Crystal River Diving
Crystal River, Florida describes itself as a small drinking village with a manatee problem.
The small town is named for a river fed by many fresh water springs, 9 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The springs keep the water temp at 72º-73º f year round, even when the Gulf is in the mid-50's during the winter. Manatees are warm-blooded and would die of hypothermia in the cold Gulf temps, so they huddle around the springs in January and February, only venturing out during the warmest days to feed.
Some seem to enjoy interacting with humans, inviting a scratch on the back or under the flippers.
Read MoreThe small town is named for a river fed by many fresh water springs, 9 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The springs keep the water temp at 72º-73º f year round, even when the Gulf is in the mid-50's during the winter. Manatees are warm-blooded and would die of hypothermia in the cold Gulf temps, so they huddle around the springs in January and February, only venturing out during the warmest days to feed.
Some seem to enjoy interacting with humans, inviting a scratch on the back or under the flippers.
