An encounter with the large, lumbering manatees of the Gulf of Mexico is an experience you are sure to remember. At Captain Mike’s Swimming With the Manatees, we offer tailored manatee tours that allow you to come face to face with these aquatic giants. You can interact with them up close by diving into the water to swim or snorkel with them. If you don’t want to swim, you can still view them at close range from the boat.

Manatees fulfill a distinctive environmental role as indicator species for ecosystems throughout the United States. Their well-being is intricately linked to the health of their habitat. Also, manatees function as a signal for the well-being of their environment.

But that’s not all. Here are six cool facts about the amazing manatees:

1. They inspired the mermaid legends.

Sailors have long reported seeing mermaids in the sea. One such record was made by Christopher Columbus when he journeyed for the first time to the Americas on January 9, 1493. While at sea, he saw three sea creatures. He reported in his diary that “they were not as beautiful as was said, for their faces had some masculine traits.” Today, it is known that those creatures were not mermaids but actually manatees.

2. They can hold their breath for several minutes.

Manatees do not usually leave the water unless they are coming up to the surface for air. In fact, depending on their activity level, they can remain underwater for a long time. A resting manatee can hold its breath for up to 20 minutes. When swimming, the manatee needs more energy and has to rise to the surface as often as every 30 seconds. Interestingly, a manatee can replace up to 90% of the air in its lungs with just one breath; in comparison, humans manage to replace only 10% of the air.

3. They are more closely related to the elephant than to other marine animals.

Manatees belong to the order Sirenia and share a common ancestry with the elephant, aardvark, and small gopher-like hyrax. Both the elephant and the manatee have hearts with rounded bottoms. Hearts of most other animals have a point at the bottom.

4. Manatees eat more than 10% of their weight in vegetation every day.

Manatees are herbivores, consuming up to 60 species of underwater, shoreline, and floating plants. However, they primarily feed on seagrass along the sea bed. Their low metabolic rate and the limited nutrient value of most vegetation they consume necessitate eating a larger quantity of vegetation to compensate for the nutrient deficiency.

In fact, their vegetarian diet significantly contributes to their role as excellent indicators of ecosystem health. Thriving manatee populations reflect flourishing life within their immediate environment.

5. They are usually slow, but can move at a faster speed.

Manatees often mull around at a slower speed of 5 miles per hour, but they can accelerate to up to 15 miles per hour in short bursts. They have powerful tails that help them achieve a faster speed when necessary. But since they move slowly most of the time, manatees often have algae and barnacles growing on their backs.

6. Manatees can’t turn their heads the way humans can.

Sea cows lack the neck vertebra found in most other animals, preventing them from turning their heads. Manatees must turn their entire bodies to look around.

Remarkable snorkeling experience

Snorkeling with manatees creates a memorable experience. Our private manatee tours in Crystal River, Florida, guarantee you an opportunity to snorkel with aquatic giants in water and have a wonderful time with family or friends. With knowledgeable and experienced captains and crew, it is also an opportunity to learn more about an endangered species. At Captain Mike’s, we are committed to manatee tours that protect the animals and their habitats.

For more information about manatee tours in Crystal River, Florida, visit Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees website.