ICYMI: 10 Manatees Glide by Paddleboarders

Spotting a manatee or two while out on the Weeki Wachee River is fairly commonplace, but running into a herd of 10 is not.

That’s why SUP WEEKI co-owner Pam Napp was so surprised when she counted a near dozen swimming past two of her paddleboarding customers not too long ago. Napp and her husband, Jerry, founded the paddleboard adventure and eco tour company about three years ago in hopes of sharing their love of the river and its inhabitants with others.

Customers Tyler and Lauren were able to see a sight that few get to enjoy, said Pam, who filmed the encounter.

“We don’t see one every day so 10 at once is exceptional,” she wrote on Facebook.

The largest herd Pam has seen during her time living on the river has been 17. For paddleboard customers, sightings aren’t promised, but they’re not uncommon, Pam told Patch.

“It was just yesterday (Monday) I took a couple out and we saw three manatees,” she said. “We have a fair amount of viewings.”

The Napps lived in Tarpon Springs for more than two decades and took up paddleboarding about six years ago. When Pam visited the Weeki Wachee River a few years back, it was love at first sight.

“I paddled from the top down and saw that people get to live here,” Pam said. She immediately told her husband they should check it out. It wasn’t too much later that the couple pulled up roots to replant them on the banks of the Weeki Wachee.

“Once we got here this was just too beautiful not to share it with people,” she said.

The idea for the business was born.

A boutique company, SUP WEEKI offers small group tours of the river and paddleboarding lessons. The “SUP” in the business name is an acronym for “stand up paddleboarding.”

“We feel very blessed,” Pam said. “We truly believe God placed us here.”

For more information about SUP WEEKI, visit its website or Facebook page.

Florida’s manatee population was estimated at just over 6,000 earlier this year, which technically broke records. Manatees can grow up to more than 13 feet in length and may weigh more than 3,500 pounds, the state reports. They are found throughout Florida’s coastal waters and in its rivers.

Photo courtesy of SUP WEEKI and Pam Napp