When Is the Best Time
During wintertime, the manatees migrate to Crystal River, Florida, because they get stressed by the cold gulf if the temperature goes below 68°F / 20°C. However, they look like they are prepared for cold temperatures, but their bodies do not have much fat for insulation. The estimated population around the Florida coast is 7.500-10.000 manatees.
The reason that they gather around the springs is that the springs have a constant temp of 74°F/23°C. They move to the Three Sisters Springs during high tide, and at low tide, they gather outside in the channel at Idiot’s Delight I and II. Please, remember access to the springs and swimming with manatees from the water only. Booking a tour is essential if you wish to get close to manatees.
The best months for swimming with manatees in Florida are from mid-November to late March. They gather in huge numbers at the springs only in the wintertime.
They migrate to the springs when the sea temperature is too cold for them. The springs have a constant temperature of 20°C/68°F, which they need to survive.
While manatees can be found in large numbers from mid-November until mid-March, exceptions are possible. In 2018, for example, they already left the springs in mid-February due to an unusually high day temperature. On the other hand, in one year, they stayed until April, even early May.
To be on the safe side, stick to the months mentioned above. I had an unforgettable experience when a manatee came close, kissed, and hugged me. That was incredible.
Manatee Season in Florida
Mid-November-March
This is the time to spot Manatees and swim with them. The total population in Crystal River can reach up to 800 manatees in the winter. That's why so many visitors come in the winter months. Be prepared to compete with the best tour spots with hundreds of others. That's why it's essential to book in advance. If they are fully booked, there is no chance of getting on a tour.
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My fantastic underwater manatee pics were taken with my Olympus Tough TG-6 50ft/15m waterproof camera, which I held in my right hand when the manatee hugged me.
I wondered who was hugging me and trying to take me on a dive. I was glad to have the aqua noddle from the tour company.
However, the most important is that the manatees don't get disturbed by these tours. Groups are small and spread throughout the day. From my own experience, the manatees love the interactions with the snorkelers as long as they stay calm - no hectic movements. I got hugged and kissed by different manatees.
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April-October
As they migrated to the ocean, you won't see large numbers of Manatees in Florida from spring until fall. That's why the manatee population ranges between 60-90 only in the Crystal River area outside of winter. That also means there are still some manatee residents, and there is a chance that you might spot one or two. It's still a nice overall experience as it's much quieter, with very few other visitors. Now, you are allowed to swim by yourself at Chrystal River Springs.
Best Daytime at Crystal River
It is almost impossible to avoid crowds while swimming with the manatees. Even in the early morning, expect 30 to 40 people in the water. However, the Three Sisters Springs are tranquil when they open the gate early in the morning, and the manatees are most active during that time of day. That means early morning bookings are necessary for the best experience, regardless of other visitors.
Do you just want to spot the manatees without swimming? Also, get there early in the morning, as this is the time when the manatees are active. During the day and in the afternoon, they rest and gather together.
However, it is impressive when hundreds of manatees stick together at the springs and in the small channels. The views from the boardwalk into the springs and the channel are fantastic.
Closure Regulation for the 3 Sisters Springs
The springs are an essential refuge for manatees. If the water temp at the bottom decreases below 63°F/17°C, all activities, such as swimming with manatees or kayaking, are prohibited.
Weather in the Area of Tampa
The manatee peak season can be pretty chilly in the morning. On average, it's roughly 50°F/10°C cold in the early morning. We experienced 28°F/-2°C, which does not happen often. It was pretty cold when we got out of the water. Day temps are usually between 58°F/15°C and 70°F/21°C. Precipitation occurs year-round, with its peak in the summer months. It’s quite hot and muggy in the summer. The temperatures are around 90°F/32°C, and mosquitos can be an issue.
The Three Sisters Springs at Crystal River
It's the perfect location to observe manatees along the boardwalk. Volunteers answer all questions and offer guided walking and birding trails. Birding is outstanding around the springs, so we came here for a second visit.
- Parking:
You either have to park your car one mile away at the Three Sisters Springs Center and take a trolley that departs every 30 minutes to get there or park your car nearby and walk on foot. For your navigation system, enter 123 NW U.S. 19, Crystal River, FL 34428, following the Google Maps Link.
- Opening Hours:
The Three Sisters Spring is open daily from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm; the ticket sale closes at 3.30 pm. Sharp closure at 4.30 pm.
- Entrance Fee:
Discount with National Park Pass.
Summer (April to November 14) adults $ 12.50 children (age 6-15) $ 7.50 younger for free
Winter (November 15 to March) adults $ 20.00 children $ 7.50, same as in summer
Swimming and kayaking are allowed during the summer. Nevertheless, there isn’t any access through the refuge. You'd have to come by boat or kayak to get into it. You may spot a manatee, but very few are around in summer.
If you don’t like swimming in the river in winter, you can take a kayak tour to get a closer look. There are plenty of tour operators around Crystal River to swim or kayak with the manatees and dive into the cavern at Kings Spring. However, you can also spot them in huge numbers already from the boardwalk of the Three Sisters Spring.
