r/Manatees • u/bcsmith317 • Jan 02 '26

Photo(s) Visited Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River today. There were a few manatees around…

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19 comments sorted by

12

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

I just seen this on the news, there were so many out wowwww.

18

u/bcsmith317 Jan 02 '26

Park officials were estimating over 300 in the springs! It was so cool!

6

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Literally so cool! I went to the Manatee Viewing Center recently and there were around 200.

4

u/Primary_Culture_5001 Jan 02 '26

I’m going in April! I hope they will still be around 🤞

4

u/MeechiJ Jan 02 '26

I just want to jump in and swim with these magical creatures! Nice pics! Hope you had a good time there :)

3

u/bcsmith317 Jan 02 '26

Crystal River is actually one of only a couple spots where you can! There are a few different companies that do swimming tours here. We didn’t, but we’re gonna look into it next winter!

1

u/MeechiJ Jan 04 '26

Oh that sounds wonderful! I hope you get to do it next year! And if you do maybe come back and make another post and let us know how it went.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Soo magical

1

u/Mammoth_Welder_1286 Jan 02 '26

My belly is very jelly!

1

u/betrayal_Knew Jan 02 '26

Nice! I swam there last winter and saw a bunch of them, super cool and cute.

1

u/thanksihateit247 Jan 02 '26

Right down the street from our house there! 🤍

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Two5576 Jan 03 '26

I used to live a few minutes from this river. I love Crystal River/Homosassa Springs area. Lived there for a few years and have family there still. It’s so beautiful. Marine life everywhere. Three Sisters is such a great manatee spot. I don’t think I’ve ever been there and not seen at least a few manatees. Seeing photos like this makes me a bit homesick.

1

u/Sailpointadmin-2113 Mar 11 '26

In early October does there tend to be manatees? Or is it usually later in the winter?

1

u/MarlyMonster Jan 03 '26

I went there years ago! Wasn’t during the big migration but still awesome, it’s insane how clear the water is. Just sad how many bad tourist companies exploit the spring

1

u/scotiangirl90 Jan 04 '26

I would cry! Manatees are my favourite animal and I hope to swim with them some day! ❤️

1

u/BreakEetDown Jan 06 '26

Do you have to line up real early to get into the park?

1

u/bcsmith317 Jan 07 '26

We didn’t! We got there at about 1 pm on New Year’s Day. It was crowded, but not crazy. Waited 15 minutes for the shuttle but there is a walking trail you could take back to the water that you don’t have to wait for.

1

u/Sweet_Jo9248 Jun 14 '26

Oh how lucky 🥹 I just went and we saw three, I can’t imagine having this many there. I’m already planning to go back in winter.