Florida:  Crystal River, Family Vacation Fun Swimming with the Manatees. 

In the light of pre-dawn the world seemed to hold its breath. We were waiting to take part in a tour that would bring us face-to-face with one of Florida’s most endangered creatures, the West Indian manatee.

Our varied group, spanning from 11 years to 78 years of age, congregated outside Bird’s Underwater Dive Shop in Crystal River. The guide arrived, grinning from ear-to-ear and seemingly unaffected by either the early hour, or the un-Floridian weather. Shivering in the chilly air (about 60 degrees, chilly is a relative term), we followed him inside Birds’ Underwater, thankful for the warmth. We received a quick introduction and then viewed a video filmed by the staff, which demonstrated and explained the proper behavior around the manatees. Our guide answered questions; we received our gear and our adventure commenced.

We left the dive shop and filed onto one of Bird’s Underwater signature pontoon boats. Gear stashed, we slowly motored across the still water. Our guide explained that all boats maintain a certain speed in the area of manatee habitats in order to reduce the amount of manatee injuries and deaths. As we progressed the morning sun revealed mist-draped trees along the shoreline and pelicans on wheeling through the sky overhead.

Our guide asked each of us where they were from and if any of us had ever seen a manatee up close before? A Japanese couple replied that this experience was going to be one of the main highlights of their trip to the United States. They explained that in Japan manatees are believed to have healing powers. Our guide nodded (Not news to him.) and told us that we were extremely lucky. Crystal River is the only place in the world where it is possible to swim with manatees in the wild. He also told us a humorous story from the days of Christopher Columbus. Apparently, sailors thought that manatees were mermaids, thusly the manatee-like tails featured in paintings of mer-people.

Everyone laughed at his comments and for my own part, I felt simultaneously excited and nervous. I had seen manatees before, but never swam with them, and certainly never touched one. I sipped my hot chocolate and stared across the water, wondering what next?

When we reached the manatee reserve we dropped anchor and our guide gave us a reminder about proper behavior and safety procedures. Then he smiled and gave us thumbs up.

It was our signal to begin. One by one we secured our gear and slid into the water. While the air temperature was cool, the water seemed fine (72 degrees). I joined those already waiting a small distance from the boat. Within minutes I adjusted and felt curious enough to put my face in the water and swim a little.

Our guide gestured at us to follow him and we did, watching the slightly murky green water for some sign of the manatees. Suddenly I spotted something massive and gray, not four feet beneath me. I gesticulated wildly, and everyone looked where I pointed. I was really pleased that I'd been the first to spot one of Columbus’ mermaids.

 

Our guide carried an underwater video camera; while we swam with the manatees he took exclusive footage of our group. Because he was able to do this for us, we could enjoy our time freely knowing the video would be available later at the dive shop.

The manatees were larger than I had imagined, but their size did not seem to hinder them as they moved in a graceful underwater dance. They seemed at times like large children, playfully nudging each other and gleefully submitting to our hesitant caresses. For me the best part was making eye contact with their large dark eyes. They seemed infinitely ancient and wise, kind and understanding. I could not imagine anyone wishing them harm, inadvertently or not.

Far too soon our dreamlike experience came to an end and I watched the manatees as I swam back to the boat. As we headed back to dock we all seemed lost in reverie, thinking about our experience. Chad, an energetic 11 year-old from Indiana, began coaxing his grandfather into adopting a manatee and the Japanese couple inquired about swimming again.

We all agreed that it wasn’t an experience typical to Florida; there were no mouse ears or warm sandy beaches. But it is a unique Florida experience, demonstrative of the diversity that embodies the Sunshine State. Swimming with manatees is definitely an amazing experience - worth doing more than once!

 

Details

Bird's Underwater. A PADI facility, they offer loads of ways for families to have fun together, in addition to excellent manatees tours. The dive shop is located on Kings Bay in Crystal River, on the West Coast of Florida, near the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 60 miles North of Tampa on Highway 19. (320 N.W. Highway 19, Crystal River, 34428. 1-800-771-2763, 1 (352) 563-2763 or www.birdsunderwater.com)

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge, within the spring fed waters of Kings Bay, includes 20 islands and several small parcels of land. The Refuge provides a safe habitat for the West Indian manatee. About 25 percent of the nation's endangered manatee population dwell in the Refuge during the coldest months of the year because the temperature of the water flowing from the springs remains a constant 72° F. (Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, 1(352) 563-2088 or http://crystalriver.fws.gov)

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. This is the location to observe manatees without getting wet. The floating underwater observaCrystal River, Floridatory provides visitors with great manatee viewing year-around. The manatees are the featured residents but Homosassa Springs is also home to an interesting population of native Florida birds, animals, and plants. (Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park is located ten miles south of Crystal River on Highway 19. Go to www.hsswp.com)

FYI: At the Website is a very informative, fun and useful publication, The Manatees: An Educator's Guide.

RESOURCES

Save the Manatee Club. Adopt a manatee for $25 and you'll receive a photo of your manatee, the manatee's biography, an adoption certificate, and a membership handbook with information on manatees. Funds from the Adopt-A-Manatee program go toward public awareness and education projects; manatee research; rescue and rehabilitation efforts; advocacy and legal action in order to ensure better protection for manatees and their habitat. Currently, there are about 40,000 SMC members. (Save the Manatee Club. 500 N. Maitland Ave. Maitland, FL 32751. 1(407) 539-0990, 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) or www.savethemanatee.org)

Project AWARE. Conservation begins with understanding the need to protect waters necessary for life. Project AWARE has a variety of interesting things for kids. AWARE Kids know how to make a positive difference by their actions. (Project AWARE Foundation, Suite 200 - PADI Professional Bldg, 30151 Tomas Street, Rancho Santa Margarita CA, 92688-2125 USA. 1-866-80 AWARE Ext.2659 (US and Canada), 1(949) 858-7234 Ext.2659 or www.projectaware.org/kids)

About the Author: Amanda Nelson-Duac spends much of her free time in and around the water. She is an active environmentalist, PADI certified diver, and frequent contributor to FamilyTravelFiles.com.