7 Must-Know Tips to Swim With Manatees
- Try to book a morning tour as you'll experience the most manatee activity then.
- You get a wetsuit borrowed because of the cold outside temperature. I have to confess this was not enough for us. Luckily, we had additional neoprene protection with a hoody in our bag. IMO it was utterly necessary to stay a little longer in the water.
- Manatees are usually curious; however, let the manatee decide if it likes to interact with you. Leave your hand still in the water, and they may come, roll over to get pet at their belly. The skin is not soft, more like a grater and warm.
- Manatees are heavy and push you easily underwater by accident. Therefore, you get an aqua noddle to stay safe during the guided trip. If your tour leads to shallow water where you are able to stay, it is less challenging. However, I was surrounded by three manatees playing and got hit on my second trip. Afterwards, I always stood in the shallow water, although these cute guys prodded me to get back. I always left my hand in the water, and the three came to get pet again.
- Some tour companies offer pictures on a USB stick, a CD or online afterwards. Check the quality of the pics before you decide to buy them. Due to the many people and manatees in the water, visibility and clarity, pictures are sometimes not as good as you may expect.
- Do I recommend swimming with manatees? Yes, absolutely, the manatees don't get disturbed if you follow the rules. You get an introduction first. However, you are not in the zoo; interactions are not predictable.
- Book a second trip and enjoy the marvellous experience even more. We were more relaxed after knowing what to expect and how to behave. These interactions were even better.
How Long to Stay?
Regardless if you plan to swim with manatees or just want to spot them, I highly recommend staying here for a few days. Visit the Three Sisters Spring, look at one of the many other springs like the Rainbow Springs and enjoy the manatee encounter. Actually, we planned to camp in the Rainbow Springs State Park. Due to the cold night temps of 32°F, we booked a room at the Hampton Inn Crystal River instead at the last minute. The following day, it was just a 5-minute drive to our manatee tour. We loved the great breakfast each day.
Best Months to Visit
Location and Tips
Many years ago, I saw a picture of hundreds of manatees close together. When we decided to leave our jobs to explore a little bit of our wonderful earth, I knew it was time to watch these fascinating animals related to elephants. It is usually guaranteed to watch them during winter at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1983 to protect the West Indian Manatees.
This refuge preserves the last undeveloped habitat in Kings Bay. Kings Spring is the largest natural spring in the bay and the primary source of the Crystal River. The spring is located in Citrus County, which is quite busy during winter due to the vast number of manatees in King’s Bay.
It’s the largest gathering of manatees in the world during winter. Everybody wants to get nose-to-nose with a manatee. You definitely spot them in high numbers inside and outside of the springs.
The manatees spend the majority of their time resting around the springs. They are motionless while resting during the day.
The Uncertain Future of the Manatees
These fantastic giants don’t have any natural enemies, but humans cause the biggest threats. The year 2021 was the worst ever for the manatee population in Florida. I assume you heard the news of starving and dying manatees along the coasts and in the Florida channels. The sad record of 2020 doubled, meaning more than one thousand manatees died in 2021. They depend on seagrass but can't find enough any longer. Nutrition pollution causes algae blooms, the reason for the disappearance of seagrass. There are many efforts for the replantation of seagrass and better wastewater management. I hope the winter won't be too hard and stressful for them to cause even more deaths.
In December 2021, US wildlife agencies announced the start of an experimental feeding program. An estimated 90% of the seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon disappeared. Another experiment is to regrow the needed seagrass for the sea cows.
- They get injured by boats.
- Disturbed by humans
- Loss their habitat
(It was planned to use the land around the springs for building houses and bottling the spring water. Thanks to all backers who prevented these plans!!).
9 West Indian Manatee Facts
- The manatees migrate from Kings Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to the different springs during winter to survive.
- They need a water temp above 68°F; otherwise, manatees get stressed by the cold and can die. The temperature at Crystal River is around 72°F/22°C.
- These gentle giants move slowly but can reach up to 15 mph.
- Their skin is covered with barnacles in the gulf during summer and algae in the springs in winter.
- They are an aquatic relative of the elephant.
- Manatees breathe every 2 – 4 minutes, resting only every 20 minutes.
- A newborn calf is already 3-4 feet long, and an adult an average of 10 feet.
- The weight is, on average, 1000 pounds but can be even higher.
- Actually, a manatee could get up to 60 years old, but often less than 30 years in the wild.
- Kayaking
- Birding
- Scalloping from July to mid-September
- Swimming in the Rainbow Springs
Are you wondering about the different water quality in my pictures? We went on two separate tours to other springs. One spring was the main at Three Sisters, with lots of activities by a huge number of manatees, which was the reason for the poor visibility. However, here we spotted the biggest of it all. We went to a smaller spring on the other tour with fewer manatees and younger ones; therefore, we had better visibility in the water.
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