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Wordless Wednesday - Florida Manatee Submarine

By John Mayer

Real Estate Agent with Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida

May 12, 2010 01:54 PM

This Florida Manatee looks a bit like a submarine to me - a very well fed submarine. My wife took this photo at Sea World. Manatees spend up to a third of their lives eating and consume about 7.5 times their body weight every day. They come up for air as often as every 30 seconds but can stay under for 20 minutes when resting. They are slow swimmers averaging only 3 to 5 miles per hour and that's why many have propeller scars from boats. It's pretty cool to see them down by our community dock or when we're out kayaking.

Sea Cow

They even named a Cape Canaveral park after the Sea Cows!

Florida Sea Cow

Contact me to learn how you can start enjoying the good life here on the Space Coast. Talk to the BEACH EXPERT! Go to: http://www.jmayer.info/links.htm to find many great links that provide you with all the information you need about Brevard County, Florida.

These photos are copyright (c), all rights reserved and may not be used or reproduced without permission from John Mayer. Permission can granted with a link back to my website and / or blog, providing the site is appropriate for everyone. Photographs are a great way to share the world. Thank you for viewing.

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Richard Iarossi

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD

Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

John,

I still can't believe the legend that sailors used to mistake these for mermaids. Then again, I've never been on a ship that long either.

Rich

May 12, 2010 02:09 PM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Rich - Being out on the ocean that long must have been like crossing the desert. After a while you start to see a mirage with dancing girls :-)

May 12, 2010 02:11 PM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

John - When I was in Sarasota in February, I visited to Manatee center there. I had always imagined manatees being about 4 feet long. When I found them to be more in the neighborhood of 10 feet, I had to just linger and stare at them for about a half hour! They were beyond anything I had conjured in my mind!

California has "Happy Cows." Florida has them too - but they look different than our's:-)

May 12, 2010 03:07 PM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Hi Myrl - We both have "happy cows"? It must be the grass! :-)

May 12, 2010 03:58 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi John... I love Manatees! I remember when I lived in Florida how endangered they were due to boaters. They are wonderful creatures and I was so glad to read not long ago that they are no longer considered to be endangered.

May 12, 2010 04:55 PM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Hi Steve - Florida Manatee numbers seem to be holding steady right now. Their close cousin, the West Indian Manatee is doing great, however.

May 12, 2010 05:31 PM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

LOL at Richard's comment. Those must have been some really fat mermaids! HAHA!

But seriously, I love manatee. I have some really cool pictures of one that used to come up to my husband's sailboat when we were dating. The manatee liked to drink the fresh water from the water hose. It was hilarious. He'd stick his head way out of the water so the water from the hose would splash all over his face =)

May 12, 2010 05:50 PM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

John Inresting photo - it is almost ethereal and I love Rich's comment Karen

May 12, 2010 09:30 PM

Marlene Hoffman - Naples Beach Condos

Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. - Naples, FL

John, I love watching manatees; I didn't realize they ate so much. No wonder they travel slowly.

May 13, 2010 01:54 AM

Laura Sampson

Happy Home Stager, LLC - Clermont, FL

Principal Stylist, CEP Trainer

We still have to go there. We get them on the inland lakes in Winter. How's the coast, John?

May 13, 2010 03:56 AM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Lisa - The ones at Sea World are REALLY fat mermaids. They can be pretty playful too, as you pointed out.

Karen - It's a different perspective for sure. Rich is a funny guy.

Marlene - Manatees average 9 to 10 feet long weighing about 1000 lbs. The calves are born weighing about 40 lbs and pack on 700 lbs their first year.

Laura - The coast is beautiful right now with the shuttle ready to go tomorrow (the 14th).

May 13, 2010 05:04 AM

Steve Hoffacker

Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL

Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

John,

That is a great underwater shot. Manatees are fun to spot and watch in the wild. :)

Steve

May 13, 2010 07:04 AM

Jim & Maria Hart

Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC Real Estate

That manatee is a real porker! I've never seen one in the wild, but I have in parks like Sea World. They are so laid back and friendly.

May 13, 2010 07:18 AM

John Novak

Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV

Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

I always think of manatees as gentle giants. They seem very docile, just enjoying their underwater life.

May 13, 2010 03:56 PM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Thanks Steve - I can remember boating in Homosassa Springs and observing them in Crystal clear water. My little terrier went nuts trying to get at them :-)

Jim and Maria - They are friendly creatures who unfortunately, don't move fast enough to avoid boats :-(

John - Yeah, they're pretty laid back just like some of the locals around here:-)

May 14, 2010 08:38 AM

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hi John, Spending a lot of growing years in Fla. I was lucky to see so many of these peacful creatures in the canals. Where, you are right, they are hurt or killed by the speed boats moving through them. The sad part is that when they feel the vibrations from a boat motor, they will often surface, much to their demise.

May 14, 2010 01:52 PM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

William - Boaters and Save the Manatee groups have been at odds for years. It's a political balancing act and so far the Manatees are holding their own. Now if they could just add a turbo charger to their tails they'd be OK :-)

May 14, 2010 03:21 PM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

These are just some of the places I wish I had an opportunity to visit when I was down in Florida last year. Hopefully my next visit will be more of a vacation rather than all business.