A Swim With A Manatee
Another Adventure! We drove a few hours north to the Homassassa River. Destination - Homassassa River RV Resort, for our few day stay, to swim with Manatees. The RV park was pretty nice and we had a great spot. They have a nice swimming pool, which I used both days we were there.
The Crystal River and Kings Bay area is the only area in Florida where swimmers are monitored around manatees. Viewing guidelines and sanctuary rules must be followed. The manatees that stay in this location need the warm waters of the springs in order to survive the cold winter.
There's only one place in North America where you legally swim with manatees, and that's in the Crystal River area— located about 90 minutes north of Tampa on the west coast of Florida.
The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round. During the winter months more than 400 manatees migrate here to escape the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and each year some of them stay in the bay through the summer months. These migrating and resident manatees make Crystal River the perfect spot for you to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.
The West Indian manatees are very large aquatic mammals, weighing in around 1,000 pounds and measuring about 10 feet in length. They are docile, slow-moving swimmers that eat 10-15 percent of their body weight daily in aquatic plants. They often surface for air every 30 seconds while active and every 20 minutes while sleeping. Manatees have no natural enemies and the biggest threats to their survival are interactions with watercraft and loss of habitat. They were placed on the endangered species list in 1966 and have since been under close watch in order to ensure the survival of the species.
Crystal River is where you’re legally permitted to swim with manatees in their natural habitat. You can embark on a swim tour through the river, but only after being briefed on all of the do’s and don’ts of interacting with the animals. Although manatees are very curious by nature and often initiate interaction with humans, they are heavily protected by law. Learning the manatee encounter rules and tips ensures that you have the best, and most rewarding experience possible while being a guest in their home.
So, there you have it. All I learned about manatees! Let the adventure begin! After squeezing into wetsuits, Jim, myself, and 4 other folks, along with a guide and a boat captain, hopped aboard a pontoon boat and boated into King’s Bay. Our guide spotted a manatee right off the bat, and we all, quietly, entered the water with our snorkel gear. The water was a bit murky, and a bit chilly. We were able to swim with 2 manatees for about 2 hours. As I hovered over them in the water, their enormity took my breath away. Definitely gentle giants. They move like sloths, and come up for air occasionally. The guide told me one was a male and one was a female. The male was 12 feet long and was said to weigh 1200 pounds. They have skin like elephants and their faces are amazing. I was enamored, and was so glad I got to do this. Definitely a check off the bucket list. I’d like to return in December, when the manatees are plentiful due to the warm waters and plenty of sea grass for them to feed on.
As they swam away, we headed to the Three Sisters Springs to snorkel in the clear blue, deep hole waters. There is nothing that I’ve ever seen that is so pretty. During the manatee season, this area becomes a sanctuary and you would not be able to swim into the spring. They do have an observation deck, which is where I would want to be in December!
Underwater photo of the female manatee We swam with!
We had a great time swimming with the manatees, and I know Jim enjoyed snorkeling in the crystal clear Springs!
The following day we headed to the Ellie Schiller State Wildlife Park in Homassassa, Florida. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the RV Park. We went early and beat the heat and the crowds. I took several kindness rocks with me and hid them around to bring smiles to others. I’m really having fun sharing my rocks.
The park features a variety of captive animals such as alligators, black bears, red wolf, Key deer, flamingos, whooping cranes and the oldest hippopotamus in captivity. The native wildlife that reside in the park serve as ambassadors for their species, providing us with face-to-face connections with the animals and their habitats. Each with a unique life story, all of the animal inhabitants are here for the same reason: They are unable to survive in the wild on their own.
The park itself is lush and green with wonderful walking paths that cover a 2 mile area. It was clean and all of the mammals, animals and birds were very easy to see and enjoy
Kindness Rocks
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If you ever happen to be in this area of Florida, I highly recommend visiting this wonderful wildlife sanctuary.
Our adventure was awesome, as usual, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes. I’m so grateful for my life with Jim today and all the really cool stuff we get to do.
Life after the Loop has been amazing!
Until next time, we hope you all are happy, healthy, and content.
peace and our love ❤️
