Swim with endangered manatees in Crystal River
Manatees are among the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on the planet and if you are planning Florida holidays you have the chance of getting up close to them. This could be a real once-in-a-lifetime experience so you must be sure to factor it into your itinerary.
However, just what is it about these creatures that proves so compelling? In days of old, sailors used to tell tales of the sirens who would sing to them from the sea, with their beautiful voices proving so alluring that the ships were at risk of being driven on to rocks by the skippers who were distracted by the song. It is from these mythical creatures that Sirenians take their name, and manatees make up three of the four species within this group.
The animals can be found in the Americas, west Africa and the Amazon, while their close relative, the dugong, lives in the sea of the Indo-Pacific region. The largest-ever known member of the Sirenia order is Steller's Sea Cow, which was named after the zoologist and explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller. Sadly, within 27 years of its discovery by Europeans, the sea cow was extinct.
Indeed, all three species of manatee surviving today are at risk, which is sure to make the experience of swimming with them during a Clearwater holiday in Florida all the more special. It will be the West Indian species you meet during your trip, which have been spotted as far afield as New York and Texas, but which tend to congregate within the rivers of the southern US state.
These gentle giants can grow up to 3.5 m in length and weigh as much as 600 kg, yet they are surprisingly easy to miss. This is because they are quiet and shy, and despite their size they tend to spend long periods of time searching for food on the riverbank or napping, with their dull grey colour meaning you may not catch sight of them unless they move. The youngsters are a different story and you could find many are curious enough to swim over and check you out if you are travelling on a boat down Crystal River.
Manatees are unusual in that they appear to be equally adept in both salt and fresh water, unlike the majority of other aquatic animals. When the weather is cold, they migrate from the coast up some of the rivers in Florida, which maintain a more constant year-round temperature. If you are hoping to see some during a trip to Crystal River, the best time of year to visit is spring when you could be lucky enough to spot a large number of the creatures, although there will be at least a few present at any point between October and March.
There are several different tours available that allow you to get up close to Florida's West Indian manatees. These are wild animals and although they will not harm you, it may be that you prefer to admire them from onboard a boat and take some keepsake pictures. However, you can also get in the water and swim with them, which is sure to make for a memory that lasts a lifetime. You could also use a snorkel and get a glimpse of the underwater activities of a manatee as they snuffle around on the riverbed for grass and plants to eat. Indeed, once it is all over, you are sure to agree with Crystal River's unofficial accolade, of being the place Where Man and Manatee Play.
One of the best places to see the animals is at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, which was set up to protect the endangered creatures. Here, you can take a boat or kayak safari, or get in the water with snorkels or even scuba diving gear. You are also sure to admire the natural beauty of the area, where the habitat of the manatees is carefully preserved.
Yet there is plenty more to do on your holiday to St Petersburg during your time near the river - which runs from Kings Bay to the Gulf of Mexico - particularly if you like water sports. You can expect to have plenty to choose from, whether you want to go diving, water-skiing or swimming, while you can also hire a boat and go fishing.
In the wider area of St Petersburg and Clearwater you will also be kept busy, whether you are visiting one of the world-class golf courses, paddling a canoe down one of the mangrove trails or visiting the island of Clearwater Beach, where you can party on Pier 60 once the sun sets over the sea.
Just be sure to include a trip to see Florida's manatees during your USA holidays - this could end up being the true highlight of your trip.
