Here is a video that I filmed while swimming with manatees in the crystal clear waters of Crystal River, Florida where hundreds of these placid creatures migrate each winter to seek refuge from the cold Gulf waters
The Florida manatee is a threatened species that roams the seas during the warm months of the year in an area ranging from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, up to the coasts of New Jersey. During the winter months, hundreds of individuals of this species congregate in the waters of the bay of Crystal River, Kings Bay, and into its rivers which have a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22° Celsius) year-round seeking warm waters. Crystal River is essentially a sanctuary for this threatened species which is protected by state and federal laws.
