last updated 3/20/2012

Swimming With the Manatees

Manatees are the most gentle creatures! They are vegetarians, swim slowly, grow to about 15 ft. long, are protected yet still get injured by boat motors of careless or uncaring humans.  If you get the chance to swim with manatees remember not to touch or threaten them.

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon snorkling with many of these gentle giants at Three Sisters Springs in Homosassa, Florida.  The manatees were warming up in the 70º water.  It was awfuly cold to me, but a friend loaned her diving shirt and we stayed in the water for about 2 hours.  Here are more pics.  The top left shows a calf nursing.