Crystal River is a little gem of a city in the central west of Florida on the Gulf Coast. The scuba diving community will recognise this city for more than its festivals and great fishing! Crystal River is one of the premiere places to snorkel, dive and generally observe the local population of Manatees where from the 31st October to the 31st March you can dive and swim with these gentle beasts, making for a truly unforgettable experience.

Aside from this the Crystal River area is known for its eco-tours to observe the local wildlife, good sea food, fishing and festivals which draw thousands of visitors.

Generally Florida is a sub-tropical humid climate particularly in the summer, temperatures will drop to as low as 10°C (50°F)  during the winter rising to 35°C (95°F)  during the summer.

November to March

The major draw for scuba divers in the chance to interact with the local Manatee population, during the months of November to March are attracted to the warm waters of the Crystal River.

In the Crystal River area there are plenty of scuba diving centres which specialise in snorkelling and diving with these wonderful animals. Above this local dives include Cat Fish Corner, where you can see hundreds of catfish, and a number of local dive sites centred on underwater springs, such as Magnolia Springs which is a cave dive in the entrance to a fresh water spring system where Manatees can also be seen,

Unlike the local manatees, most scuba divers will find the water temperature on the cool side 20°C to 23°C (70°F to 75°F). Hence we recommend a 7mm full length wetsuit, hood and gloves.

Direct flights are available from most locations to Miami; transfers are then available to Crystal River which will take a couple of hours.

Crystal River is well renowned locally for more than Manatee encounters. With some exceptional local fishing, miles of nature trails to hike, bike or bird watch there is plenty here to do. Also worthy of note are the local festivals such as the much loved Manatee Festival, Scarecrow Fest, the Stone Crab Jam and the Scallop Festival.

With a good selection of local cafes, pubs and high end restaurants, this is a vacation for all the family.

Crystal River is a little off the beaten dive track and will find it hard to combine with a short vacation covering the other areas of Florida such as South Florida or the Florida Keys.