Insert Manatee Here

Here is another post from this early-start to manatee season that might interest you - its kinda humorous.....

INSERT MANATEE HERE

This past Tuesday afternoon my husband Theo went with me to “practice” for the start of manatee season in the springs. In fact it got so cold so unexpected and quickly I was to go the next morning, early.

Theo really helped me out here, continually swimming above me while I held my breath to practice for a shot I hope will come to fruition when a manatee swims there. Theo is a wonderful husband in fact he once told me, “When you get married, you find yourself doing things you never thought you would do!” I bet he never guessed being involved in this scenario years ago! :-)

Afternoons are volatile for sighting manatee as it has usually warmed up enough for them to leave the shallow, clear-water, springs and go find food in deeper, darker water. There just isn’t much food in these clearer water areas for the manatee, but it is such a treat when they do seek warm refuge there for us to observe them.

Although just as we were getting set to leave this mother and calf showed up and I was thrilled. Not only to see a mother and baby manatee but because I want to observe different mothers and calfs to see if any of them are “Angel” the manatee and his mom (for the story of “Angel” the newborn manatee click here).

I will only recognize “Angel” by his mother, and unfortunately the way I will recognize the mother is by her boat-injury scars. Still this is not “Angel” and his mom but a very protective mother and her female calf. We left them alone after identifying; note Theo observing politely at a distance.

Hope you enjoy the photos, Best, Carol

Protective Mother & Female Calf

with Theo Observing Politely in the Distance



Mother & Calf in Sun-rays

Note ID is Made From These Scars On The Mother Who is Fortunately Less Marked with Scars Than Most Mother Manatee I’ve Seen



Hi, these are great shots, we're hoping to see these guys with robyn in march. Hope I get a pic half as good. thanks, Scott

ps. looking forward to the pic of the manatee that you are practicing for. Scott

i would love to see you nail the 1st shot with your husband replced by a mermaid.

how many manatee's do you get there. i have been on a few dives in egypt looking for dugongs but have failed all the time.

stew

Yes, I'll let you all know if (when!!) I get the shot with manatee instead!

Scott, March is a tough time to go as Spring Break makes it very crowded and things are warming up + manatee are leaving. But you might get lucky too. Come during the week for sure, especially in March.

Best, Carol

how many manatee's do you get there. i have been on a few dives in egypt looking for dugongs but have failed all the time.

stew

Stew,

Manatees gather around the warmer water areas during the Winter in Florida; numbers rely on how cold it is out. There are only a couple of places where you can see them in clearish water while on snorkel. It is a bit different than seeing dugong I suspect, but I think you should still try to see dugong! I've never seen a dugong and would love to!

Best, Carol

I had to make do with Theo's wife!

Alex

I had to make do with Theo's wife!

 

Alex

Dive safe

DeanB

I had to make do with Theo's wife!

Alex

OK, OK, Yea Alex I just couldn't get Theo to look at me like that.........

Yes, everyone I owe the idea of that shot to Alex, and the instruction on the split-level too! I would have posted Alex's photo of me as reference (and inspiration), but I thought it was still better than mine I didn't want to compare the two. Still at least I didn't copy Alex photo.......... - and Theo really is swimming a bit like a manatee, which is what I wanted him to emulate for our "practice" session anyway. I like the photo!

Thanks again Alex! I really like that photo you took of me.

Carol