On a beautiful Florida January weekend, a group of Barracuda Divers enjoyed our annual Manatee Encounter weekend. The first day in Crystal River we visited Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. Those participating in the trip were Debbie Gillam and Kyle Manord, John and Martha Hasenbein, Tom and Anita Ploppert, Ashlee Hutchens and BrandiD'Lima, Terry and Joni Briscoe, Danny Partridge, Marie Briscoe, Ashley Posey, and Stephanie Marcum.

The Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park adventure begins with a boat ride down a beautiful tropical river.	Is that an alligator in the water that we will be snorkeling in tomorrow?? Hey, if we told people up front that there were gators, no one would sign up for our trips!

Manatee feeding time at Homosassa!	Will we be able to get that close to them tomorrow?

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park only has animals that are native to Florida. Is that a manatee with big ears? Well, you may think that is a non-native animal species, but you see that is not a hippopotomus; that is Lou, and he has been decreed to be a permanent resident of the state of Florida! Ask someone that went on the trip to tell you the story of Lou.	Feeding time for Lou!!

John and Martha Hasenbein... Homosassa Springs	A great picture taken by Martha of one of the resident gators

Time to depart on our adventure! Anita Ploppert, Marie Briscoe, Ashley Posey, Stephanie Marcum, Danny Partridge, Joni Briscoe, and Tom Ploppert	This group represents a University of South Alabama parent, a current student, and an alumni! Phil Hutchens, Brandi D'Lima, and Ashlee Hutchens

Debbie Gillam brought her grandson Kyle Manord on his very first Barracuda Diver trip!	John Hasenbein gets to rub a manatee on the nose before we can even get into the water!

Lloyd Bridges of Sea Hunt .... no wait, that is just John Hasenbein!	Brandi gets to give a DOUBLE back rub!

About Us| Dive Trips| Classes| Photos| New Divers| Email