CRYSTAL RIVER

VISITS TO THE MANATEES

Janie wanted to dive with and pet the Manatees at Crystal River. These gentle creatures had been on her hot list for years. Patti also wanted to go back to Crystal River. We had a lot of fun there in An opportunity came up in June of 2001. We had our annual trade show and meeting in Orlando Florida so Crystal River could be scheduled on either the way down or the way back to Raleigh. The last time we had been at Crystal River was in 1979 when Janie was 7. It was her first time with a regulator in her mouth.

Now she lives to get a regulator in her mouth and pet and feed sea creatures. There had been a dry spell for weeks prior to our visit but the night before, the bottom dropped out. The water was not crystal by any stretch of the imagination. It was more like gumbo. At the diveshop where we rented a catamaran and motor we learned the new rules put in place to protect the manatees. You can no longer approach the Manatee underwater using scuba or a rebreather. You can not freedive down. You can interact with them on the surface. Since these guys are a real attraction, I can imagine that these rules are necessary. Janie was a bit worried that she would not be able to see them, much less pet them with the water conditions and rules.

I had intended to slip up near them using the rebreather so as not to disturb them. My only interest was in photography. I had dived with them a number of times when I lived in Florida in the mid '60s. I just brought along a slightly modified little RGU pure oxygen rig. Lightweight and packs small. It was perfect for the shallow water we were going to be in. A bit disappointed, I just dove with it in areas without the Manatee.

Patti was along for the ride. She looked at the murky water and lost interest. She enjoyed the boat ride and the beautiful scenery. When we went out on our search for Manatee, we were lucky. There was a boat ahead of us in the shallows where a pod of Manatees was feeding on the bottom grass. We went over and slipped into the water. Soon we were able to pet these guys as they fed---without breaking any of the rules. Janie was thrilled. I admit that I enjoyed it also, but could only take closeups with a wide angle lens to even get any picture in the silty water.

There also were some new born dolphins there that were in our area. The little guys would jump out of the water within 20 or so feet from us. Because of the silt, we never saw one underwater, but did see them jumping around us. Damn that rain....

All in all it was a very fun filled pleasant morning of diving before we headed back towards Raleigh.