The Manatee Encounter trip to snorkel with the Manatees on Sunday, 22 Feb. 09, was expanded to a drift dive down the Rainbow River on Saturday at Dunnellon, Florida. Five people arrived and three people made the dive, and what a great experience it was.

Rainbow Spring is Florida’s fourth largest spring in volume of discharged water. The river discharges 400-600 million gallons of crystal clear water every day.

We arrived at K. P. Hole County Park. This is a very attractive park with clean rest rooms and changing facilities and a wonderful new launch area. The fee for entrance to the river is $3.00 per person. People who are just watching are free and parking is free as well. JoAnn Nucifora and Cheryl Earle remained at the park as we left for our drift dive. A pontoon boat took the three of us (Gene Walerych, Kevin Earle, and Barry Erhardt) who were diving up the river, a mile or so, to the drop-off site. The cost of the boat ride is $10.00 per person. All suited up with two dive flags and two cameras, the three divers were ready and anxious to get into the water.

We were let off at a small dock on the bank of the river. We entered the crystal clear river and you could see through the water as if you were looking through glass. The water temperature was a balmy 74 degrees. There were several vents that had warm water flowing into the river. One vent had a large flow of water that you had to hold on to stay in that stream. I estimate that the flow from this vent was approximately 6 to 8 knots. The drift down the river averaged 1.5 knots, faster in some areas and slower in others.

Traveling down the river you saw schools of young Bass and Brim, along with other fish I did not know there names and they wouldn’t tell me. There were large patches of tall grass along with some moss and other vegetation that surrounded the openings of white sandy river bottom. As you drift down the river you pass interesting rock formations to explore and vents that are surrounded by several species of fish. Some vents are small and other very large. There are many small springs that discharge from numerous caves and rock crevices along with the many areas in the sandy river bottom that have bubbling sand with fresh spring water pushing up. If you touch this sand area you feel the water and your hand will go into the sand as if it is not there. It is an amazing feeling and you do not disturb the area as it goes back the way it was when you remove your hand.

Drifting down the river with a dive flag can have its moments as you are going one way and your dive flag is going another, along with the rope that can get you tangled up. Barry lagged behind taking pictures of the fish and river bottom as Gene and Kevin led the way. There was so much to see and you had to be quick to take a picture as the river would move you along.

The drift dive that was expected to take between 30 and 60 minutes, but it took us just over 2 hours. We started with full tanks and returned with empty ones. The river averages approximately 10 to 12 feet in depth but there are a couple of areas that go as deep as 20 feet. The colors are so bright and clear and you can see everything so clearly in this crystal clear water. If you want a different experience, lay on the bottom and look up through the water into the trees and you can see the leaves moving as the ripples of the waters surface moves along making a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.

JoAnn and Cheryl keep looking to see us return. After an hour they wondered if we had drifted by and they had missed us. The river continues past K. P. Hole and you could miss it. We wondered how we would recognize the exit location, but you just have to surface once in a while a get your bearings. Another half hour passed and we still weren’t there. Finally after two hours we arrived back at the dock. What a great dive and there was a lot to talk about. We packed up our gear and traveled to the Best Western over at Crystal River, the location of Sunday's snorkel trip with the Manatees.

It was an early start to the day on Sunday that would prove to be an experience to remember. Seven people arrived at the boat launch and after a brief safety video (Manatee safety) and briefing we boarded the pontoon boat. Jason Zublick and his brother joined JoAnn Nucifora, Cheryl Earle, Kevin Earle, Gene Walerych, and Barry Erhardt for this trip. A nine person pontoon boat was waiting for us to take this journey. This was a self guided trip. Captain Kevin piloted the boat up the river to the first location with Cheryl as the navigator reading the map coordinates. We were all grateful that her navigation skills were up to the task.

