Monday 7 April 2014

Magnificent Manatees on Marathon Key!

Diary entry from Florida:

After finishing our amazing 3 hour scuba-diving trip today all we wanted to do was have a rest and recover from the sea sickness! However, as we were coming into the docking bay our guide exciting shouted 'Manatee!' I jumped out the boat and ran round to the opposite side of the dock, and there below the "pavement" was a manatee. Often called sea cows, these gentle giants are beginning to become extremely rare in the USA as human development, particularly on the coast, is destroying the manatees natural habitat. "There are only about 1,500 manatees left in the United States, almost all in Florida" So it was a real pleasure to be able to see one! A lady came out and said that an hour before there had been calves in the dock too! They are not naturally meant to live in sea-water but they are attracted to the docks as many people feed them to allow tourists to swim with them.


They are not naturally meant to live in sea-water but they are attracted to the docks as many people feed them to allow tourists to swim with them. 


My GoPro had ran out of battery which was a shame as I bet I would of got some great up-close, underwater footage! 

This is why manatees were visiting:
To get fresh water!



I went to Florida wanting to see:
1. Dolphins
2. Alligators
3. Turtles
4. Manatees

I saw them all!


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