Coming Face To Face With Florida's Gentle Giants

While most Floridians are huddled indoors complaining about the “feels like” temp, there is one very specific reason to actually celebrate a cold snap in the Sunshine State. When the thermometer drops, the springs start to call. As the ocean cools, the manatees begin their massive migration inland toward the constant 72°F warmth of the crystal-clear springs, turning our local waterways into a cuddle puddle of gentle giants. It is the one time of year when the colder it gets, the better the adventure becomes!

All About Manatees

To understand why these encounters are so special, you have to understand the manatee itself. Often called “sea cows,” Florida manatees are large, slow-moving aquatic mammals that are actually distant relatives of the elephant. Despite their size (often weighing over 1,000 pounds) they have very little body fat to insulate them from the cold. When water temperatures in the ocean and gulf drop below 68°F, they face a life-threatening condition called cold stress. This biological quirk is what makes Florida’s natural springs so vital. The springs remain a constant 72°F year-round, which means they serve as a warm-water sanctuary for hundreds of manatees during a cold snap. Watching them huddle together in the clear blue water isn’t just a photo op, it is a front-row seat to a critical survival instinct.

Interacting With Manatees

Because these “sea cows” are as vulnerable as they are massive, human interaction is strictly regulated to ensure their safety. Manatees are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. “Passive observation” is the name of the game. The goal is to be a quiet observer in their world, not a participant in it. This means no chasing, no cornering, and definitely no hitching a ride. You are there to be as still as possible, letting them decide if they want to graze past you or simply ignore your presence. It is a powerful lesson in respect. By keeping your distance and resisting the urge to reach out, you’re helping ensure these gentle giants continue to find the springs a safe haven from the cold.

Where Can You Experience Manatees?

It’s not difficult to encounter manatees in the wild, if you know here to look. For example, they like to linger in canals and near docks, and often surface to snack on vegetation growing on the water. In Blue Spring State Park, observers wander a waterfront boardwalk to admire them from a respectful distance. But then, there are closer encounters. I’ve been approached by manatees while paddle boarding in Salt Run. We’ve seen them surface while out on pontoon boats. Tour companies offer kayaking excursions that take small groups into manatee-rich areas. And even more select groups lead snorkelers into the heart of protected manatee areas. Be still, my animal loving heart.

Choosing River Ventures

With temperatures so brutally cold across the state, I watched the live manatee counts tick up and up. My first thought was to just go to Blue Springs on a random weekday (to minimize crowds – the parks fill up quickly on weekends), and then I figured we could go kayaking. However, the kayak tours required a minimum of four people, so I kept looking. I stumbled upon River Ventures, a highly rated tour company in Crystal River that was approved for snorkeling with the manatees. We had to do some planning: Crystal River is three hours away and the tours are early in the morning, but we found a hotel, made plans, and booked our adventure! At first, I went for the original, All-Star tour, departing at 7:00AM, but after watching the weather, we upgraded to the Red Carpet Tour at 6:30AM, which included a covered, heated boat. It ended up being an incredible decision.

The River Ventures Experience

We arrived at the River Ventures dive shop at about 6:15 AM, as instructed, where we learned we were joining two other guests. The staff offered coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, and at 6:30, our tour guide Nat escorted us to a viewing room to watch a short video about how to behave around the manatees. She then emphasized the importance of being still and quiet, how to float gently on the noodle, and how to act if the manatees opted to interact with us (no touching, but people are allowed to swim away or detach if a manatee hooks on or does something we don’t like. As if.)

From there, we changed into wetsuits. We opted for just bathing suits underneath (although I would do a two piece next time). I brought a long sleeve rash guard for after, and water shoes for the bus and the boat. We loaded on the bus for a quick drive to the dock, in the most gorgeous sunrise.

Cruising To The Manatees

After a quick photo, we loaded up on our pontoon, and met our Captain, Emerson. I was literally buzzing with excitement. As we made our way to our destination, Nat and the Captain shared information about the area and the manatees, and we chatted with our new friends. The boat was stocked with coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, sweet and salty snacks, and a cooler of water, soft drinks, and some adult beverages (beer, wine, and hard seltzers). While it wasn’t warm, the “VIP” pontoon had the benefit of a cover and a space heater, so it was comfortable and we didn’t have to contend with any wind or breeze from the sail.

In The Water!

As mentioned, the Florida springs maintain a temperature of 72ºF year round. On a hot, summer day, it feels freezing, but on a 29ºF morning? I’m not going to say it was warm, but with the wetsuit on, I didn’t notice the cold as much. Captain Emerson moved our pontoon into the area on neutral: you could see plenty of little noses and backs rising out of the water. In fact, as soon as we anchored, a curious manatee came up and basically blocked the ladder!

Guide Nat finally maneuvered in and our intrepid party joined her. We had our snorkels and masks, as well as a pool noodle for floating. We pushed off and followed Nat to the main viewing area. At first, as we got oriented, it was really hard to see anything, but then … manatees everywhere!

Enjoy The Magic

To be honest, I think I went into some kind of shock. We were just snorkeling along and suddenly, we were part of a manatee traffic jam. Surreal is not the word. For a few minutes I fumbled with my camera, but I quickly decided to just let it go and let Nat handle photography. Our small group floated along outside the conservation area rope.

As promised, manatees approached us. They grazed past us. In some cases, they even circled and hung out with us.

I’m really not sure how long we were in the water, but every moment was simply perfect.

The End Of The Cruise

Guide Nat gathered us up and brought us back to the boat. Of course, we were stuck again: two manatees were hovering around our anchor.

We dragged ourselves out of the water, and pulled down the top half of our wetsuits, per instructions. The captain offered us beverages: three of us accepted hot cocoa, while the fourth took a White Claw. While it was cold, I wasn’t uncomfortable after slipping on my rash guard. I stayed ok until we got back to the dive shop and changed into regular clothes.

Know Before You Go:

After experiencing the most amazing day, I have some tips and tricks to share.

Be open-minded. You are dealing with nature, and nature doesn’t always cooperate. River Ventures offers a “manatee guarantee” upgrade for $5 per person that I recommend looking into if you have concerns.
Try to book in the cooler periods. That’s when the manatees tend to gather in areas like Three Sisters.
Reserve the first boat of the day. When we arrived at the site, we were among maybe 10 people in the water, but by the time we were leaving, there were so many more. More people meant more stirred up water, more crowding, and less visibility. I prefer a quieter experience.
Don’t focus on your camera. The tour guides bring a go pro and take a ton of photos and videos, so you can just focus on the experience.
Be still. Use small, slow motions, and just use your noodle to float and admire. Manatees are startled by loud sounds, sudden moves, and you’ll get the best results by literally just laying on your noodle with your face in the water.
Pack a waterproof bag for the boat, including a dry towel, some kind of top shirt, as well as things like hand warmers, gloves, and a hat. Even on an enclosed, heated boat, your body temperature drops fast once you’re out of the water.
Buy the photo package! It’s less than $50 and you get tons of great photos and videos.