The first location took us further up the river past several Manatee locations as the dive shop personnel informed us that the early boats would stop at the closer locations first and they fill up fast, but the further ones may offer less people to start out with. When we arrived at the first location, I believe it was Kings Spring, there were several charter boats with swimmers, snorkelers, and even divers in the water by the roped off area of the spring where the Manatees were. King Springs is the main diving and snorkeling area on Crystal River. The spring is 30 feet deep and a cavern that drops to 50 feet deep and there is a Manatee statue at 19 feet. We could see several Manatees surfacing in the roped off area. The area was crowded with people and they were splashing and making a lot of noise. We wondered how good this would really be, but after discussing that they were on charter boats and their time would be limited, we prepared to enter the water and as if on cue the people in the water all headed back to the boats and they all left, leaving us to experience the Manatees by ourselves.

The Manatees had been on the spring side of the ropes but with all the people gone they entered our side out the ropes and we enjoyed their company in peace. Swimming with a wild animal much larger than yourself and yet at peace with the environment. The gentle, and oh so polite, Manatee brought a smile to everyone’s face. We enjoyed their company for about two hours. JoAnn said that in the briefing they discussed not harassing the Manatees, but they didn’t say anything about them harassing her. She was interacting with one Manatee and two other Manatees came up from behind her and wanted some attention as well and could hear her laughing. They love being touched and rubbed under their neck and belly. If you get just the right spot they will roll over on their side and just love you for the attention. Also, if you are missing a spot they will take their flipper and move your hand to just the right spot. You can almost see the smile on their face as you interact with them.

There were mangrove snapper, mullet, sheepshead  jacks, and tarpon swimming all around us. More than an hour later, we swam back to the boat as the next group of charter boats arrived and we pulled anchor and left. JoAnn asked if anyone wanted to go to another spot or were we finished for the day. Most people were satisfied with their experience and were cold and wouldn’t mind heading back but were OK if we anchored at another location. They would just stay on board and stay warm. Barry would go for another location if they were going and Kevin wanted to go, as well. So, off to Three Sisters Springs we went.

Three Sisters is rated the number one location on Crystal River for viewing Manatees. Three Sisters is a complex of three spring areas with several large and small vents and sand boils. The Three Sisters Springs are located on Crystal River, Florida. They are located in a channel that leads into the springs. There are concrete columns preventing boats from entering this area. They prevented the boats from getting hung-up on the rocks, anyway and the channel is narrow and not passable by boats. You can swim, snorkel, and even kayak into this area.

Barry tried to entice JoAnn to snorkel with Kevin and him without success. Trying to tell her how warm the water was in this channel, she even put her hand into the water and agreed that it was warmer than the last area, but it wasn’t in the 80’s. Barry wasn’t successful in convincing her to enter the water. The water was much clearer in this location than the last. This was due to the volume of clear water discharging from the Three Sisters Springs. We entered the water and swam toward the channel to the springs. There was a roped off area outside the springs that had several Manatees resting. This area is called Idiot’s Delight Springs. The Manatees remained behind the ropes as there were many excited people all hoping to get close to them. They didn't know that if they remained quiet and calm, the Manatees would come to them. But with all the commotion they were creating the Manatees were content to stay where they were.

Kevin and Barry swam into the channel and onto the Three Sisters Springs. The current was strong and you had to kick hard against the current to get into the springs. It was well worth the effort as you enter the springs. The water was crystal clear and much warmer than Crystal River. Spring one is 8 to 10 feet deep, Spring two is 15 to 18 feet deep and Spring three is 4 to 7 feet deep. There weren't many people in the springs area, which may have been due to the fact that there weren't any Manatees in the area at this time, or maybe it was the current you had to fight to get into the area. Anyway, the springs area was beautiful and a great adventure. Kevin and Barry were only there for a short time and the swim out of the springs was a quick one as the current propelled you out of the springs area. Meanwhile, Gene snorkeled around the channel area, enjoying the fish and the clear water. With all of us on the boat we headed back to the dock. The day's outing lasted about four hours. The cost of this trip was a very reasonable $10.00 each. A small price for such a great adventure.

Submitted by

Barry Erhardt