These are at Crystal River, FL.

We really had a wonderful time, and this is only maybe....oh 1/3 of the pics. I'm a bad editor. I like most of them. Dh has a much better camera, and he has the coolest movies of manatees with me. I haven't figured out yet how to switch over to movie mode while underwater, except by mistake. I'm going to figure out my camera, though, very soon, I promise!

Anyway, here's our weekend, not but maybe one dry hair shot in them all. The manatees were extra lovey dovey this weekend, and I SO needed that. OMG. Y'know, I talk to them baby talk through my snorkel, and they hear me, and come to me. I feel like Snow White of the u/w world. lol Baby talk gets them in every time. And when they're in your face, loving all over you, how can you take good shots? Most of my shots are just manatee body parts. Dh was a good photographer. The first half are his, the second half mine. Oh, and we found a hidden passage to this beautiful spring pool. Now I know how the professional photogs get those great shots. They follow them through that labyrinth into that spring at 3 Sisters. It was like going thru the looking glass. The one of Larry holding onto a log and where I'm freediving is where the spring comes out. All those really blue shots are in that spring.

And those light rays. Yes, they are just as they were. The little movies we shot show them as well. Such a great weekend. And I've got some sun, had some fun, and am very happy. Somehow I'll figure out how to load those little movies up. You really have to see them. They are cool. Oh, but it was HOT. lol Had to show my car's outdoor reading on the way back, soon as we left. I love FL.
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(Message edited by recdivers on November 13, 2005)

Bah, that link had kinks. Try this one:

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Great shots Kathy...I love Crystal River Springs...logged 100's of hours there teaching....The dive shop there used to put on a feast after sundays dives ... all you can eat steamed shrimp, stone crab claws, raw oysters, salad, and cheese grits... all for five dollars....wow - of course that was over 20 years ago...

Timmmmmmmmy (never know when to stop the m's! lol), Larry had land on the river when I met him, and he sold it. wah I'd never been there then, wasn't a diver. I so wish we had it now. I'd jump in every day with a nylon tire brush and brush some of them clean. The one guy in the last shots, he looked like he'd just gotten there from a million miles away, and he was so tired. He had 1/2 inch of silt, and under that, barnacles. I nearly made us late to turn in the boat trying to get as much off him as I could. And the early shots of the youngster with the algae back, OMG, he's much better now. We got lots of that stuff off. And one I didn't post......poor thing, he had a fresh scar from a propeller and wanted to stay down, hiding, healing. My heart just goes out to them sooooo much. I love the manatees. Houses are much cheaper in Citrus Co., btw. We looked. You sound like a guy who stopped diving and is just getting back into the lost wonder. I'm still all in the wonder of it all. I just got certified in 96 and have only 150 logged dives. Larry has gazillions. We all need to meet, us FL people, and do a dive or two and get to know one another. There are a bunch of us around here. And anyone who wants to come down and see the manatees, just say so. No need for a guide. Just a motel and a jon boat is all you need, and we'd be glad to come up. It's just 80 miles to Crystal River/Homosassa Springs. OH, and until Nov 15th, the off limits places are not off limits.

Thank-you Kathy!! The Manatees are beautiful!

Great shots, Kathy! Thanks for posting! Will pass these on to my daughter, Tiffany! She is going down to Galveston, Texas this week-end with her father to check out A&M University. They asked her to come visit and stay in one of their dorms to see if she likes it. Still haven't heard back from Eckerd yet, but A&M is really cool being on an island and all. Her dive certification will come in handy in her studies for sure!

Kathy, Thanks for sharing the pictures with us!!! It must be such an incredible experience to swim with such large creatures!!!

Thanks, all. It was fun as usual. (This was our umpteenth trip to Crystal River to snorkel with them). What was more fun was not having to drive 550 miles to be with them and instead, just drive 80. Glorious. lol I love everything being so handy now.

There were LOTS of babies and adolescents, some who looked like they'd never left the river - ever, so smooth and un-gunked, and some poor old souls who looked like they'd had a hard time getting there to the calm waters, covered in barnacles and awful junk. I tell you, once you spend some time with them, you're hooked. You just fall in love. Truly. The offer stands, if anyone wants to come down. No need for a guide. Just get a jon boat for 1/2 a day (about 40.00 if you bring your own dive flag and gear), and they give you a map...or we'd be glad to show you around. (we know where they are, lol) I'll bet Timmmmmmmy does, too.

Kathy you are right I burned out on diving in the mid 90's...got tired of teaching (two classes going every week.. Mon-Wed & Tue-Thurs,4 nites in the pool, every other weekend in the Keys or Crystal River, but I loved the Dive Mastering all over the caribbean part...got to see a lot of the world above and below...Now I just resort dive once or twice a year...love the small six pack boats with tiny groups....Going to Turks in June....

Kathy, great report! Michael and I want to do that sometime, so you just may see our faces down there!

LOL Tim, the gunk on them can be like the world's most disgusting salad bar. I see it as a cleaning station. But instead of gobis in grouper mouths or whatever, the manatees come to CR to be groomed by humans. Sometimes, you do have to have a strong constitution though, to see the shape they come in, in. Ack. Give me a brush, I'll fix 'em.

Cynde, c'mon on down!

BTW, I need your email addy, it's not in your profile anymore and this Christmas list thing is worrying me! ;)

Kathy, I posted on the Christmas Card thread I got your email, but my reply to you kept bouncing back You can still email me through my profile by clicking on the link at the bottom that says "something" like "click here to send a private message"...anyway, got your info

Hi Kathy - awesome shots!
Would love to swim/snorkel with the Manatees - maybe someday we can make a trip down your way.
It's so great too that you take advantage of all there is to do & see in Florida.
Thanks for sharing

Great shots of the manatees Kathy! I just love them and their adorable sweet faces!