Cap'n Ron and Lauren combined all their efforts to make this a super wonderful experience for the small group of us who wanted to be up close and personal with manatees. First we learned the do's and don'ts of observing manatees, as well as safety precautions. Then we shimmied and then yanked ourselves into the wet suits. A short scenic boat ride later and "ploops", we were floating over manatees, gentle giants grazing along. It was awesome. It is a good thing that Lauren was taking short video clips and photos because I was not very successful first time around using my phone inside a waterproof case.
After coffee and resting a bit, we set off on a short jaunt to 3 Sisters Springs. The water was crystal clear and we were able to see all sizes of fish, but the manatees were all out on the river grazing. It didn't really matter because we thoroughly enjoyed snorkeling in the refuge area. If I had ten thumbs, I would give this experience a 10 thumbs up! Captain Ron and Lauren clearly enjoy their jobs and are very good at what they do. Kudos to them, along with deep personal thanks. It is a day that is etched deep in our memories.