This list is so full of exotic locations

I know this list is full of exotic locations and Snorkeling with Manatee is
much less exciting, but if you've never been there... Anyway, can anyone
clue me in...

Where is the best location to go, do we need a dive guide, Diving,
Snorkeling? Do we need to rent a boat? etc.

What about Spring Dives, Cave & Sink Hole diving?

TIA
JOhn ><> <><

In article <o1Had.223$Z9.13@fe25.usenetserver.com>, justdont@emailme.com
says...
> I know this list is full of exotic locations and Snorkeling with Manatee is
> much less exciting, but if you've never been there... Anyway, can anyone
> clue me in...
>
> Where is the best location to go, do we need a dive guide, Diving,
> Snorkeling? Do we need to rent a boat? etc.
>
> What about Spring Dives, Cave & Sink Hole diving?


for Manatees, Crystal River is the place to go. you'll want to go there
between mid November and mid February to see the most. You need a boat
to get to them, and unless you know where and when to look, your best
bet is to go with a guide. I recommend this guy (thanks to Ron T):
http://www.aquamarineimages.com/ Other people whose opinions I trust
recommend Bird's Underwater. If you want to rent a boat and try
yourself, I like the dive shop at the Best Western Crystal River Lodge.
They will give you some pointers on where to go.

One operator there is particularly bad: American Pro Divers.

There are a couple of spring dives at Crystal River in Kings Bay. One
can be accessed by walking down the Best Western boat ramp, the others
require a boat. The Rainbow river is close by, and it is a wonderful
shallow drfit dive or snorkel. you park in a park on the river and pay
an operator something like $10 to take you upriver and drop you. Devil's
Den and Blue Grotto are within a hour's drive. These are caverns that
allow OW divers to get a peek. A bit farther is Ginnie Springs. It has 1
cavern for OW divers, and some that are not suitable for divers without
cavern/cave training.

Hope this helps

al

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:54:40 GMT, Al Wells <al.wells@gmail.com> wrote:

>for Manatees, Crystal River is the place to go. [...] Bird's Underwater.

We went with Bird's a few years ago and it was fantastic. The manatees are
friendly and love interaction. In one instance, I was just floating there
watching a manatee and another came up behind me and nudged one of my fins.
When I turned, it swam up next to me and when I reached out to touch it, it
rolled on its side so I could get to its tummy. It then came back for several
passes. There's no experience like this!

Don't even think about sinkhole and cave diving without advanced training.