Apalachicola to Crystal River

We had a pretty drive from Apalachicola to Crystal River, on the Western coast of Florida. Crystal River is the only place in the United States where you can legally snorkel/swim with the manatees.  After a decent sleep in a not-so-nice motel, we were at River Ventures at 6am, ready for our adventure.  We had a safety video, got into our wetsuits, and on to the boat.  Manatees can't handle cold temperatures.  In the summer months they live in the gulf but in October, when the water temperatures in the sea cool down, they return to the river for the winter.  The water temperature in the Crystal River is a constant 72-74 degrees, perfect for the manatees.  Some live there year 'round.  Much of the river is a sanctuary and blocked off from boat traffic.  Boats are the main cause of death of manatees and most adult manatees have many scars from propellers.  The manatees are just starting to come back into the river; the gulf is still reasonably warm.  In addition to the nice water temperature, the river bottom is abundant with the sea grasses that manatees eat.  An adult manatee eats 100-300 pounds of grass daily.  The river also is safe for sleeping and for having babies.

Baby manatees stay with their moms for two years.  They nurse for the first year or so and then gradually start weaning to grasses.  After two years, they go off on their own.  Dads are not involved in their upbringing.  A baby manatee will weigh at least 70 pounds and they grow quickly.

That 72-74 degree water felt cold to us when we first got in, even with our 3mm wetsuits but we were so enthralled with the manatees that it didn't matter.  The water is murky and it's hard to spot the manatees, so our captain (who, by the way, is an alligator wrestler) was a huge help in spotting them and showing us where to swim.  It was so fun seeing moms and babies together.  The moms are often happy to let the snorkelers "babysit" their babies and the babies love to frolic with the people.  Mom stays a bit away and munches on grass, keeping an eye out on baby.

We got to touch and pet a few manatees.  They like to have their bellies rubbed and to be petted on their heads, under their front fins, and on their upper backs.  They have very tough-feeling skins.  The babies are pretty much all grey while the adults have scars and algae, giving a mottled look.  One came up out of the water just in front of me and looked right at me; it was quite a thrill.  Petting them underwater was great fun.

If you're considering a manatee adventure, January and February are prime months for viewing.  It's definitely a fun adventure.