Video - Manatee and Cave, Diving Into Blue Springs

[ricki]

Visited Blue Springs State Park just north of Orlando during DEMA this year. There was a single manatee in residence, lots of great visibility, tons of Spotted Gar, Tilapia and these bizarre little sailfin catfish, running turtles and a good deal more.


Video and more info are at:
[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=8970]Video - Diving Blue Springs, Manatee & Cave - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

 

[ReefTroll]

Well there you go, I learn something new every day! I thought they were completely oceanic like our Dugong! Thanks for the video and photos. I've always wanted to go somewhere like that.

 

[ricki]

You're welcome! I only recently saw a dugong for the first time in the Red Sea. There are some differences. The manatee tail is large, flat, pancake-like really. The dugong tail looks more like something from a dolphin or whale. Our Florida Manatees can swim in seawater but usually must go into freshwater to drink. Not sure if it is any different for dugongs? The local manatee in Florida if in the northern part of the state, have to migrate to the outflow of warmer springs, around 72 F to survive the winter chill. I've seen them in the open ocean along the coast here twice. Once I photographed several individuals in calm, clear summer water off the SE coast. More at:

[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=122]IS THAT A SHARK? - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

The other time, I was in a 60 mile long kiteboarding race down the coast. Seas were 5 to 7 ft., I was shooting video shoreward as I was riding along and a manatee surfaced for air in the frame?! Didn't think these guys went out into rough water, stand corrected. Just last week I had reports of a Florida Manatee being sighted off Spanish Wells in the Bahamas. He was covered in barnacles and lethargic. I thought there were no manatee in the Bahamas due to the general lack of freshwater bodies connected to the ocean there. Not sure how they are getting into the Bahamas, perhaps from Cuba across the Old Bahama Channel. Anyway, they're usually not doing well when found and have required rescue.