Manatees and Mangroves Post Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian plowed its way through southwest Florida in late September. It was one of the

most devastating hurricanes to hit the area. Many tourists and locals concern lie within

recovery and if there will still be a tourist season. Can the beaches reopen? Will restaurants

renovate in time? Are there still sights to see and things to do? The answer is absolutely yes.

And as for the Everglades eco system, it was among the luckiest.

Manatee Sightseeing and Wildlife Adventures departs in the Everglades from Port of the

Island’s marina at 525 Newport Drive, Naples, Florida. It is located about 20 minutes east on 41

from the Collier and 41 intersections. The Port is on the very southern end of Naples which

bode well when it came to Hurricane Ian.

Storm surge reached an all-time high with flooding across 41, a road that typically does not

endure this type of devastation. But as for wind, the Port was primarily protected. Mangroves

are intact and as beautiful and green as ever. There weren’t any boats that were even damaged

during the storm. Because the Port lies 6 miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico, it was

somewhat barricaded from the worst of it. So, when you visit us in the Everglades, you can rest

assured that it will feel like the southwest Florida you always knew, lush and peaceful.

As for the wildlife, manatees, dolphins, alligators, sea turtles, bull sharks, and an abundant

number of birds have already been spotted post Ian. The surge has receded and the eco system

is back to normal. Manatees remain swimming up the canal for fresh water and sea grass.

Alligators are sun bathing with no care in the world. Dolphins have been playing in our wakes.

And the birds have all returned from the summer hiatus up north.

So, when you book an adventure with Manatee Sightseeing and Wildlife Adventures, you will

escape to a world where everything remains as it should be. We are very fortunate that our

piece of paradise came out unscathed. We’d love to share it with you as a glimpse of hope for

the return of southwest Florida.

For photos of our recent wildlife sightings, checkout our Facebook and Instagram

@manateesightseeingtours.

For bookings and inquiries, visit see-manatees.com or call 239-642-8818.

We look forward to bringing happiness and light this season while things return to normal.

Hello wildlife lovers!

We wanted to update you all on the conditions of our area, tours, and the wildlife post Hurricane Ian. While the news highlights the devastation, much of Naples and Marco Island fared well. It was mostly the coastline that suffered the worst damage. As for us in the Port of the Islands, we had quite a high storm surge and lost power for a few days. We are happy to report that the water has receded, power is back on, and the waterfront community is doing great! 

Additionally, the mangroves are intact and there was minimal damage to the surrounding flora and fauna. We are very lucky that the storm did not affect our eco system. 

Fishing has been fantastic as well post hurricane. Our fishing captain, Jimmy, says that it is always a good idea to go fishing after a big storm. A few days after the storm rolled through, we had some guests catch 35 pounds of fish! Mostly red fish that were of size to keep, and delicious to eat!

With that being said, all boats are up and running and we are excited to take you on your next adventure! We have four different tours to choose from. If your focus is manatees, we recommend our 90-minute manatee sightseeing tour. We take you around the Port of the Island’s harbor and on the edge of the Everglades in search of these chubby mermaids. We often see alligators, bull shark and many birds as well.

If your focus is more on beach time, let us take you to the uninhabited Whitehorse Key! While Naples beaches remain closed for clean up, we have access to one of the only open beaches around. This is our 3-hour manatee, dolphin and beach eco tour. We begin with a shortened version of manatee sightseeing, but then head out to the Ten Thousand Islands where we beach the boat for shelling/swimming. Dolphins and sea turtles are commonly seen amongst the islands. This is a great tour for a little bit of everything: wildlife, Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands, and the beach. 

Maybe you fancy the wildlife and the Ten Thousand Islands but don’t necessarily care about spending time on a beach. Our best option for you is our sunset cruise. Similar to our 3-hour manatee, dolphin and beach eco tour, this cruise starts with a shortened version of our manatee sightseeing. We then head out to cruise amongst the Ten Thousand Islands where we watch the sun set over the water. It is a beautiful and relaxing eco tour. A great way to wind down and end the day. Common wildlife sightings include manatees, alligators, dolphin, shark, and birds.

Finally, who wants to go fishing?! As previously mentioned, the fishing is top notch after a storm. We have a 2.5-hour kids’ fish and a 5-hour half day fishing trip to choose from. Whichever time you prefer, we can tailor the trip to you and your family. Want to find the manatees? Let’s do it! Want to stop at Whitehorse Key for a little swimming? No problem. Your fishing trip can be spent however you like it.

So, while you contemplate whether or not to come on your vacation to SWFL, know that many restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions are reopening every day and need you now more than ever. Together we can recover from the storm and quickly get back to our normal sunny paradise! We are hopeful that season will still be prosperous. And we can’t wait to see you soon for your manatee sightseeing and wildlife adventure!