Swimming with Manatees, Florida’s Gentle Giants

By: Professor Bel Kembach, Travel Mamas Guest Blogger
January 20th, 2012

They may not have the strength and grace of killer whales, or the agility and looks of dolphins, but manatees are stealing the show at Homosassa Springs in Citrus County, Florida.

An upclose look at a manatee underwater at the springs of Crystal River (Photo by NaluPhoto, iStockphoto.com)

For families who want to enjoy nature at its best, a nature wonderland is hidden behind Orlando’s amusement parks. There is another Florida, a nature-lover’s Florida. Our latest trip took us to the manatees’ home turf, a far cry from a modern-day aquarium. My daughter and I aimed our compass south to Florida’s west central coast line and the Gulf of Mexico, and it is here in Citrus County that we met one of the most formidable aquatic mammals.

How to Swim with Manatees
Our days started early in the morning, as this is the perfect time to snorkel with the manatees before they get tired of visitors. We boarded a pontoon boat with one of the few female captains in the area, Traci Wood from Native Vacations. Having spotted two manatees just below the water, Captain Traci stopped the boat as the duo slowly glided towards us. They used their paddle-like tails to propell themselves up and down and, steering with their flippers, to gracefully move their 12-foot-long bodies through the water. Our boat was soon surrounded by this gentle species.

Soon we resumed our journey. Within a few minutes Captain Traci stopped the boat again and we were given instructions. Whatever you do, she said — and it doesn’t matter how excited you are — remember the three golden rules: minimize splash noise; act with very slow movements; and when you do touch one of these friendly, gentle gray giants on the back or stomach, never touch with more than one hand at a time. Two hands are illegal. The Endangered Species Act forbids touching a manatee unless it touches you first, and they will let you know. The rules are strict in Homosassa, and the protection of this endangered species is taken very seriously. There is absolutely no chasing, riding or harassing the manatees. But these rules won’t diminish your experience in the least bit. Most of Homosassa manatees are very social and will come to you.

In Florida, waking up one of these 2,000-pound sleeping beauties will cost you a whopping fine, but it is perfectly legal to snorkel or swim with these playful, inquisitive kids of the deep when they are awake and trying to make your acquaintance. 

At Three Sisters Springs, very slowly we entered the water, trying not to disturb the manatees and also trying to keep down the amount of sediment rising from the bottom of the river. Upon our descent, some of the manatees were still sleeping while others were slow-paddling around.

Swimming with the manatees is not at all difficult or intimidating. There were children younger than my daughter, Ilse (who is 10), as well as seniors in the water. There was an abundant feeling of energy and curiosity among us all.

A manatee snacking on water lettuce (Photo by Bel Kembach)

About Manatees
A manatee is very big, measuring 10 to 15 feet and weighing one ton, although some larger than 12 feet and weighing as much as 3,500 pounds have been recorded in Florida. They devour over four to nine percent of their body weight each day (200 pounds of greens) by eating five to eight hours daily to maintain their beautiful rotund shape. They’re strictly herbivores, but they eat a great variety of aquatic plant species, including water hyacinth, hydrilla and water lettuce. Much to our surprise this official marine mammal of Florida is also nearsighted.

Manatees are wild, although when  looking at one nose-to-nose you’ll have second thoughts about just how wild they are. They turned over and bared their bellies for us to rub, and swam alongside and nibbled at us. 

What to Do on Land
Since not all visitors want to get nose-to-nose with the manatees, non- swimmers can also view these endangered mammals at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. The park provides refuge for captive-born manatees and is a halfway house for rehabilitating those who will be returned to the wild. Some manatees that have been injured or orphaned will spend their lives in the park since they are unable to survive in the wild. The park also serves as a research and observation center, offering three daily educational programs to the public.

The park also showcases an impressive menagerie of native Florida wildlife including alligators, birds, and bears. It is located at the headwaters of the crystal clear Homosassa River, a natural spring that gushes forth millions of gallons of fresh water per hour. 

Bel’s daughter, Ilse, posing at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park (Photo by Bel Kembach)

When and Where to Go
From December to March, groups of manatees escape the cold winter ocean and bask in the warm waters near power plants and coastal springs that stay about 72F degrees year-round. Snorkelers, divers and swimmers come from all over the world for a chance to swim or interact with the shy, docile West Indian manatee in its natural environment. Numerous dive sites, inland springs, good underwater visibility, calm water, and its wintering manatee population have made Citrus County a popular destination for nature lovers.

Abundant plant life makes the area an ideal playground for the manatees, who arrive every year by the hundreds to find warmth, food and maybe, just maybe, to visit us, the curious humans. The area is also safe for these endangered mammals whose lives are often cut short by environmental factors and fatal encounters with speeding watercraft.

Crystal River is the only place in the world for snorkelers to swim with the West Indian manatee in relatively clear water. Citrus County and Crystal River is less than a 1.5-hour drive from Orlando, Tampa or Daytona. Visit the Citrus County Visitors & Convention Bureau website to learn more about the area.  

Where to Stay
I recommend staying at the Plantation Golf Resort & Spa for its lovely accommodations and guided wildlife excursions. It is an eco-friendly resort and proud member of the Green Hotels Association and Eco Friendly Hotels Worldwide. This hotel is perfectly located to view the manatees daily.

Why to Go
Once you have swam next to a mother manatee and her newborn calf in the wild, it is inconceivable that anyone could hurt them. Like many visitors, my daughter and I left with this place with unforgettable memories and became avid supporters of protecting and preserving these friendly, docile creatures for generations to come. We believe there is hope that the manatee may yet be saved from extinction, but the public needs to become aware of the problem. These gentle giants are so impressive in their size and manner; it is difficult not to fall in love with them. Truth is, swimming with manatees is a life altering experience.

How to Help
Your family can help manatee conservation efforts! Adopt a manatee for just $25 through the Save a Manatee Club. Ask your children to choose from a list of adoptable manatees and select those that match your family members’ personalities.

Would you swim with manatees if given the chance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Professor Bel Kambach teaches Ecotourism and the Environment at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and brings all her Ecotourism students to teach a lesson in conservation to her daughter’s school’s Saving Endangered Species program. Bel can be reached via her blog, Bel Explores, on the Bel Explores Facebook page, or on Twitter at @BelExplores.

You might also like:

• Favorite Family-Friendly Nature Spots in California

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• The Travel Mama’s Guide to Orlando & Kissimmee with Kids 

 

Tags: children, Citrus County, Crystal River, Florida, Homosassa, leg, nature, Plantation Inn Golf Resort, swim with manatees

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This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 1:33 pm and is filed under Family Vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.