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Today we swam with manatees, but it will be a while before I get that written up for the Florida blog.

It was amazing.  A cold snap brought them up and we went out on Crystal River up into the Springs.  They were everywhere. The swimming was easy.  In most places we could walk and the manatees would brush up against us in the shallow water.  At one point a mother and young baby came right to my snorkeled face.  Very close encounter.  Others would brush against us as we stood in the shallow water.  We did see some in deep water, but I never saw so many while in shallow water.
The pontoon was cheaper than renting on the Homosassa River  and the traveling was about the same.  We could have seen manatees right near the launching dock.
The folks treated us very well, much better than that arrogant guy who bought the marina where we used to rent on the Homosassa.

We were incredibly lucky.  It is rare that it gets this cold in March.  Usually, our March visitors have missed them.  Once the Gulf heats up, they stay there.  This year we had this huge hot spell in February when Rose and Bob came.  It was too bad, really, because swimming with manatee was the one thing that inspired Rose to come to Florida.  Then to add insult to injury, we swam with them right on her birthday in March.  Sorry, Rose.  Try again.

I don't have photos of manatee, because we did have to swim from the boat to the area.  Elizabeth book some photos on the boat.  She decided not to swim.

I saw some fish as well, mullet and some other fish.  From the boat we saw huge tarpon jumping after feeder fish.  That was pretty amazing.  I don't ever remember seeing them before.

In general, it was a treat to be in a very new spot.  I have never been on Crystal River before.  I can see why it is so often written about.







 The water was warm enough, but once back out in the windy, cold air, we experienced the cold spell.


 Cory was the captain.




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