Key Takeaways:
- Do not dive down on a manatee – maintain a respectful distance when swimming.
- Approach manatees in a peaceful and quiet manner by floating on the surface and using your arms to propel you.
- Avoid entering any manatee sanctuaries and follow your captain’s instructions.
Immersing yourself in the enchanting world of manatees can be very exciting. But before you embark on this extraordinary experience, here are three key points to keep in mind before swimming with manatees:
1. No diving down on a manatee
As Justin Strickland, Manager of Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees, points out, “you have the opportunity to engage in something that nobody else in the world can do.” But with this extraordinary opportunity comes responsibility, and that means understanding the importance of not diving down on a manatee. Wetsuits are provided to keep you buoyant and floating at the surface of the water, thus ensuring a safe and enjoyable interaction with these gentle giants.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife takes this law very serious. You can receive up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail,” warns Strickland. So remember to follow the rules and maintain a respectful distance when swimming with manatees in Crystal River, FL.
2. No chasing manatees
It’s important to approach manatees in a peaceful and quiet manner. “What you want to do, though, is you want to swim very peacefully, very quietly, and you’ll get closer to the manatee,” advises Strickland. While it may be tempting to pursue a manatee as it swims away, it is essential to let it go and avoid chasing these endangered animals.
Instead, float calmly on the surface of the water, using your arms to propel you. “You want to almost act as if you don’t have any feet, if you would. You’re going to float in like a dead man’s float and use your arms to propel you through the water,” says Strickland. This approach allows for the manatee to become acclimated to your presence and, if you’re lucky, it may even decide to approach you on its own.
3. Don’t enter manatee sanctuaries
Another critical point to remember when embarking on your manatee tour in Florida is to avoid entering any manatee sanctuaries. These areas are designated for the manatees’ protection and should not be intruded upon by visitors. While most sanctuaries are not active during certain times of the year, it’s essential to listen to your captain’s guidance and respect any boundaries set.
“Your captain will help you understand what is a sanctuary and what is not. That way you don’t enter into a place that you’re not supposed to be,” adds Strickland.
Make memories with Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees
Embarking on a manatee tour in Crystal River, FL, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with these gentle giants up close and personal. By keeping these three key points in mind, you can ensure a safe, respectful, and memorable experience that you’ll treasure for years to come.
Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees provides the opportunity for a unique, unforgettable, and responsible interaction with these endangered animals. To book your manatee tour in Crystal River, FL, and enjoy this extraordinary adventure, visit Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees.
References:
- “Endangered Ocean: Manatees.” https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceanmanatees/.
- “Do’s and Don’ts When Meeting A Manatee in Crystal River, FL.” https://www.discovercrystalriverfl.com/manatee-authority/dos-and-donts-when-meeting-a-manatee/.
- “Manatees & Harassment.” https://www.savethemanatee.org/manatees/harassment/.
Transcription:
Is anybody excited to see manatees? Don’t be scared when you see this massive animal out there. That’s what we’re doing. We’re going to see a manatee, okay? A couple things to remember. Because this is a lifetime experience, you have the opportunity to engage in something that nobody else in the world can do. You are going to have the ability or the opportunity to interact with an endangered animal. Just so you know, the three main rules that you need to remember are, one, no diving down on a manatee. What that means is, everybody wants to know why you’re in a wetsuit in the middle of the summer. It’s not to keep you warm, because we have a good sun to take care of that. It is to keep you buoyant, floating at the surface of the water. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife takes this law very serious. You can receive up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail. So you don’t want that. So we put wetsuits on you. It keeps you at the surface of the water. It allows you to have an interaction with a manatee without disturbing them. When you see a manatee and when your captain sees a manatee, he’s going to point out and say, there’s a manatee, go ahead and approach the manatee. It is okay to swim towards the manatee. What you want to do, though, is you want to swim very peacefully, very quietly, and you’ll get closer to the manatee. And if the manatee starts to take off away from you, you need to let it go. And often what will happen is you’ll find that the manatee will go off, they’ll get acclimated to you, and then they’ll turn around and come towards you. And if they do, then that’s a wonderful experience. The next thing to understand is that there is no chasing a manatee. As I said, that’s why you don’t wear fins. You want to almost act as if you don’t have any feet, if you would. You’re going to float in like a dead man’s float and use your arms to propel you through the water. We will also give you a noodle if you like, and that will help keep you buoyant as well, because it does kind of get difficult to tread water for that long. The next thing, don’t enter any manatee sanctuaries. Fortunately, during this time of the year, the manatees typically they don’t go towards the sanctuaries, so there aren’t a lot of sanctuaries up this time of year. But there are a couple, and your captain will help you understand what is a sanctuary and what is not. That way you don’t enter into a place that you’re not supposed to be.