December 2025Manatees may be large, but they are gentle as long as visitors return the favor.
To say manatees are huge is not an overstatement. They are enormous by any standard, measuring as long as 10 feet and weighing up to 1,000 pounds.
I swam with these gentle giants in the Crystal River of Citrus County, the only place in North America where you can legally snorkel with manatees in the wild. Here are a few takeaways from my epic winter adventure.
I could see as many as 20 manatees at one time. Some rested like giant blimps on the river’s bottom, but many were close to snorkelers. A calf was the first manatee to approach me. I guess he approved of the way I scratched his back — softly using my nails to rub the algae off of him, as I had been instructed. When he flipped over to reveal his pale stomach to me, which I also scratched, I could see the little toenails on his flippers, reminiscent of those on an elephant, which is the manatee’s closest living relative.
Some of the manatees rested in their sanctuary, aware of where people were allowed and where they were not. Marked off by rope and buoys, sanctuaries are where manatees can breed, eat, nurse a calf, or just take a snooze without being bothered.
I never ran out of manatees to play with or watch, and if the cold water hadn’t gotten to me, I could have stayed there forever. My trip only lasted four hours, yet I’ll always remember it. I even sometimes dream about gazing into the eyes of a gentle giant who swam across the river to greet me.
Tips for Snorkeling With Manatees
When you first enter the water, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the size of these mammals. Don’t panic. Just relax, float on the surface, and enjoy the experience. The calmer you are, the more likely it is that a manatee might swim over.
Bring warm clothes. You’ll be wearing a wetsuit in the water, which is a constant 72 degrees, but when you get out, you’ll probably feel chilled. If your tour doesn’t include warm drinks, bring a thermos of your own.
Ask what equipment your tour includes and what you will need to rent. A mask, snorkel, and wetsuit are necessary, but fins are not. You’ll mainly only need to float, and if you are unfamiliar with using fins, you can stir up the water and frighten the manatees.
Follow the rules for manatee interaction. You can only touch them with one hand at a time, so that it’s obvious you are not trying to ride or hold them. You are not allowed to chase manatees, and all interaction has to be on their terms. Feeding them is prohibited, and you must stay out of sanctuaries.
Manatee Festivals
You don’t have to get into the water to celebrate these amazing creatures. Check out:
Florida Manatee Festival
January 17 to 18, downtown Crystal River
Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival
January 24 to 25, Valentine Park
