A Day with Florida's Manatees

I’m a wimpy Floridian when it comes to being cold, so there is only one thing that will get me to swim in 72-degree water. Manatees! On the day after Thanksgiving, Ron and I took the boat to Homosassa Springs in Citrus County to swim with the manatees. Manatees can’t tolerate cold water so when the temperature of the Gulf of Mexico drops into the 60s, they seek out the warmer water of the springs.

Although the weather forecast called for a high in the upper 70s, it was still chilly when we got to Homosassa at around 9 o’clock. I wasn’t excited about the thought of getting into the water until I saw the manatees. Then I quickly got over my aversion to the cold and pulled on my wet suit to join them. There were dozens of manatees in the springs. Many of them were sleepy and had settled face-down on the river bottom in their typical sleeping position (they must have eaten too much Thanksgiving dinner too), but there were a few who swam over to say hello. Manatees are curious and if you float quietly in the water, they will often come right up to you. I stayed in the water for about an hour until my teeth started to chatter and it was time to get back in the boat and warm up.

At around 11 o’clock, the manatees started waking up and soon there were several of them swimming around our boat. I braved the cold water one more time before we packed up our snorkel gear and rode down the river for lunch at the Freezer, a rustic restaurant that used to be an old fish freezer. We ate outside, sharing plates of steamed shrimp and stone crab claws and enjoying the sunshine. It was too nice a day to rush home, so after lunch we took a ride up the river. It was the perfect break from the holiday bustle. I’m thankful to be a Floridian!

taking a breath

manatee observation deck (for people who don't want to get in the water)

Travel tips: Citrus County is the only place in the United States where it is legal to swim with manatees. Here are some guidelines for swimming with this unique animal.

    • Manatees are a threatened species so be sure to follow all laws and regulations
    • Never chase or pursue a manatee; let them initiate contact
    • Never disturb resting, feeding or mating manatees
    • Don’t dive down.  Wear a wetsuit or use a flotation device to stay on the surface.
    • Only touch with one open hand
    • Never separate a mother and calf.
    • Do not enter marked sanctuary areas

For additional information, click here:  https://myfwc.com/media/7325/protectnativewildlife-manatee.pdf

To spot a manatee, look for large circles in the water caused by the manatee's tail