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By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 12, 2001
While swimming with manatees, it is best to observe manatees from a distance.
Always move slowly and float on the surface of the water.
Do not dive down. You may be waking up a sleeping manatee.
Allow manatees to approach you and you may touch a manatee with one open hand.
Never chase, surround, poke, or prod a manatee.
Be careful not to separate a calf from its mother.
Manatees are very curious animals and those that want to observe you will approach you.
Avoid entering manatee sanctuaries. Those areas are set aside for manatees only.
Avoid excessive noise and splashing
Use snorkel gear when attempting to watch manatees. The sound of scuba gear may cause them to leave the area.
- Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Look for manatee snout, back, tail or flippers in the water.
Don't discard trash in the water.
Stay in deep water channels and avoid running over sea grass beds.
Look but don't touch manatees.Don't feed or provide water for manatees.
Watch for and follow the rules on posted speed zone and sanctuary signs.
- Source: Save the Manatee Club