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FLORIDA: MANATEES WITH MUSTARD

Mist hangs over the dark waters and we will be pleased to see the first rays of warming sunlight stretching through the trees and across the Three Sisters spring in Crystal River. Its dawn and we’ll be there right on time. In Florida, the early photographer catches the Manatee!

Crystal River in west-central Florida, about 3 hours from Orlando, is the winter home of the largest concentration of West Indian Manatees, or Sea Cows, in North America. Each year hundreds of these marine mammals migrate from the Gulf of Mexico up into Florida’s Crystal River to spend the period November to March in the warmth of its freshwater springs which keeps them toasty while they sleep. Particularly during cold fronts, the springs fill up like dormitories each night and we arrive early we can expect quite a reception.

There is no need for stealth. The manatees will seek you out. Life for a manatee is an itchy business, and there is nothing the young and old seem to like more than a good old scratch. In Crystal River they know the just where to get one: you. The youngsters, hyperactive in slow moving manatee terms, supercharged on mother’s rich milk are usually the most playful and keenest on a good scratch. They will swim right up to you, turn on its side or back and rub its flippers on its belly, leaving you in little doubt as to what is required. Give a manatee a good scratch and it may bond with you all morning, returning to you again and again for some attention.

Manatees always look smaller than they really are in photographs. Adults average 3 to 3.5 metres in length and weighs in at 500 kilograms! Males and females are similar in size and appearance. Their plump, grey-brown, finely wrinkled bodies have a sparse covering of short hair, while the bodies often show scars and even have attached barnacles. With their bristly moustaches there is little doubt that they possess a certain appeal, but it is difficult to understand how sailors in the past mistook these inelegant creatures for mermaids – perhaps liberal doses of rum enhanced their imaginations!

The manatees are a popular tourist attraction in Florida and seeing them is not the challenge. However, the regular tour boats do not provide the suitable conditions for photography. Generally the boats arrive at the springs too late in the day for the best light and manatee activity. Also they tend to be filled with people without wetsuits, who get cold and having ticked off the manatees want to leave after half an hour. On this trip we will have our own very spaceous boat dedicated to giving us the encounters we crave. We have hired the biggest boat available for our sole use, with the best operation, so there will be plenty of room for everyone and plenty room for your equipment too. Time usually rewards us with the chance to photograph a variety of natural behaviours.

This short trip includes four full days with the manatees at Crystal River, with boat trips each morning and afternoon. On two afternoons, we will leave Crystal River and travel to Rainbow River, which is one of the clearest springs in the area and a real haven for wildlife. The beautiful river does not contain any manatees, but is a great location to photograph much of Florida’s native aquatic wildlife, including several species of freshwater turtles, Sunfish and the prehistoric Spotted Garpike. It is also a very beautiful shallow water wide angle site. Rainbow River can be enjoyed both as a snorkeler and as a Scuba diver, but all Manatee encounters will be snorkeling only.

This trip is suitable to both certified divers and non-divers. The trip is also highly suitable for terrestrial wildlife photographers keen to expand their portfolio with some underwater images. Underwater housing rental for your DSLR can be arranged (with prior notice) in Florida.

Florida in the winter and early in the morning is not hot, though the sun does shine! Bring warm clothes and at least a 5mm wetsuit for the springs, we will be in the water for a long time. If you plan to extend you trip, consider extending after the Manatee section because the typical jetlag from the UK/Europe is ideal for making it easy to get up for the dawn photography sessions! Florida’s wetlands are a fantastic wildlife haven so it is also worth bringing a telephoto lens to photograph the abundant birdlife.

Photographically, this is a wide angle trip. The best all-round lens for the manatees is the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom. The manatees can be photographed either with or without strobes. Alex will be happy to advise you on underwater photography throughout.

Our accommodation at Crystal River will be at a comfortable hotel set in very large grounds and situated on the Crystal River itself. The hotel has a spa, golf course and tennis courts along with an outdoor swimming pool (just in case you haven’t had enough time in water!).

Meals are not included in the package but Alex has already done his homework and located some great diners and restaurants. As we have the use of a minibus for the full period of the trip, Alex will be chauffeuring you to a selection of his favourite dining establishments!

Outline Itinerary

Friday 5th February: British Airways morning flight from London (Gatwick), bound for Orlando and arriving in the afternoon. Road transfer (around 3 hours) to Crystal River for a 5 nights stay.

Saturday 6th February: Morning session with the Manatees and, after a break for lunch, another, afternoon session finishing around 1630. Time to wash and brush up before heading out to dinner.

Sunday 7th February: Early morning snorkel with the manatees. Afternoon trip to Rainbow River for snorkel/diving excursion.

Monday 8th February : Early morning snorkel with the manatees. Afternoon trip to Rainbow River for snorkel/diving excursion.

Tuesday 9th February: A last morning ‘date’ with the manatees, followed by either another afternoon session or a trip around the waterways.

Wednesday 10th February: Morning at leisure and your last chance for an ‘american breakfast’, dry your gear and enjoy lunch before the road transfer to Orlando for the evening flight bound for London (Gatwick).

Thursday 11th February: Morning arrival at London (Gatwick).

£696 Orlando/Orlando (provisional price, to be confirmed)

Includes:

• Aiport/hotel transfers by minibus between Orlando Airport and Crystal River.

• 5 nights room-only at Plantation Inn, Crystal River, Florida on a twin/share basis.

• 6 manatee snorkel trips.

• 2 diving or snorkelling trips at Rainbow River

• Services of Alex Mustard as leader.

Single Occupancy Supplement: £202. Please note that, while we will endeavour to find a room-mate for those on the tour who are single travellers and would prefer to share accommodation, in the event of a room-mate not being available the single occupancy supplement will apply. Room-mates will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Deposit: £250 (for the Orlando/Orlando arrangements)

Flights: From about £430 to Orlando with British Airways. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking, based on your individual requirements (for example, you may want to extend your holiday, or travel from an airport other than London, or use a different airline). Our quote will include all taxes and fuel supplements applicable at the time of quotation, as well as our service charge.

HOLIDAY COMBINATIONS, STOP-OVERS AND ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: What a great time to enjoy Florida’s winter sun! Non snorkelers may wish to accompany their partners and enjoy a little relaxation in the sunshine and take advantage of the hotels many facilities or participants may wish to extend their stay and explore Florida’s other attractions. Call us to chat about the possibilities.