Can you see manatees in Blue Springs?

Blue Spring State Park is unique because visitors can view manatees in the crystal-clear spring water from the boardwalk, which stretches 1/3 of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring.



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BEST PLACES IN FLORIDA TO VIEW MANATEES
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located on the east coast in an area known as the Space Coast. ...
  • Tarpon Springs. ...
  • Blue Springs. ...
  • Homosassa Springs. ...
  • Crystal River. ...
  • Weeki Wachee. ...
  • Round Island – Vero Beach. ...
  • The Chaz – Chassahowitzka River.


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Other great places to spot manatees in their natural habitat include:
  • The Tampa Bay area.
  • Apollo Beach.
  • Blue Springs State Park near Orange City.
  • Indian River Lagoon.
  • Charlotte Harbor (near Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda)
  • Pine Island Sound.
  • Fort Myers area.
  • Apalachicola Bay and St. Joseph Bay.


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Park Capacity Information Madison Blue Springs State Park experiences frequent closures between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends and holidays due to high visitation. The park closes when it reaches capacity but may reopen to additional visitors at a later time that day.

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Tip: the best time to visit Blue Spring State Park is in the mid morning before the sun is fully up and warming the waters. As the day goes on, the manatees work their way back into the St Johns River. In the morning there are also smaller crowds, so it's much more pleasant.

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Phone: 386-775-3663. Hours: Open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. Day use admission $6 per vehicle, $2 for pedestrians, bicycles.

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Description: The spring is 120 feet deep, but only certified cave divers are allow to dive to that depth. Open water certified divers can dive to 60 feet where they would see a big warning sign bolted down at the mouth of the cave telling them to heed the warning and turn back.

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The spring itself is over 310 feet deep, one of the deepest in the United States. This gives it a vivid blue color that one must see to believe.

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