If you (or your kids) love the idea of kayaking alongside two of the most lovable sea creatures in Florida – dolphins and manatees – February is hands-down the best time to do it. Here at Florida-Adventurer, we launch guided manatee and dolphin kayaking Titusville trips and take people straight into the manatee territory, i.e., the Indian River Lagoon, Haulover Canal, and Mosquito Lagoon. You won’t find a better spot to see these gentle giants up close.
February is the Peak Manatee Season
The large, gray Florida manatees actually don’t love cold water at all, so in winter, they migrate to the warmer, spring-fed and shallow coastal waters of the Sunshine State. February sits right in the sweet spot of this migration period.
Through February to March (more than at any other time of year), you can see dozens of manatees gathered here and lazing around in one spot. They cluster around warm-water areas like Haulover Canal, making it the perfect time for kayakers to see them floating, socializing, and playing with their babies.
And unlike the summer months, when they spread out into deeper waters and sightings become a hit-or-miss, February practically guarantees up-close encounters. Our guides know the best areas to take you for the amazing views; you won’t need to spend hours on the water trying to catch a sight.
This Weather is Perfect for Manatee Kayaking Florida
We don’t need to tell you how rough the summers can be here. Humidity that makes you feel like you are swimming in the air, unpredictable afternoon storms, and mosquitoes that seem bent on devouring you.
February gives us respite from all that. The air is crisp, but not too cold, with temperatures averaging between 55-75°F. You can enjoy a refreshing paddle without overheating or hallucinating that you are in a sauna. The humidity is lower, too, so you won’t be dripping in sweat five minutes into the trip. Fewer no-see-ums and bugs also mean you won’t be swatting at your arms and legs the entire time.
If it’s your first time manatee kayaking Cocoa Beach, the February wind is light, around 5-10 mph, which makes paddling quite easy and enjoyable. The area in Haulover Canal where we take you, the water flow is really gentle with no strong currents. Feel free to bring along your children (5 years and up), we promise they will have a great time paddling without getting exhausted. Or, they can simply sit back – while you paddle the tandem kayak – and enjoy the majestic sea cows swimming by.
Crystal-Clear Water in February for Better Viewing Experience During Manatee Kayaking Titusville & Cocoa Beach
A lot of tourists in the summer complain about not being able to see anything below the water surface. This is because the water turns murky as algae blooms exponentially during the warm weather. Cooler months like January, February, and March keep the water much clearer, so when you are floating over a manatee in one of our clear kayaks, you will actually be able to see every whisker, flipper, and roll beneath you.
This is immediately noticeable when we are out in the Haulover Canal, where the water is naturally calmer, allowing for an even better view. But even in other parts of the Indian River Lagoon, the clarity in February is markedly better than in spring or summer.
It also helps that February is a “dry month”. It doesn’t rain as much as it does the rest of the year, so there is no runoff from rain further clouding the water.
If you want to maximize your chances of seeing manatees clearly, book a morning manatee kayak tour near you. The early light makes the water appear unbelievably transparent, and with fewer boats around, there is less chance of stirred-up sediment blocking the visibility.
Less Boat Traffic to Interfere with Your Manatee Kayak Tour
Another great news: February is the “shoulder season” for tourism in Florida. Considering most visitors come here looking for beach weather and there are no school breaks this time around, February is one of the few months when you won’t feel overwhelmed by the number of tourists everywhere you go.
This also means a lack of a crowd on the water. With fewer motorboats zooming around, the wide range of marine creatures – manatees, bottlenose dolphins, alligators, blue crabs, sea turtles – feel safe enough to slosh around near the surface.
In case you didn’t know, dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon tend to be more playful when there is less noise pollution as well. From January to March, not a single tour goes by without our kayakers spotting dolphins zipping through the water, sometimes racing each other right next to the boats.
If you are lucky, you might even get a front-row seat to an entire pod of dolphins spontaneously jumping and spinning a couple of feet away from your face. On that note, don’t forget to bring your camera!
Book Your Manatee & Dolphin Kayaking Florida Tour Today
There are two ways you can do this: you can go on your own, keep paddling in circles and hope to see a marine mammal. Or, you can join an experienced guide who has spent years traversing through the same wildlife-rich waterways to identify the best possible sites for birdwatching and dolphin/manatee spotting.
Join us at Florida-Adventurer to explore the Haulover Canal, Mosquito Lagoon, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and bioluminescent bays like never before. We also offer night-time bioluminescence kayaking tours where you get to see a bright green-blue glow in the water on moonless nights. Families with kids, solo adventurers, couples looking for an intimate getaway in the great outdoors – all are welcome.
If you have any questions, reach out to us at 321-735-9400 or sign up online to go manatee & dolphin kayaking Merritt Island today.
