By Jeffrey “Hammerhead” Philips:
My friends told me not to do it, but I did.
And it was so easy to do. I adopted a manatee, dropped those people out of my life, and never regretted either decision.
I chose Whiskers because of his playfulness and curious personality. He does not always stay with the crowd, but is often seen paddling away to new encounters, whether it be an unknown branch in the river or a new two-legged human floating on the ice cold water’s surface at Blue Springs Park near Orange City, Fla.
For those who have never had an encounter with a manatee, I encourage you to do so. In the wintertime, like all tourists in south Florida, they can be seen out and about. Because we have an abundance of canals, rivers and streams, these creatures have lots of places to roam and may not be seen. When the water temperatures dip into the 60s, these mammals will head to warmer water which usually can be found near our power plants or areas of the state that have bubbling springs.
These 5-foot-long creatures can be very playful and some enjoy interaction with humans. Many times I have been floating on the surface and one will approach me, roll onto its back and want a tummy rub. They have also been known to nuzzle the hairs on people’s legs and arms. These are experiences that I will always cherish.
I remember one time the air temperature was down in the 40s. A good day for manatee watching, but I couldn’t convince myself to peel out of my warm clothes and don a swimsuit to enter the frigid water. I sat on the boat’s dive platform, contemplating what to do. No manatees had arrived that early morning, and I wasn’t sure if they were going to leave their habitat and go exploring. Sitting there and in a daydream trance drawing circles on the water, a female approached the back of the boat and blew a mist of water. I could not resist; I stripped off my clothes and slid in beside her. We floated in the water and together enjoyed the crisp day.
Manatees always leave you with joyous, heartfelt and life-changing memories.
If you would like to experience a manatee encounter of your own, contact Pura Vida Divers about our manatee trip to Crystal River in January. For information about diving opportunities in the West Palm Beach area, call Pura Vida Divers or visit their website. Pura Vida Divers also offers private dive guides to enhance your enjoyment.
Jeffrey Hammerhead Philips, Pura Vida Divers, 561-840-8750