in a more eco-friendly boat makes it even better. Keep up the good work.

Jun 16, 2009 6:07 AM

Guest :

I'm really confused, I went on a tour with Captain? Mikes Sunshine river tours and the crew had us "chase" after manatees and try and have the group surround the creature or corner it in a small lagoon type area to have an "experience". Is that the way your suppose to treat protected animals? I think there should be a investigation into this.

4 Comments