Meet
the Manatees
Coming
Face-to-Face with Florida’s Endangered Manatees
Makes for an Magical Experience Disney World Can’t Touch
The
early morning mist hangs just above the placid surface of Kings
Bay as the first rays of the winter sun reveal the telltale “footprint” ripples
that mark the presence of a group of endangered West Indian manatees.
As I slip on my mask, snorkel, and swim fins and lower myself
quietly into the warm water, I can feel my heart beating faster
inside my wetsuit. I follow my guide towards a half-dozen manatees
lounging just outside the clearly marked boundaries of one of several
sanctuary areas designed to allow them to escape all contact with
humans.
And then, as I approach, a strange and wonderful thing happens.
Instead of turning tail and swimming away, a mother and her calf
actually move slowly towards me as if they’re as curious
about me as I am about them.
Each winter hundreds of these gentle giants congregate here in
the swimming pool-clear waters of the 46-acre Crystal River National
Wildlife Refuge off Florida’s west coast to seek shelter
from cold winter nights in the warm and protected waters of the
area’s 30 natural springs. Those plentiful numbers, along
with a little help from local outfitter Bird’s Underwater,
helped set the stage for one of the most profoundly moving wildlife
encounters I’ve ever experienced.
Our early-morning tour began with a short video that covers the
do’s-and-don’ts of swimming alongside this protected
species. But despite the strict rules governing snorkelers’ interactions
with the manatees, this is definitely a hands-on experience. In
fact, in many cases, the manatees actually seem to encourage their
visitors’ touch as they use their front flippers to move
an extended hand to an area of their rough, rubbery bodies they’d
apparently like to have rubbed.
That eagerness to interact means we got plenty of up-close-and-personal
time out of our three-hour tour. Our captain dropped our pontoon
boat’s anchor at two different locations, including just
outside a long dark stream that opened onto a hidden sunlit spring
so startlingly clear it was like being inside the manatee exhibit
at SeaWorld. Ultimately, I found the experience to be so enthralling
that I swam back to the boat feeling my time exploring these whiskered
mammals’ watery world was over much too soon.
Despite being listed as an endangered species, manatees still face
a frustratingly uncertain future filled with multiple threats to
their survival ranging from boat propellers to habitat destruction.
After meeting a manatee face-to-face, however, I’m convinced
that if more people could have this experience, the need to protect
these gentle creatures and their strikingly beautiful home simply
wouldn't be an issue.
Xtrordinary Xtra
Some say these 10-foot long, 1,200-pound mammals with the whiskered
muzzles are the basis for the legends of beautiful mermaids told
by ancient mariners. Which can’t help but make you wonder
what those old-time sailors had been drinking.
Xtrordinary Xtra
Kings Bay, which is only about 2.5 miles in diameter, is home to
the largest concentration of manatees in the world.
The Facts
Name: Bird’s Underwater Manatee Tours
Location: Crystal River,
FL; about 75 miles north of St. Petersburg and two hours northwest
of Orlando.
Phone: (800) 771-2763; (352) 563-2763
Website: www.birdsunderwater.com
My Advice
- Bird’s Underwater offers manatee swims on King’s
Bay seven days a week year-round. That said, the high season runs
from October through March when large numbers of manatees congregate
in the area’s many warm-water springs.
- Your chances of coming
face-to-face with a sea cow are much greater if you drag yourself
out of bed in time for the earlier of the company’s two
daily departures. Midweek outings are also generally more enjoyable
as there are fewer other boats on the water.
- You can rent a wetsuit,
mask, snorkel, and swim fins or you can feel free to bring your
own. You’ll also need to bring
your own towels (a lesson I learned the hard way). Hot drinks,
juice, water, and donuts are provided on the boat.
- Even though
this is Florida, wintertime air temperatures can be quite nippy
in the early morning, making a warm jacket or heavy sweatshirt
a necessity.
- If you’ve never used a mask and snorkel before,
you’ll
likely feel more relaxed in the water if you can borrow a friend’s
snorkeling gear and try it out in your local swimming pool before
you come.
- Go ahead and spring for the excellent digital-quality
video so you can relive this extraordinary experience all over
again in the comfort of your own living room.
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