- My name is Coyote Peterson, and as I stare into
the shadowy waters, I am witness to an ominous shadow.
Cast by an ancient creature, it slowly circles the boat
as I prepare to enter the water.
Sounds dangerous, but the good news for me
is that this is one of the friendliest animals
on the planet.
Get ready to swim with the manatee!
(intense music)
- [Coyote] As the sun burns through the morning haze,
our boat slowly motors up the calm waters of
the Crystal River.
Welcome to King's Bay, a series of maze like canals
and scattered islands, that serve as a protective
wildlife refuge for many species;
but none more famous than the Florida manatee.
Look at this, we are literally surrounded by
manatees right now.
These gentle giants return to this area each winter
to enjoy the consistently warm temperatures
of the natural springs, which are essential to the
manatee's survival, as they are susceptible to cold
and cannot survive for extended periods of time
in water temperatures that fall below
68 degrees Farenheit.
Got my goggles ready to go, snorkel.
Gonna get in the water.
This is a little intimidating, I'm not gonna lie.
And all of this disturbance in the water,
yeah, that's about 50 manatees, and I'm gonna
go swim with them.
Throughout King's Bay, there are various places
to spot these majestic marine animals.
You can frequently see them coming to the surface
of the cloudy waters in the main canals.
They're distinguished footprints flattening the water's
surface, just before they breech and disappear
back into the abyss.
For a clearer look, you can visit Three Sister's Preserve.
Established as a refuge for the manatees, it's considered
the crown jewel of King's Bay.
And its crystal clear water is the perfect habitat
for all types of marine creatures.
Just make sure to stay a respectful distance from
the manatees, as this is where they come to sleep.
However, if you are looking for a more personal experience,
there are designated areas, like King's Spring,
where you can get in the water and swim
right along side them.
My goal was to have the closest encounter possible,
and with manatees being most active in the morning,
King's Spring at sunrise was exactly where we
needed to be.
Alright, we've got manatees surrounding the boat
right now.
I'm trying to be as quiet as possible, we don't wanna
disturb them.
Now this is the moment of truth, I am...
diving in...
with the manatees, this is gonna be awesome!
There are no words that can describe the feeling
of what it is like to enter into the realm of the manatee.
These giants can grow to 10 feet in length,
tipping the scales at well over 1,000 pounds.
Based on size alone, they are definitely
an intimidating animal.
And while at first glance they resemble something
between a dolphin and a walrus, these marine mammals
are actually more closely related to elephants.
From their prehensile lips and rough skin,
to their nail bearing flippers, and innocent eyes.
At a closer look, you can easily see the relation
to the planet's largest land animal.
Okay, so we're headed back to the springs right now
to get up close with the manatees.
My mind raced with nervous excitement as we swam
toward the spring.
Here we were, bipedal strangers, in a foreign
watery land.
Will the manatees welcome us with open hearts and minds?
Or would they turn the other way to these masked invaders?
See, when it comes to having an encounter with a manatee,
it's all about the manatee choosing you.
And the moment it happens, your life will change forever.
Beneath the water's surface, I suddenly saw myself
surrounded by manatees.
They gently maneuvered around me, an innocent
curiosity drawing us both closer.
Until that perfect moment finally happened.
The moment where manatee makes contact...
with man.
As I floated between them, time seemed to slow,
and a calm came over me.
In that very instance, I suddenly felt at one
with the giants.
We are absolutely surrounded by manatees right now,
this is awesome.
This is where the fun began.
And before I knew it, playtime was in full effect.
From barrel rolls, to belly rubs.
We were having a blast.
He's coming up to the surface, look at that!
See his little opened nostrils?
Holy cow, that's amazing!
When actively swimming, manatees can stay submerged
for roughly four minutes, before returning to the
surface for air.
They're incredibly social animals, and rely heavily on
touch and sound for communication;
especially between a cow and her calf.
A cow and a calf move right down here,
why don't you back up a little bit, we'll go down,
so we can get a great shot.
Being around youngsters, we were witness
to several unique behaviors;
including nuzzling, nursing, and cleaning.
I even made friends with a little guy we named Douglas,
who is absolutely smitten with our cameras.
Right now we have the most playful little baby manatee
swimming around with us.
There's no doubt about it, Doug was definitely
the highlight of our trip.
Once you are swimming with manatees,
it's almost impossible to leave.
And while the 72 degree temperatures are nice
at first, after several hours in the water, you really
begin to get cold.
So it was time to return to the boat.
Woo!
Holy sea cow, that was awesome!
It really is just like they say.
Swimming with manatees is truly an amazing experience.
I'm Coyote Peterson, be brave, stay wild,
we'll see you on the next adventure!
Man that was awesome!
Once nearly hunted to extinction, the manatee has made
an astounding comeback.
Strong conservation efforts continue to protect these
magnificent creatures,
ensuring hope for a bright future.
The soul of the manatee is as gentle
and as kind-hearted as it gets.
Their ability to recognize and accept a stranger
into their world, is what sets them apart
from the rest of the animal kingdom.
And if you ever have the chance to swim
with a manatee, I promise it will change your life.
I will certainly never forget the time that I was welcomed
beneath the water's surface, to swim in the presence
of giants.
If you thought that was one wild adventure,
check out the time I got up close with another
marine mammal, the northern elephant seal.
And don't forget to subscribe to join me and the crew
on this season of "Breaking Trail."
(animal sounds)