Who went to Crystal River last winter?

[admin]

Being a big fan of the manatees, I thought I would kick off a discussion of conditions in Crystal River. Anyone go down last winter? Have any cool pics to share?

Jonathan

[Ryan]

http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp1.jpg

http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp2.jpg


http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp3.jpg


http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp4.jpg

[Ryan]

http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp5.jpg


http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp6.jpg


http://www.reefphoto.com/images/crystalriver/wp7.jpg

[Ryan]

I went on a weekend, and things were pretty busy & mucked up. I plan to go back midweek this winter.

I used www.birdsunderwater.com, and was impressed. I liked leaving the dock 2 hrs before everyone else :)

[Jonathan Bird]

Nice shots!

Bill is a great guy and Bird's Underwater is definitely a great shop to go out with. He is very good about getting people into the water with the animals, but not stressing the animals out.

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Here's one from this year:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/a3cbcd70.jpg
Clay

[admin]

Clay,
Nice bright day you had there!

jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Clay,
Nice bright day you had there!

jonathan

That we did, Jonathan. We pulled our own little boat, reasonably named The POS (http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id328.htm) We launched at Pete's Pier to get to 3 Sisters, where that photo was taken. Between noon and 2pm (when the tour boat operators are at lunch) we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Not a large congregation of animals, but when one came by we got clear shots. When the afternoon tour boats arrived, we pulled the boat and launched again on the Homosassa for cruising and bird shots. Beautiful place and lots to see--osprey http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id319.htm and anhinga http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id320.htm -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Ah, the good ship POS! I love it! Better than mine!

I love the fact that you had such nice light with the manatee for that shot. I usually get there very early, the viz is great but the light is terrible. by the time the light is good, the place is crawing with ya-hoos flailing left and right. I have occasionally gotten lucky in the afternoon though with one or two lone animals that have come back from feeding when nobody was around.

I don't have any manatee pics on this computer. I'll have to post one when I get home.

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

"...by the time the light is good, the place is crawing with ya-hoos flailing left and right"

That's a sad fact, Jonathan. This is about the only shot available once the boats unload the masses and the "bowling for manatees" begins. Strangely, the volunteers in their kayaks who are supposed to monitor animal harrassment seem to disappear as soon as the large tour boats arrive. What's with that?
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/98ebcd10.jpg
Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Here's one...crack of dawn, drizzle of rain on the surface, nobody else wanted to come out because the weather was cold and clammy! I had the animals to myself for a while. This guy looks so peaceful. If only the fish would leave him alone! (Clearly they are not aware of the rules protecting manatees from harassment! ;))

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Those rain dimples on the surface look cool. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Thanks! I always liked that. It was such a peaceful morning, quiet at the springs, just the gentle rain on the leaves of the trees and the manatees were mellow because nobody but me was swimming around them.

Total coincidence, this picture appears in the latest edition of Sport Diver. It just showed up today in my mailbox. Weird!

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Hey! Who's this gray-haired old goat and why is he giving everybody the finger? Photo by David Breidenbach and used with his permission. -Clay
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/aeebdd30.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

I think he is giving the manatee the finger because it's sleeping instead of performing! ;)

[Clay Coleman]

Of course he's performing! He's doing this:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/adbbcd10.jpg
Clay

[Sealizard]

Well, heck, all these manatees are so cute. Hard to pick a favorite photo.

However, I do love the fish in Jonathan's photo - it just makes it unique along with the rain drops.

Jonathan, did you use a touch of the strobe with this photo?

Compliments to Dave also - for the 'Finger and the Manatee' photo. Clay, I didn't see any goat in the picture. Are you sure????

Personally I earned every grey hair on my head... which is why I wear a hood. Good thing o-rings are black - at least I can find the hairs on them.

[Sealizard]

[QUOTE=Ryan;59]I went on a weekend, and things were pretty busy & mucked up. I plan to go back midweek this winter.QUOTE]

Ryan,

What do you consider mid-winter? I'd like to go back for a couple of days mid-week myself. DEMA's too early (even though it's in November) I think. I had good luck in January a few years ago.

Elizabeth

[Clay Coleman]

Elizabeth: If you can't find the "old goat" in David B.'s photo, my 17-year-old son will gladly point it out for you. I usually go to Crystal River in January or February, but I'm interested to hear about the concentrations of animals earlier in the season. -Clay

[nemo]

wow, nice pictures from crystal river....
thanks for the view
I am new to this chat site and look forward seeing more great images
thanks
nemo

[Jonathan Bird]

However, I do love the fish in Jonathan's photo - it just makes it unique along with the rain drops.

Jonathan, did you use a touch of the strobe with this photo?

Thanks! No strobe. I might have used a touch of strobe if there had been a strobe on the rig, but I set it up for ambient light. I have never been very happy with my results of manatees with strobes. I knew this was going to be very early morning, so I used 200 speed film instead of 100. It was shot with a Nikon N90 and 20 mm lens wide open at f/2.8.

I have always gone to do the manatees in January and February as well. I can't wait until my daughter is a little older so I can take her.

Jonathan