Weighing around 1,000 pounds and stretching over 10 feet long, Florida’s beloved manatees may not seem stealthy, but they often manage to surprise. Michael McCarthy experienced this firsthand while flying his drone near a beach on Florida’s gulf coast. Spotting a manatee peacefully navigating shallow waters alongside oblivious swimmers, McCarthy anticipated some entertaining encounters.
“I knew there might be interactions with people, which are often amusing,” McCarthy shared. True to form, the manatee approached a man wading in the water, remaining unnoticed until the very last moment. “I’ve captured many manatee encounters over the years, and this is among my favorites,” McCarthy added. “It’s not uncommon for people to miss seeing them.”
The man, startled by the unexpected visitor, swiftly exited the water. Yet, as McCarthy emphasized, the manatee meant no harm—it was merely curious. As the owner of See Through Canoe, a company specializing in up-close manatee experiences, McCarthy is well-acquainted with their surprising stealth.
“Even locals like myself are frequently startled by them,” McCarthy noted. “I’ve had a manatee brush against my leg while wade fishing in murky water. It’s enough to stop your heart momentarily until you realize it’s just a harmless manatee.”