I've worked and traveled abroad for 20 years, so I'm not easily impressed. That said, this experience ranked up there as one of my all-time favorite! We watched a video about how to passively observe the manatees without disturbing them, and then Captain Ron piloted the boat out to the bay. Lauren was my guide, and she immediately spotted several manatees. We dropped anchor and climbed down the ladder into the water. Based on what I'd seen in the video, I assumed we would watch the manatees from a distance. However, they approached us and seemed curious. Although the video had emphasized NOT touching them, it was impossible. They bumped into me from all angles. Lauren suggested stroking them with two fingers. If they don't like it, they'll swim away, she said. One actually rolled over in the water so I could give her a tummy rub! Lauren slowly worked her way back to the boat, and the group followed. They gnawed on the anchor's rope, which feels good on their mouths (like a dog's chew toy), Ron explained. They played around the boat's ladder, took turns with the ropes, and hung out with us for more than an hour. So many parts of this experience were memorable. We saw a baby manatee, which would have been enough to make the 6:30 a.m. start time totally worth it. Also, I loved when the manatees hovered face to face with me. They are weird looking and endearing at the same time with the most gentle expressions in their eyes. Ron and Lauren both shared heaps of interesting information about the manatees, and Lauren took some great photos and videos. I know there's no guarantee that manatees will make an appearance at every visit, so I felt extremely fortunate for this experience!