PAGE 12 - March 10, 2010
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Squawk Box
Continued from page 1
planned it. I had planned to stand on the bot-
tom of the Three Sister’s spring and wait for
one of the big oafs to swim past and voila,
photo of the week!
What actually happened: my dry
suit breached and flooded with water and
I was struggling to keep from going to the
bottom. On my way down, on my last gulp
of air, along comes these tourists making the
“I just saw a manatee” face and of course,
the star of the show. I pointed and shot. I got
lucky.
Then I tried to look all suave and
composed and the pro diver I am instead
of the fool that I was just to get a breath.
It didn’t work. I splashed and writhed and
stirred up the whole spring and no doubt
raised an eyebrow or two to those who know
me. My suit filled with water and killed the
electronics I had in my pocket (ummm,
cause I thought I would be dry in a “dry”
suit?)(let’s spell “f-o-o-l”, shall we?).
At the end of the day (9:00am as I
recall), it was all worth it though, the photo
is great, the folks from Bird’s Underwater
Manatee tours got to laugh at me, and even
though I was shivering all the way back to
Inverness, I caught myself in the mirror a
time or two with that goofy “I just saw a
manatee” face staring back.
Photo above - Tara Murphy of Nesbitt, Mississippi having a close encounter of the West Indian
Manatee kind at Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River. The record-breaking cold weather this
year has forced hundreds of the sea mammals into the tempered spring waters in our area;
Jeff and dozens of other tourists were spring-seeing with Bird’s Underwater Manatee Tours
of Crystal River. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore


















Buddy & Fred’s Hardware
Enviro Group of Florida, Inc.

517 Hwy. 40W • Inglis, FL • 352-447-2600
Wood Products Division • 50-Years Experience

BuddyAndFreds.com  Established 1983
Inglis,FL • (352) 447-3894
MOV
Custom Woodworking, Your Plans or Ours!

Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm
ING
Solid Hardwoods & Cabinet-Grade Veneers

Saturday 8am-2pm
SALE
ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

R.V. Accessories
Pet Caskets
Vanities
Furniture Repair
R.V. Sewer Parts • Paint • Keys • Garden • Patio
Bookcases

Chest of Drawers
Plumbing • Electrical • Nuts • Bolts • Tools
Cedar Chests

Stainless • Water Hoses • Thermacell • Case Knives
Entertainment Centers
Gun Cabinets

Leatherman Tools • Unique Tank Chemicals
Antique Repair & Refinishing
Kitchen Cabinets