Quiet snorkeler has close encounter with manatee in Crystal River

A quiet approach is the way to go for a close encounter with a manatee.

A snorkeler discreetly floated in place up in Crystal River last week, and didn’t budge as a hungry manatee approached him. The passive observation was captured by Crystal River Waterspouts showing the grazing manatee swim up and come face-to-face with the man.

“Great example by our guests today of passive observation while snorkeling near manatees,” the business wrote on its Facebook page. “By floating quietly on the surface this manatee came up for a breath right beside a guest, then continued feeding undisturbed.”

Its crunching can easily be heard after it slowly descended back to the vegetation below. Crystal River Watersports said one of their staff members captured the underwater video last week.