Nice notes from my manatee friends
1-12-06
This is a link to a nice wright up about me
12-27-05
Hi Captain Andy! I really enjoyed swimming with the manatees. I hope
to go back some day! My whole family LOVED it also! Thank you for
being our captain!
-savannah
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11-02-05
Hello there Captain Andy! I was very excited during this trip week took.
There were more manatees out there than before and I know that everyone who went had an
awesome time. It is something that I know we will be doing next year. And as always, you
can pick of me to make sure none of those other people get any ideas. Thank you so much
for the awesome experience, we just had to have you as our captain again, we probably
would not have gone if you were not going to be the guy taking us out there. Enjoyed all
of your jokes and maybe next year we can go to three sisters and see that place
again…it was pretty awesome…too bad the others had to miss it this year. Well
thanks again and enjoy to the rest of the manatee season.
The Brown Eyed Girl otherwise know as “Greatness”
Whitney A. Hill
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Capt. Andy
You made a difference recently on our trip to florida that was to be the
highlight of my vacation. My wife stayed aboard while I swam with the
Critters we both enjoyed our voyage and your personality certainly was a
big plus. Thanks for the fun. We went to see the manatee but will also
remember you in a positive way.
Bill
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Captain Andy,
Thank you so much for taking my family and I to see the manatees. (You remember us right?
We had a crazy four year old) I wanted to do it so badly that my mother canceled two
appiontments and my father canceled another. I am so glad that we did because even my
mother said it was past her expectaitions! I loved it so much that instead of doing a
speech at my school on the place where I go every summer for vacation, guess what I'm
doing it on? MANATEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I better get crackin' Keep in
touch!
~Olivia~
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My dear friend "Captain Andy" we just got home
today--thank you for a life time experience that Les
and I will never forget--Even though I was born and
raised in Florida, I have never experienced being in
the water with the manatees only seeing them from our
boat--and I do just adore them so much!! It was one of
things on my list of life experience's that I want to
do, before I pass on--well, now I can say I did that
one!! I am going to work on using my mask and snorkel
this summer in our pool--so by winter time--I will be
good at it and can get under the water better with the
creatures, because we will come see you this
winter--if for some reason if you ever change
locations of your job--let us know--you are a great
guide and will hunt you down :)- I know this sounds
silly but I told my family that being in the water and
touching and seeing those manatees was like "giving
birth to me" as a human being I feel like the most
three important things or the greatest joy to me was,
when I gave birth to my children, it was overwhelming
to me, and nothing could take that feeling or joy from
me--it is something that I am so proud and grateful
for--and after all these years finally being in the
water touching those dear creatures it left me with
that same joy and sense of honor and being proud and
humble--it was just awesome!!! we finished our trip up
in Bush Gardens, had a wonderful time--nothing like
seeing you and our dear manatee friends--we are home
safe now--just wanted to say thank you!!! Please stay
in touch with us--it was so good to see you--we love
you! Mary Ann Smith
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Hi Captain Andy,
Hope you are well. Nicole and I had a wonderful time with the manatees. We still can't
stop talking about it.
Just wanted to let you know I linked to your webpage on my blog!
www.manateehuggers.blogspot.com
Vanessa
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Hi Captain Andy!!!!!
We hope you remember us ( we have came to Crystal River the last two years in March from
North carolina. Amy, Melissa and
Amber ( my husband does some work at the power plant this time of year ). We were planning
on coming down that way the
weekend of 3-18-04 thru 3-22-04. Can you tell us how things are looking as far as seeing
any manatees? We really hope it's not
too late! We really love the manatees! The couple of experiences we have had with them
have really made us look at wildlife alot
different. Thanks for being such a great tour guide and "Captain" and making it
possible for us!!!
See you soon !!!!
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Hello Captain Andy,
Wanted to say thank you again for guilding us on New Years Day 2004. As
always, everyone in my group enjoyed you and the excellent work you did for
us getting us out to play with the manatees. I have several photos for you
if you want to post them, you have my blessing.
Take care my friend. Fair winds and following seas!
Bon Bonilla
Frontier SCUBA/EEWE Dive Club
Jacksonville, Florida
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Dear Captain Andy,
Snaps for this beautiful Wednesday and I trust this finds you well and
Happy. Holly and I had a wonderful time with you last Saturday! She went
to school and told everyone! When I get my pictures back I will send you a
copy of the best ones.
Please, if you are ever in the Orlando area, do not hesitate to pick up the
phone and call me. I would gladly have a Jack Daniel's with
you, its my favorite!
Snaps to you and stay safe.
Best Regards,
Rebecca and Holly Hale
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Andy,
Thanks for a great day with the manatees! You helped make our girls weekend another
success. Another big thank you for
sending us out to the moored boat, we each had our own personal manatee to swim with away
from the crowd. We are already
planning a trip for next year, I want my kids (at 19 and 22, they are no longer kids,
but...) to have the experience. I have swum with
the dolphins, but it doesn't hold a candle to the manatees.
I sent you a couple of pictures from the roll I took. They aren't great, but it is
something else to work on for next year.
Thanks again, hope the remainder of the season is successful for you, and I do expect an
answer to my e-mail this year! : )
Tina
One of the Margarita Mama's
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Dear Andy,
Jeannette and I would like to thank you, very much, for our wonderful manatee encounter on
Friday 8th October. You were brilliant - totally overshadowed by the manatees, of course,
but what can you expect. I am attaching (I hope, because I'm not that computer literate),
a copy of a letter I've sent to Lonely Planet, one of the leading guidebook publishers - I
think you have them in the US, as well - and I hope this leads to the recognition you
deserve.
As you'll note from the letter, the photos I took weren't very good, but I'll get better
ones next time; we will definitely be back!
Thanks again
Click here to read article
All the best
Sam Weller
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1-4-05
Hey Captain Andy,
Thank you for taking me on the manatee tour. It was one of
the coolest experiences I have ever had. I think my mom & are coming back
another winter sometime in the future. Thank you for everything.
From: Denver H.
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Hi there, just a quick note to say many thank's for your great personality
and time you spent with us on our daughter's 13 birthday (Chelsey and Courtney). We just
can not tell enough people how wonderful our time was with you guy's. When re return to
the states in a year or 2 we WILL be back but this time for a few days. The 2 days we
spent there was the best of our trip.
Thank you so very much it was a wonderful 13 birthday gift for Chelsey and I can tell you
everyone in Dumfries in Scotland has seen our great photos of the manatees.
Keep up the great work you do, it was a pleasure to meet you and hopefully we shall see
you again soon.
Best wishes
Terry, Lynne, Chelsey and Courtney
By the way it is snowing here and the weather is -4 guess where I'd like to be yep a
ranger in a canoe
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Hi Captain Andy!
Our family went on your expedition on August17th and had a GREAT time! For myself, it was
one of the best experiences of my entire life.
I took a picture of the manatee statue, or gravestone, in Kings Bay, in the springs, and
of course it didn't turn out well and I can't read the words on the stone. Do you have a
clear picture of it, or do you have a way that I can find out what is written on the
stone? If you do and you could email it to me, that would be wonderful!
Thank you again, and we'll see you the next time we're in Florida
Julie