Manatees make any day fun !

Sunday morning, G and I rolled out of bed at the butt-crack of dawn. We'd made reservations with two of my friends from the Hash (who are now dating) to drive up to Crystal River and snorkel with the manatees.

Crystal River is about an hour and a half north of Tampa. So, we were on the road by 6am. (blah) Every morning road trip requires at brief stop at Krispy Kreme.. so we did. Donut and OJ later I was feeling much more human. G, still not a morning person, was half asleep.

Arriving at the dive shop, we load up onto a boat with about 12 other people. But, only half of them were actually getting in the water. We spent a good two hours in the water snorkeling with the manatees. You're really only allowed to watch them. Following them, touching them, and trying to ride them results in fines. They are , after all, endagered species and protected by Florida law. Our dive master/captain had to get mad at some people for surrounding one of them. Poor thing...

Manatees are one of those animals that are so ugly they're cute. Kinda like a pug. They look like giant potatoes with fins. But, G and I had a great time snorkeling with friends and watching these very sweet, gentle creatures.

It's one of those things you just have to do at least once if you live in Florida.