Here at the Eiko’s Beach House, we love manatees. They are an absolutely incredible animal and they are just so cute and friendly. And while we see manatees from time to time at the beach of Treasure Island, you can see even more at Clearwater, FL. So, here is our guide to manatees in Clearwater, FL.
What to Know About Manatees
Florida manatees are actually a sub-species of the West Indian manatee. These solitary, docile animals can live for 60 years. They are intelligent and can learn simple tasks in the same way that dolphins do.
The West Indian manatee needs warm water temperatures to survive, and therefore can be seen in quantity in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean. Florida manatees do migrate into some of the state’s rivers. It seems they need both freshwater and saltwater to remain healthy. Some manatees have become somewhat dependent on the warm water being produced from power plants along the Florida coast. As these plants close, the manatees face having to find new warm playgrounds.
Florida is home to an estimated 6000 manatees spread around its coasts. Getting an accurate tally is difficult, although regular surveys help to ensure reasonably accurate estimates.
Manatees do not have natural enemies, although occasionally their young will be attacked by alligators or sharks. The only real threat to manatees is that posed by human activity. Manatees are particularly vulnerable to being struck by boats, causing disfigurement or death.
Where to see manatees in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater lies a few miles north of St Petersburg in Pinellas County. There are a number of sites around Pinellas County where it is possible to see manatees in their natural habitat.
There are freshwater springs in Coffee Pot Bayou and in Spring Bayou and Whitcomb Bayou. Manatees are enticed to these areas so they can find supplies of drinking water. Fort de Soto and McKay Creek boast plentiful supplies of seagrass, making them major feeding areas for the manatees. All of these places are ideal choices if you wish to see manatees gathered together.
Another good place, especially during winter months, is the discharge canal connected to the Tampa Electric power station. A dedicated viewing platform has been built so that visitors can see up to 100 manatees with their babies enjoying the warm water.
When the weather is warmer, take a trip to Sand Key and you could be lucky and catch sight of a few manatees. To be absolutely sure of seeing manatees, you should go along to the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa, where manatees are on view all year.
Are manatees friendly?
Manatees are extremely docile, maintaining a serene calmness for much of the time. They move slowly and gently, so are no threat to swimmers or kayakers. They are very unlikely to overturn a kayak and will only approach a swimmer out of curiosity.
Manatees are intelligent creatures who do just want to know what is happening around them. They may nudge a swimmer or a diver in the hope that they might get a response from them. They do seem to crave a bit of human contact.
However, remember that in Florida it is illegal to touch a manatee or to harm one in any way. Of course, a manatee might make the first approach!
Because they are not threatened from other animals in the water, they tend to swim quite slowly. They rarely go faster than 5 miles an hour, but can reach about 15 miles per hour is they need to do so. They have to surface at intervals to breathe in fresh air.
Are manatees endangered?
In 1967 Florida manatees were classified as an endangered species and were included in the roll call of endangered species that was created as a result of the Endangered Species Act. However, their numbers have increased to such an extent that in recent years they have been downgraded to �threatened’.
Their future, however, is not secure and manatees still need protection if they are to survive long into the future. They still face several serious threats to their survival:
· Habitat loss. Developments along the coastline of Florida have resulted in severe habitat loss in many places. Manatees rely heavily on seagrass for their food. Pollution has resulted in seagrass becoming less plentiful.
· Loss of warm springs. Manatees do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm in cold oceans. When the water becomes colder as winter approaches, the manatees have to move to places where the water is warm. Human activity along the coast has meant that many warm springs have disappeared. Manatees have turned to warm water that is produced as a result of industrial processes like electricity generation. When these industries close due to technological progress, another source of warm water will disappear. Ironically, global warming and rising ocean temperatures might be beneficial to manatees.
