Save the Manatee Virtual 5k

Help Save the Manatees with us!
​November 25th or before the end of the year!

We are excited to complete the Save the Manatee Virtual 5k again this year to raise money for the Save the Manatee club!
I first swam with the manatees when I was about 5 years old. My father was a scuba instructor and had us in the water as soon as we could swim. I remember heading out on a small boat in winter in Crystal River Florida with the promise from my dad that we were going to see some manatees! I wasn't sure what a manatee was, but I was excited to see one. We stopped the boat at a specific spot that my dad thought would be a good place to get in the water, and we looked around. I remember learning how to tell if a manatee was breathing at the surface by looking for their "footprint". This is a disturbance on the surface of the water that can indicate where they recently took breath, or if they were floating on the surface. We were quiet, waited, and watched. Then I saw something very large and light colored against the eelgrass underwater quickly approaching our boat. It swam towards us, then under our boat and away with a speed that was surprisingly fast. I may have screamed. I was 5, forgive me. 

Needless to say I was now hesitant (more like terrified) to get in the cold water with such a huge swiftly moving creature as a small child. My dad reassured me that they were not aggressive, and we had strict instructions to not touch them. We were to interact passively only. If a manatee came to us, that was fine. We were not to chase any manatees. 

We motored to a new location on the river and waited, watched and listened. My dad was satisfied that this was a good location to get in the water. I fumbled around with my gear and thick wetsuit to finally roll over the side of our small boat. I adjusted my mask and saw I was surrounded by manatees! They were huge! As a small child, they were the most impressive creatures I had ever witnessed in the wild. I observed right away that some were sleeping, some were eating eel grass, some had buoys attached to their tails. I kicked my fins gently to take a closer look. I remember at this time, the waterways were covered with hyacinth on the edges of the river. The manatees would swim up, open their mouth, and somehow devour huge masses of water vegetation with each bite. It was mesmerizing to watch. 

Year after year, we would return to swim with the manatees in Crystal River and surrounding springs for years to come. I want the manatee to be able to exist and thrive in their natural habitat. I want everyone who is interested in these gentle giants to be able to experience them safely, at a distance. As a Mermaid, I feel it is important to call attention to the needs of the manatees and to help them survive in our modern world. I live far away from Crystal River now, but I can still contribute to a cause that is very important to me. And you can too!

​Join us in completing the Virtual 5k for manatees and spread the word about this opportunity to those who might be interested in helping as well. You can also find additional ways to get involved with adoptions and support for manatees at the Save the Manatee Club Website. Last year, the event raised $47,000 for the Save the Manatee Club with almost 1,800 virtual participants from nineteen countries and all fifty states. 

As a virtual race, feel free to run, swim, canoe, bike, kayak, ride, scuba or walk; you pick your favorite way to support manatees. We will complete our event on November 25th in the morning. You can chose your best day and favorite course; have fun!  Your packet will include a manatee race finisher's medal, manatee race t-shirt and manatee race bib.  
Let me know when you complete your race and tag us in your photos! (@aqua_natives, #runformanatees)
Have fun outside!
~Ani

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