CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. – Manatees are early risers. So if you want to swim in the wild with these aquatic mammals, you’ll have to be too.
Our pontoon boat launched around 6 a.m., but the predawn wake-up call was soon forgotten in the magical moments that I found myself floating freely in the waters of the Crystal River, no more than 24 inches above the gentle giants of the sea as they glided silently beneath me.
Manatees migrate to the warm-water springs of Crystal River every winter and generally stay through March, when the ocean waters become warm enough for their return to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.
We launched from the marina at Plantation Adventure Center, an outfitter on the banks of Crystal River and an arm of The Plantation on Crystal River, a grand Florida resort now in its 63rd year. There are quite a few tour guides offering the manatee experience, but none as convenient as the Adventure Center, just a stone’s throw from the resort’s front desk.
There are a couple of other reasons to use this outfitter. Coffee and hot chocolate were offered onboard to ward off a cool Florida morning, particularly chilly after a couple of hours in the water. And while most other places offer wetsuits that are 3 millimeters thick, the Plantation’s are 5 millimeters thick, allowing for more warmth in the water. You’ll also float like a cork. No need for cumbersome pool noodles.