· Collisions with boats. Human activity around the Florida coastline is often centered on boating. Both large and small boats ply the waters around Florida. A slow-moving manatee cannot move fast enough to avoid a boat, and this can lead to injuries and sometimes death. It has been estimated that about 100 manatees are killed by boats each year around Florida’s coast.
What companies run manatee tours in Clearwater, Florida?
The main gathering place for manatees in Florida is north of Clearwater at Crystal River and Homosassa Springs. Trips to see manatees therefore concentrate on this area. There are a number of companies offering manatee-sighting tours.
The area around Crystal River and Homosassa Springs is the only place in Florida where it is possible to swim with manatees. This list of companies offering tours starts with those that advertise swimming with manatees as their main attraction.
1. Homosassa Manatee Snorkeling Center.
Their most popular trip is the VIP Marvelous Manatee Tour. This last for 3 hours and is available every day at 8.00am and at 11.30am. In the summer season a third trip is run at 3pm. Usually the first part of the trip involves finding the manatees. Evidently you won’t see them in exactly the same place every day. Once the manatees have been located, everyone can jump in the water and enjoy some time in their company.
This trip costs $70 per person and that price includes a wetsuit, some snorkeling gear, sunscreen, and drinks.
A longer tour is the Manatee Mania Tour, which takes 4 hours. This also runs every day, leaving at 8am and 12pm. Cost is $80 per person with equipment provided. The extra hour gives more time to spend with the manatees.
The company also run private hire tours, where a group can hire an entire boat for their exclusive use. These tours cost $444 per boat of 6 passengers for the Magnificent Manatee Tour or $596 per boat of 4 passengers for the Manatee Madness Private Tour. This last tour can accommodate another 2 passengers at $149 per person.
The Homosassa Manatee Snorkleing Center is based next to the Old Sugar Mill Ruins in Homosassa.
2. Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees.
This company offers arrange of tours to suit all tastes. They offer Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Tours. These tours operate 7 days a week, leaving Crystal River at 7am and 10am (the Platinum Tour only runs once a day at 8am).
The Silver Tour costs $65 which included snorkels, masks and wetsuits. The Gold Tour costs $79 per person again with equipment provided and the Platinum Tour, which is a private hire tour, costs $99 per person. All the tours last about 3 hours. The Bronze Tour is solely aimed at those who wish to watch the manatees but not swim with them. This costs $50 per person.
Captain Mike is based in Crystal River itself.
3. Daydream Charters.
This Clearwater based company offer private charter trips into the Gulf of Mexico. You will be able to direct the charter boat to go where you wish, and you can head for the areas where manatee sightings are most likely.
You can go snorkeling if you want, or shelling on one of the uninhabited islands that are dotted along the coast. Perhaps you would like to spot dolphins as well as manatees. One popular choice is island yoga – gather on a secluded beach and do some yoga to the sounds of nature all around you.
A 3 hour booking will cost $350, which you can extend to 4 hours for an extra $100. This price covers 3 passengers. 4 hour trips with more passengers – up to 6 maximum – cost more.
4. Seal in the Sun Charters.
This company is based at the Anclote Village Marina in Greater Tampa. They offer private hire cruises by day and sunset cruises during the evening. The Sunset Cruise only leaves from Ancliote Village Marina, lasts 2 hours and costs $350 for a maximum of 6 people.
Other cruises can leave from Clearwater is required, but there is a $50 fuel charge added to the price. A 4 hour charter is $500, 6 hours costs $700 and an 8 hour charter will be $900.
Tours are available of St John Sound, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island. Most trips guarantee sightings of dolphins, but manatees are often seen too.
Conclusion
Manatees are fascinating marine animals, and everyone should take the opportunity to see them before they become rare or even extinct. Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coastline is a great place to see manatees, although they do congregate further north than Clearwater. Trips from Clearwater usually stress the high chance of seeing dolphins, but manatees are there too.
You can also see some manatees at the Eiko’s Beach House in Treasure Island, FL from time to time, I even had one swim right up to me while I was hanging out near the shore.