Manatees are amazing and endearing mammals that weigh 800-1,200 pounds, are roughly 13 feet long and can live up to 60 years. Thriving in shallow, slow-moving, and seagrass-rich waters of canals, rivers, bays, and estuaries, manatees are gentle, peaceful, and graceful animals. They spend their time traveling, eating, and resting. Because they are typically a migratory species, West Indian manatees are usually found in the warm springs of Florida during the colder months. They can be found anywhere from Massachusetts to Texas during the summer months. Several places offer opportunities for nature lovers and adventurers to dive, interact with, and photograph manatees. Crystal River, Florida, is among the most popular locations, with Three Sisters Springs and Kings Bay being particularly well-known.

Why Should You Swim and Photograph Manatees at Crystal River?

Located in Florida, Crystal River is the best place to swim and photograph manatees. Crystal River boasts an economy centered around manatees. The area features numerous manatee tour operators, trained captains, experienced crews, and a diverse range of accommodations for tourists. For those interested in exquisite manatee photographs, the Three Sisters Springs is one of the best sites to observe and capture images of the sea cows. Several freshwater springs emerge in this area. At Three Sisters Springs, the water is warm and clean. The bottom surface has delicate white sand, which makes photographing manatees easier, thrilling, and fun.

Finding Manatees in the Three Sisters Springs

The main canal outside the Three Sisters Springs is often murky. You should go inside the springs to take manatee photos in the water. Inside the Three Sisters Springs, you can clearly see and photograph the manatees with little trouble. However, there are usually few manatees inside Three Sisters, so you should try looking for them in the protected areas and in the small canal where you can spot them as they try to get into the springs. You also can look for manatees near the edges of the springs (around tree roots) where they often rest and have their backs cleaned gently by fish. These edges are called “cleaning stations” and they are great opportunities for photographing manatees. Likewise, since manatees come to the water surface every 3-20 minutes to breathe, you can time and photograph them as they come up to breathe.

Equipment for Photographing Your Swim with Manatees

Manatees are very large, so wide-angle photography is advisable. For instance, point-and-shoot cameras should be used with adaptors or wide-angle wet lenses while SLR cameras should be used with wide-angle lenses having a 90-degree angle of view or larger. Fisheye lenses are preferred because they allow for close focus and wide shots of manatees. For portraits, super-wide lenses are ideal while 8-inch dorm ports are great for under/over split shots when wide SLR lenses are used. Macro lenses (50-60mm) are also good for portraits when full-frame cameras are used, once all “safety shots” have been satisfied. Similarly, since air cannot limit you and you can shoot several images in a few hours, you should bring high capacity cards.

Taking Photographs of Manatees

Once you are in the water, stay horizontal and level. Hang your camera below and shoot upward. When using the viewfinder, your strobes should be slightly lower or level with the lens. Vary the exposure technique, from manual, TTL to available light, to accommodate changing lighting conditions as the sun rises or scene brightness changes dramatically. When using strobes, keep the strobe arms wide to reduce backscatter. Consider sunbursts and backlighting, as you’ll be at Three Sisters Springs around sunrise. Use models to show interactions, create perspectives, and generate interest in the photographs. Similarly, employ over-under shots (split-shots) to capture the scenes around the manatees.

When manatees approach you, remain motionless to let them initiate interaction. Approach a manatee from its right side, interact with your left hand, hit the shutter with your right hand, and shoot one-handed portraits. To indicate you should rub it, the manatee will rotate away while staying close. It may roll toward you and allow gentle stroking of its algae-covered surface, helping to clean it. Capture photos as you give belly rubs. Avoid the face and front flippers, as they are sensitive. 

Take photos of manatee reflections below the water surface. Capture dormitory shots (shoot groups) in different directions using natural light. Photos of manatee mothers and calves can be beautiful, so snap shots of nursing manatees. Be cautious not to disturb nursing manatees.

Finally, document manatees that survived boat collisions, showing scars and wounds, to highlight their vulnerability to human activity. By publicizing the harm inflicted on manatees, you can evoke public sympathy and encourage people to help save these animals. For more information on manatee tours, visit the “Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees” site.