Snorkeling with Manatees in the Crystal River

Just over an hour drive from PepperTree Apartment Homes, Crystal River is a beautiful waterway that is filled with hundreds of manatees. There are many tours available that will let visitors swim with and view these majestic creatures up close in their natural habitat. These tours will provide visitors with equipment such as snorkels and fins, as well as an experienced guide who tells visitors about the history of the manatee and how to help prevent them from becoming extinct. When visitors go to snorkel with manatees they should:

• Apply sunscreen – It is a smart idea for visitors to apply sunscreen before they snorkel with the manatees. The Florida sun can cause sunburn very quickly and sunscreen can be an effective way of preventing that from occurring.

• Look but not touch – It is against the law for any person to chase, harass, or even touch a manatee. Chasing manatees can cause them to expend too much energy trying to get away and cause them to head into colder waters which they are vulnerable to. It is also against the law to touch these animals, but if a manatee decides to swim near a visitor, that is perfectly fine. Observe and appreciate their beauty but any violations of these rules will immediately end a tour.

• Refrain from feeding them – Manatees are herbivores and eat a variety of plant life found in the water. Feeding them can cause them to develop bad habits such as heading towards boats in search of food. This leaves them vulnerable to being struck by a boat and can cause serious harm to them.  

PepperTree Apartment Homes are great place for manatee lovers to live. If you would like to see one of our spacious apartments next to The Villages or take a tour of our beautiful community and see all of the wonderful amenities it has to offer, contact us today or stop by our leasing office.