Hand shake across the species

[Cathrine Stephansen]

I was at a marine mammal conference at the beginning of the month in Tampa, Florida, and on one of the days we managed to get off to Crystal River to see the manatees gathering there for the warm water they need in the winter.

You are allowed to snorkel with them as long as you don't chase them or go inside the reserved zones. They encourage that you don't touch them, but many people do. My colleague and I decided we wouldn't disturb them, and found a nice spot to stand still for a while just observing them where the water was clear so the back-scatter was reduced.

Being passive really paid off, one calf kept coming out and gave us really great shots, and one of the other manatees took an interest in us and investigated my colleague, taking an interest in his camera, wet-suit and especially the skin of his hand.

This highly intelligent animal is totally defenceless, and although they will let you touch them, it doesn't mean they like it. But when they decide to check you out, they do it thoroughly!







Olympus XZ-1 in PT 050 underwater housing. Unavoidable backscatter reduced in Photoshop...

[PeterBirder]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Beautiful shots of this fascinating creature Cathrine.
I've seen them briefly on holiday visits to Florida but never "up close and personal" like this.

Thanks for sharing.

[Janet]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Wow...those photos are simply priceless...

Janet

[Cathrine Stephansen]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Thanks! It was a very special experience!

[OlyPaul]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Lovely shots that should have a special place in your heart for a long time Catherine.

[Guest]

Re: Hand shake across the species

"I dips me lid to ya" Cathrine for what I would call a scoop.

I take it that these creatures are herbivores!

[Phill D]

Re: Hand shake across the species

I saw them on a holiday visit too a few years ago but only from a distance. These are stunning shots, it really looks like a magical encounter very well captured.

[Cathrine Stephansen]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Yes, Mark, they are herbivores, although I believe some research has found out that their African relative also feeds on molluscs. The most amazing thing is that these gentle creatures live in the same waters as sharks, and they can't defend their young. That amazed me when I saw the Australian dugongs in Shark Bay in 2007. My colleague said that the pinch on his hand was quite strong, when the manatee examined it. It turned to me afterwards, and pulled on my wetsuit. I have to say that at well past 40 I haven't had my thighs groped like that for a long time, haha. It was also interested in the camera, we were told to hang on to those as they might take off with them!

Our experience was a good argument for waiting for them to make the first move. So many others made a lot more noise and followed them. Also, with less movement of the water, there are less particles in the water to give backscatter, a huge problem in under water photography.

[Cathrine Stephansen]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Thank you, Phil!

[David Morison]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Absolutely amazing creatures, you are so privileged to be able to get these shots in the wild, the only one I have seen was in a murky tank in a zoo. I envy you and this wonderful experience. A great recommendation for the XZ-1 too.

David

[theMusicMan]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Unbelievable Cathrine, simply unbelievable. What a privilege to have been part of that.

Speechless.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Hand shake across the species

They are so gentle, these strange giants who love cabbage and lettuce !

We went up state to Tallahassee to a reserve where they help nurse back to health the Manatee who have been "cut up" by speed boats

[Greytop]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Absolutely amazing shots Cathrine.

[rsh1960]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Wow - don't know what else to say,what an experience.

[Tordan58]

Re: Hand shake across the species

Catherine,
Thanks for sharing, great pictures.

I had a similar and interesting experience some years ago, while on a trip in Oman. Not with manatees but with truly wild dolphins. Oman has plenty of amazing, unspoilt beaches that are not frequented by human, exception from the few tourists. On the final days of our trip we drove to a remote beach, a good 1.5 hours from nearest community (most of Oman is desert). Upon arrival we spootted a group of 10-20 dolphins some 400-500 meters from shore, apparently busy hunting. After observing them at distance through the binoculars I took the plunge and started swimming. I took only a few seconds for the dolphins to take notice of me and after a minute or so I had the whole flock within close range, clearly curious, observing me. Some were close enough for me to touch them, should I want. It lasted a few minutes and then they went back to their business. I swam back to the shore and repeated the experiment. The second time their interest for me was less pronounced, half of the flock came close to me, the third time only a few individuals. The fourth time only a playful calf came back, really close (1/2 meter). After a while his mum came and from the body language it was clear that she ordered him/her to stop playing and to resume lunch. Next time their interest for me had gone.

At this point my travel companion was reassured they were harmless and she did the same experiment as I. Interesting, more or less the same procedure repeated, with less and less interest for each time she went into the water.

What was amazing was the dolphins' ability to detect us at half a kilometer distance, and also to distinguish between individuals of the human race based on the noise/vibrations we are creating when swimming.

Other interesting facts: dolphins smell! A distinct smell of fish spread when they exhaled (wind was towards shore. Dolphins are really fast swimmers, covering 500 meters in a minute or so.

To wrap up this entry, this close encounter left a profound impression on us, even though we did not touch the animals (on purpose).

/Tord

PS Sorry for hijacking your thread. Unfortunately I had no waterproof camera with me, have a few record shorts taken from shore at 50 meters distance with P&S camera.