There’s a magical thing that happens in Florida when it gets cold. It’s something you may have never heard about because marketing has trained you to not even think of Florida as a frigid place. But as a Floridian, let me tell you, it does happen. Sure, our version of cold may be different than some. We are still more concerned about the ice in our tropical drink more than the ice on the sidewalks, but we still have our boots and hoodie days, and at least a few days each year we are breaking out the thermals and putting a log in the fireplace.
During those times when the temperatures are dropping, we are getting special opportunities to visit with one of our favorite Florida ambassadors, the West Indian Manatee. These loving aquatic mammals may be massive, but they are so sweet and gentle, and each winter you have a chance to mingle with them in a very special way. There is one place where you can legally swim with them, and trust me, this tops my list of the most rewarding and unique things to do in Florida. You do have the opportunity to swim with them year round, but in the cooler months, we have a huge influx that make the trek to our springs.
It recently dropped into the 30’s in central Florida, and I took the opportunity to make the most of this chilly day. It was an awesome day to have a manatee playdate, but you don’t have to wait until it is that cold to take a swim with the manatees. And if the actual swim isn’t your jam, you at least owe it to yourself to observe these beauties from afar.
The Best Time of Year to See Manatees in Florida
Manatees can be found throughout Florida all year long. Since they can easily move between saltwater and freshwater, Florida offers many options to see them in their natural habitat. In the warmer months, you may get lucky enough to see one from the shoreline at one of our many beaches. I have seen plenty of playful manatees in the summer when out kayaking along Florida’s Space Coast in the brackish waters of the Indian River Lagoon. That is definitely a treat in itself. There is no doubting the coolness factor of paddling along and having a manatee swim up and use your kayak to give itself a massage. While they do love both saltwater and freshwater, what they do not love is cold water.
Water temperatures lower than 68 degrees can be fatal to them, so when the cooler temperatures come, they seek warmer waters in the Florida springs that have a constant average temperature of 72 degrees. Spring water is actually derived from the underground Florida aquifer, and isn’t affected by air temperatures like the water in the ocean. This makes it the perfect sanctuary for manatees in the winter.
I never like to guarantee anything related to seeing wildlife since nature tends to happen naturally, and that is the allure of it. However, if you want to see a manatee in the winter in Florida, that is one guarantee I can almost make. If you want to have a chance to swim with a manatee, that is another one I would bet the house on-if you know where to go and how to do it.
The One Place You Can Swim With Manatees in Florida
While manatees can be seen in many springs throughout the cooler months, there are certain springs that tend to top the manatees’ list of favorite winter vacation hotspots. When I say hotspots, I mean that literally. They are looking for those warm waters, and there are a couple of places where you can witness what I like to refer to as a “Manatee Hot Tub Party.” One of those places happens to be the one spot where you can legally swim with them-the springs located in Crystal River and Homosassa, Florida.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only refuge in the United States that is solely dedicated to protecting critical habitat for manatees, and it is not uncommon to have around 1,000 manatees hanging out in this area during the winter months. Located in Citrus County on Florida’s west coast, it’s a little over an hour north of Tampa, and about an hour and a half west of Orlando. It is an easy drive from either place, and a definitely something you should add onto your trip if you ever find yourself in either of those areas.
More than 60 manatees do retain full time residence in the area, and you can actually swim with the manatees any time of the year. Those that stay in the area all year are just as playful and fun, and you will totally enjoy a trip to swim with manatees no matter what time of year you go. The difference that happens mid-November to late March though is that those resident manatees have about 1,000 of their relatives visiting them-and it makes for one awesome party!
How to Swim With Manatees in Crystal River and Homosassa
Just because you can swim with manatees in this one tiny area of the state doesn’t mean that you should just jump on in if you happen to see one. Being able to swim with these majestic sea creatures is a blessing to us, and is something that we want to be able to keep doing for years to come. It is really critical that your special meeting with a manatee be done in the proper way. Basically what I’m saying is-follow the rules and don’t be the one that screws it up for all of us.
Book a Tour
There are tour companies in the area that operate under special use permits that are issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and it is important that you book with one of these companies. Over the years, I have seen more tour companies pop up in the area, so I urge you to do your research to make sure you are picking the best one for the experience that you want to have. This is going to end up being one of the most memorable moments of your life. Make sure you pick the right tour that is going to make this the most awesome day ever. After all, you will be telling this story to your friends for years to come and making them envious of your adventure-so make it perfect!
There are a few things that I recommend considering when making a decision of who will hold the keys to your special Manatee Meet and Greet. One of the things that is important to me is the number of people in a group. I personally like having fewer people in my immediate group so that I can have a more intimate experience with the manatees. When I went out recently, I noticed that there were other boats that had more people than mine. I didn’t feel crowded on our boat, and our guide had the chance to make sure that each one of us had the best experience possible. When we were in the water together it felt like we were old friends, with our tour leader calling us by name and making sure that we all had multiple magical manatee moments. It really just felt like a more personal experience to me, which was along the lines of what I was looking for.
