Manatees love warm water. And by a stroke of POWERful luck, Tampa Electric can provide it to them! Our Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach circulates water from Tampa Bay for cooling, then sends the water flowing clean and warm back into the bay. In the winter months the manatees leave colder waters to return to this warm and welcoming refuge.

Because of this uniquely unusual migration, we’ve built the Manatee Viewing Center so everyone could have a chance to see manatees gather. Our discharge canal is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary that provides critical protection from the cold for these unique, gentle animals.

Location: 6990 Dickman Rd., Apollo Beach, FL 33572
Hours: Open daily from November 1 - April 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails close at 4 p.m. We are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Easter. Closed Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. Have questions? Call us at 813-228-4289.

NO PETS allowed, service animals are welcome.
Tampa Electric proudly offers free parking and admission to all who visit! 

Have a large group? Please let us know by sending a group reservation.

Snouts up - the manatees are the star of the show, but there’s much more to see and learn! The Manatee Viewing Center is just one part of the Florida Conservation & Technology Center. Guests can download this map into the free Avenza map application to see their exact location on the FCTC campus.

Florida’s Gentle Giants

At Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center, there is a lot to see and do! Visitors can wander along boardwalks overlooking the warm-water area where manatees gather; visit a newly remodeled education center to learn about the plant-eating, warm-blooded “gentle giants;” and even get a bite to eat at the Southshore Café.

Manatees often swim in water less than six-feet deep, where underwater vegetation is most abundant. Sadly, this makes them susceptible to boat strikes. Scientists estimate there are about 6,000 manatees in Florida's waters, and they need our help!

Check To See If Manatees Are At The Center Using Our Live Webcams!

The Manatee Viewing Center Webcam East and Webcam West, sit high above the center's gardens and boardwalks and are operational through the end of the center's open season on April 15. Take control of the camera to explore. When the water temperature drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit you're likely to see many manatees!

Please note: You have two minutes to use the camera before control goes to the next in line. If no one else is line, you will be able to control the camera until the next request. You can direct the camera's focus by clicking on the spot within the camera's viewscreen.

Please allow a moment for the camera controls to respond to your commands.