The manatee calf watched its mother closely. As she surfaced from the spring-fed bay for air, her calf swam over to nurse. I observed from about two feet away through my snorkel mask. This rare and precious moment was short. The mother lifted her snout above the water briefly to breathe, then sank back to the bottom a few feet below, her calf swimming close by. To swim with manatees is a magical and humbling experience.
During orientation, our guide had explained that during on our swim with manatees, we would be especially blessed to see a nursing calf. We counted our blessings!
At the bottom, the adult manatee focused on feeding. With her blunt, stubby snout immersed in the tall grass, she moved steadily forward. We could see her through the clear water and hear the crunching as she ate. Our boat Captain, John B., and guide and photographer Crystal explained that although manatees seem unconcerned by snorkelers nearby, they are aware of your presence at all times. They gently nudge you aside as they pass. We remained still, floating and watching. The crew calls this “passive observation,” which is the best way to observe manatees.
Crystal led us back to the boat for a trip to another part of the bay. After a short ride across the water, we encountered yet another amazing and unexpected sighting of manatees. Crystal again warned us, “Keep your hands to yourselves…do not reach out to the manatees…do not try to pet them…do not make any unnatural sounds or movements.” The crew protects the manatees. She added, “If we happen to find that rare one in a million wanting to play, I will let you know.”
It was our good fortune to find that one in a million, a calf that wanted to play! Our swim with manatees turned into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
While his Mama ignored us and kept crunching grass on the bottom, the calf darted all around us.
Crystal made the calf come closer by sitting in the water, like in a recliner. The calf swam up her legs and rested his snout on her neck, nuzzling as if giving kisses. Then something interesting happened: the calf ignored everyone else and went straight for my husband! Eddie, new to this, couldn’t keep his head above water with the manatee on his back. Wearing a water-filled mask, Eddie carefully paddled to the boat, trying not to startle the calf. The behavior of the calf surprised our guides, John B and Crystal, who called him the “manatee whisperer.”
With my husband back in the boat, the rest of us vied for the calf’s attention. I tried to mimic the guide’s position in the water as she lured the calf to us. I could feel the pressure of the calf’s flipper as he tried to hold on to my leg.
Imagine swimming alongside an 800-to-1,200-pound creature that inspired the lore of mermaids.
We headed back to the dock filled with wonder at our experience with these animals and an appreciation for the organizations’ that are tirelessly working to save them from extinction.
Crystal River – swim with manatees
Crystal River, known as the “manatee capital of the world, ” is situated centrally on the Gulf of Mexico in Citrus County, Florida, roughly 90 miles northwest of Tampa. The seven-mile-long river flows into Kings Bay, a five-square-mile basin, and connects to the Gulf of Mexico. Thirty natural springs feed the river, delivering 300 million gallons of warm water daily. The consistent 72-degree Fahrenheit temperature creates ideal conditions for manatees, with populations ranging from 400 to 1000 during peak season from November to April. It is the only place in the U.S. where swimming with manatees is legally permitted.
Manatees attract thousands of visitors annually, particularly during these months. We visited in early October, just before peak season. Fortunately, a few manatees live in the area year-round, so we weren’t disappointed. Our group of six was lucky to swim with at least six manatees up close for about two hours.
How We Got There
During a break between visits with friends in Tampa, Florida, my husband and I drove to Crystal River. River Ventures provides convenient online booking, and I reserved our spot the night before—earlier bookings might be necessary during peak seasons. When we arrived, the Education Center staff gave us a quick orientation and provided wetsuits. They took us to the dock within minutes, where we met our boat Captain, John B, and our swim guide and photographer, Crystal. Both were friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with beginners. After the trip, we purchased our photos for a small fee.
Save Crystal River, Florida – Preserve this place where we can swim with manatees.
Eel grass serves as the primary food source for manatees and other aquatic creatures. The grass we observed ranged from twelve to twenty-four inches in height, though it can reach up to three feet. Our guide mentioned ongoing efforts to restore eel grass in Kings Bay, an area that recently became a dead zone. Save Crystal River, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to maintaining a healthy supply of food for marine life by continually removing decay, restoring eel grass, and ensuring cleanliness. Their goal is to restore 92.4 acres by 2023. Visit https://savecrystalriver.com to learn more.
Threats
If left alone, manatees may live up to 50 to 60 years and die of old age. Scientists believe that sharks, crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and jaguars attack manatees occasionally but they there is no documented evidence, and this is not a threat to their survival.
The biggest threat to manatees is loss of habitat, fishing nets, watercraft and toxic algae.
Established in 1983, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge aims to protect manatees, with seven sanctuaries in Kings Bay. During the peak season from November 15 to March 31, all public activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing are banned in these areas. While manatees grow accustomed to the safety of the sanctuaries, they still fall victim to watercraft accidents outside these zones, with about 80 manatees killed annually due to such encounters. When we visited Crystal River to swim with manatees, a Florida game warden informed our boat captain that they were searching the area for an injured manatee.
Additional information
The main areas where manatees live include Florida, Africa, and the Amazon manatee-world.com. We are fortunate in the United States to have five great places in Florida to see manatees, and swim with manatees at Crystal River. There are 6,500 believed to live in Florida, visitflorida.com.
Florida has designated November of each year as manatee month to raise awareness about the threatened population.
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