Another thing to double check is that the tour operator offers all of the gear you need for your expedition. I don’t care where you are from or how hardcore you are, you will need a wetsuit. It keeps you warm, but it does have the added bonus of helping with your buoyancy in the water. You will also need a mask, snorkel, and snorkel vest. If you don’t own these things, make sure your tour operator provides them. If the price is all inclusive of everything, and you don’t have to rent everything separately, that’s even better.
Support Sustainability
The most important thing to me though is to make sure you book with a company that is operating in a way that is respectful and sustainable to manatees. Protecting the manatees is something near and dear to my heart because I see way too many that have been injured by boats. When I went recently, it was important to me to make sure that I had this experience with someone who also went above and beyond to help these gentle giants.
While I know there are many good tour operators in the area who are using sustainable practices, I saw that Crystal River Watersports was one of the first members of the Save the Manatee Club Guardian Guide Program and was a member of the Manatee Eco-Tourism Association of Citrus County. Both groups are working hard to protect these creatures, so that did stand out to me that they were associated with them.
Remember though, that it is also your job to practice sustainable practices when you are in the water with the manatees. Be respectful of them, and never chase, touch, or aggravate them when you are visiting in their world.
What to Expect When You Swim With the Manatees
I could not contain my excitement when the day finally came for our manatee swim! I woke up every hour on the hour that night to take a peek at the alarm clock and see if it was time to finally get up. It was eventually time to hop out of bed and make the hour and a half trek to the west coast.
What Happens Before Your Manatee Swim
When I arrived at Crystal River Watersports about 30 minutes before our actual trip departed, I was greeted and given a wetsuit to wear over my swimsuit. They do have places to change, but I put on my swimsuit under my clothing before I left the house. I felt it was easier to go ahead and put the westsuit on there in the open area. Well, I say easy, but if you have ever put a wetsuit on, you know that is not always the easiest process. I managed to squeeze and maneuver myself into it though, and then layered up with the ski pants, socks, hiking boots, and my winter coat and hat that I had brought. I definitely didn’t look like I was about to go for a swim in Florida, but it kept me warm on the boat ride, and that’s what matters. Depending on the day, you may not need that many layers though. One more important tip-take that pee break before you get the wetsuit and layers on!
Before we departed, we watched a video and got a Manatee Swimming 101 lesson from our super friendly guide, Dakota. I was so eager to get on that boat and be in the water, but I’m really glad this was a part of the process. My boyfriend and I are Floridians, so we are aware that there are certain manners that you must have around manatees. My four new snorkeling buddies were from different parts of the world though, so this was their first interaction with a manatee. It made me feel good to know they were taking extra steps to make sure that everyone knew how to behave. It was a great refresher for us too. Although we see manatees frequently, it is not everyday you are in the water face to face with one! That is a totally different ballgame-and one that I was ready to play!
The Pre-Show
After our training on what to expect, I was even more pumped! We were then able to head outside toward the boat and start our voyage. I couldn’t believe this was really about to happen! However, there was something else about to happen that I did not expect. We had embarked on a 30 minute nature tour that took us through one of the most scenic and unspoiled areas of Florida that I had ever witnessed. As the sun was rising, and we gazed toward the bow of the boat, we were able to catch glimpses of dolphins frolicking in the water together and welcoming us to our journey.
It was also a great spot for birding, and were able to see so many feathered friends welcoming us on our adventure. Bird enthusiasts can scratch several off the list here. Cormorant, Anhinga, and Egrets are commonly seen, as well as Herons. Golden crown, little blue, great blue, green, and tricolored all love hanging out along the river. As we took in the beauty of the nature cruise, our crew kept us entertained with stories of the area and shared some great history.
The journey was pretty amazing, and could have been an excursion itself. The stars of the show were about to appear though, and we were about to be swimming with manatees! I was properly layered on the way out there, and really wasn’t that cold although it was in the mid 30’s at that point. Once the boat arrived at the spring, we got to a pivotal point in the trip though. The layers had to come off, and I stood there in my wetsuit hurriedly putting on my swim vest, mask, and snorkel. Yes, it was cold, and yes, I was about to do what some would consider crazy, but I knew I had to do… I jumped right in! That spring water stays in the 70’s so I was actually warmer being in the water than being on the boat. Once I was in, it felt so refreshing, and I then knew what those manatees must feel like when they come in from the colder waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and are also welcomed to the springs with the soothing warm water.
Coming Face to Face With a Manatee
There are multiple springs within the area where the manatees like to party, and I’m thankful we had a good guide that knew where the party happened to be that particular day. When we arrived at King’s Spring, there were a few other boats in the water, but our guide did a great job of ushering us around others so we had our own special area. It didn’t take long before the first one came, and it was such a surreal feeling to see this gigantic creature curiously swimming toward you.
