USA, Florida – Crystal River & swimming with Manatee’s 5/1/17 – 7/1/17

Back in Tampa with our dear friends Steve and Fiona (who also live in Nelson NZ), staying at the same motel as we did before, the Days Inn. Over the next few days we visited Clearwater beach, St Petersburg, Johns Pass, Dunedin and went as far north as Crystal River. Here at Crystal River we booked on a 4 hour snorkel trip with Manatees. What a great activity and it has to be up there as one of the best activities we have done. We arrived and completed waiver forms then got togged up in wet suits and watched a safety video before being split into two groups and stepped aboard our river boat. Instantly we were able to view these magnificent beasts swimming by us, mostly mothers and pups. Its now winter in Florida and the Manatees head for warmer waters inland where the rivers have thermal pools dotted along them and for a spot of resting. Our guide informed us there were about 100 Manatees in these waters at present and at peak times there can be up to 600 around. We were taken to an area named 3 sisters, due to there being 3 thermal pools next to each other, and definitely a “hot spot” for these creatures. One by one we left the vessel and swam into a small nook in the river towards the sisters. We could definitely tell we were heading in the right direction as the waters became warmer and clearer. Then a few minutes later we were there, right in the midst of around 10 Manatees. What a wonderful experience, none of us realized just how colossal they are close up, and we could even hear the pups calling out for their mothers, beautiful faint squeaks. Their size is impressive, but not as impressive as their gracefulness as they gently swam around, under us, over us, so glad I had my GroPro. These beasts as elegant and gentle as they are put so much trust in us humans but aren’t aware that we are their only predator on the planet. Most of the larger Manatees bared scars along their backs, these as our guide stated were from fishing boat propellers. I now have a new found love of the Manatee, an animal I knew very little about before this trip. We stayed in the water for over 2 hours just watching these glorious mammals, some swimming around, others resting at the bottom of the river, and others coming and going in and out of the nook in the river. The waters baring the name of this stretch of the river, “Crystal” was very clear indeed, and I would go as far as saying the clearest waters we’ve been in on our 14 month trip around the world. Beautiful it was like swimming in the waters at White Haven Beach in the Whit Sundays in Australia, only better. The river bed glistening with the suns rays reflecting off the white sand beneath us and at a constant warm temperature from the 3 thermal springs surrounding us. A total contrast to the river as we approached the 3 sisters, there the waters were murky and green with plant life and freezing cold, (hence the wet suits).
The river flows through the tiny hamlet of Crystal River, and it’s banks are adorned with houses, how fantastic that these creatures swim pass your house in the river at the bottom of your garden. Anyone living here can get into the water anytime they choose. Our guide informed us that property along the river is in high demand, very exclusive and very expensive. If we were to relocate anywhere in the world, it would definitely be here, we have loved this little corner of Florida as it has so much to see and do, something for everybody, the young and young hearted. Love it, love it, love it and this activity epitomizes the wonderful experiences to be had in Florida other than the theme parks.