This is a film I’ve been dreaming of making for as long as I can remember. There is something different about being underwater with a manatee, at eye level with this intelligent being, seeing the world from its perspective. It was everything I had hoped for, and it almost didn’t happen…
After years of observing manatees in the brackish waters of South Florida, we finally found the perfect spot to capture these gentle giants in crystal-clear spring-fed waters. My family and I sojourned to the Three Sisters Spring and another top-secret spring just outside the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The kids were absolute troopers and enjoyed the process of wildlife filmmaking, which, of course, does not work on a fixed schedule. Watch the whole 6-minute video to see me fulfilling my dream of filming a wild manatee underwater in its natural habitat. The underwater scenes were all filmed with a DJI Osmo 5 using a run-of-the-mill selfie stick.
This video also tells some of the backstory of my fascination with manatees, and the surprise, random encounter that spawned it. I think a lot of the inspiration for our next chapter, and our vision for Earth Parade, came from this old, scarred manatee that we found floating around in Islamorada. He or she followed us around for an hour. It seemed as if he or she had a message they wanted to share. We filmed it with an iPhone, and ever since that day, I just wanted to spend more time with these highly intelligent and threatened gentle giants.
If you're a fan of nature, wildlife, underwater videos, or just chasing random dreams, this is a video you don't want to miss. Connecting with these majestic creatures is a special experience, from the smell of their breath to their peaceful vibes. To learn more about magical manatees and why they’re threatened, check out this article. If you’re interested in planning a similar adventure and checking out Crystal River, you do not want to miss our full guide to the Florida Springs. Thanks again to all of you for your support!
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