As I floated on top of the water in an effort to not disturb them, I saw the next two-a mom and baby. You truly have not lived until you have a baby manatee staring at you face to face. As cool as that was, the next few moments then turned into that sweet baby approaching me. I think he may have thought I was his mom, and I think he may have been hungry! As I glanced to my left to see if my boyfriend was seeing this happen, I then saw it go up to him and do the same thing, before returning to his mom who was waiting for him a few feet away.
Another tip I have to share-remember the color of your companion’s snorkel and vest, and try to stay close to them if possible. A couple of times I may have grabbed on to my new friends from the boat mistakingly thinking they were my boyfriend. Luckily, we had a really cool group, and I think they were happy to see what I was pointing out regardless.
As we continued our swim, we encountered more and more, and I admittedly lost count. It’s not a moment where you are trying to rack up a certain number. When you are in that moment, it is as if time has stood still and you are in another world-their world-experiencing life with them. I was later told that there were several hundred in the spring that day.
They were so kind and gentle, and although you are not allowed to touch them, nobody is telling these 1,000 pound creatures what to do. If they want to touch you, rub against you, or nuzzle you with their face, they will. If that manatee wants to get into a stare down with you, you just go with it and let them. Take in that moment and just gaze into the eyes of your new swimming buddy. But remember-you can look, but don’t touch. Toward the end of my swim, I got the grand finale when one of the largest ones I had ever seen swam right up to me. That was a moment in time I will never forget!
After spending about an hour in the water with the manatees, our guide rounded up the crew and we started swimming back to the boat. I had just spent time in total vulnerability to these enormous animals, and there was nothing scary about it. It was actually a really peaceful experience, as manatees are in no way predators to us. These vegetarians wouldn’t hurt a fly, but they will gorge themselves all day on the aquatic plants in the springs. The snorkeling wasn’t scary either. Crystal River Watersports has guides that are scuba professionals and they made me feel really safe in the water. (That is another thing you may want to look for when picking a tour.) The scariest part of the day was about to happen though-getting out of the water.
Journeying Home, But Forever Changed
Once back at the boat, I sat in the water by the ladder and ran the scenario through my head of what was about to happen. This warm water was nice, but the air temperature had only gone up slightly since we had gotten in. I had to find the strength within my soul to get out, get out of my wetsuit as quickly as possible, dry off, and put on the dry clothes I had brought along. I can’t emphasize enough that you need to bring a towel and warm, dry clothing to change into after your swim. There may have been a moment when I considered not going back to my everyday life and just joining one of the manatee cliques. Other than having to watch out for irresponsible boaters, they seemed to have a pretty nice life.
Once I snapped back to reality and got my bravery up, I jumped out of the water and got onto the boat as quickly as possible. I then went through the task list I had run through in my head. All went smoothly except my less than graceful exit from the wetsuit. Luckily they had warned us previously that swimsuit tops can move around when taking off the suit, so at least I was prepared for that, and was able to prevent a wardrobe malfunction. Once I was in my dry clothes though, I was delightfully surprised with some hand warmers and a cup of hot cocoa from our boat captain. The Crystal River Watersports team was so on top of things, and I’m glad they thought of all of the little details. The 30 minute ride back graced us with another beautiful nature tour, and chatter among new friends about this magical moment that we had just been able to share together.
Places to View Manatees in Central Florida
It is probably pretty obvious that I am a little stoked about my experience of swimming with manatees. However, if you don’t feel completely comfortable with the idea of being in the water with them, that is totally fine. There are still ways to have a really awesome manatee experience, without having it face to face. Here are a few spots you can see manatees congregating during the winter, and have a great time viewing them without ever getting wet.
Three Sisters Springs Center
917 Three Sisters Springs Trail
Crystal River, Florida 34428
If you visit the Crystal River/Homosassa area with friends who are swimming with manatees, you can take a detour over to the Three Sisters Springs Center and still have a moment with the manatees as you take a leisurely walk along the boardwalk.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, Florida 34446
Another spot in the immediate area is Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. They have an interesting underwater observatory that allows you to walk beneath the spring’s surface. This is another great spot to visit if you happen to be in the area.
Blue Spring State Park
2100 W. French Avenue
Orange City, Florida 32763
Blue Spring State Park is another of my favorite spots to see manatees, and I try to make it a point to visit each winter. This one is located in West Volusia County, about 30 minutes north of Orlando and about 30 minutes southwest of Daytona Beach. They have a beautiful boardwalk that runs alongside the water that includes mutiple platforms where you can walk out and observe the manatees from above.
Each morning, the park’s staff manually count how many are in the spring. I thought I had good bragging rights when I went this year on a day when there were 542. That was until the next day- when Blue Spring State Park hit their all time record of 932 manatees in the spring at one time. That was also a super cold day, just giving further evidence that magical things do happen in Florida when it gets cold.
Just Do It!
Whether you choose to take the plunge and get up close to a manatee, or view them from afar, I highly encourage you to make time to meet our majestic Florida manatees. I’ve swam with dolphins, sharks, and even pigs-and there is something exceptional about having a bonding moment in the water inches away from a manatee-it just hits different.
If you have questions about swimming with manatees or about places to see them, feel free to reach out anytime.