Don't worry if you see a manatee go under water and not come directly back to the surface. They often move under water and surface at a different location out of eyesight. When manatees swim they create oval shaped ripples referred to as footprints. This is a great way to spot manatees, especially since they camouflage so well with their surroundings. Keep an eye open for manatee footprints.
Manatees are slow moving mammals that frequent the water's surface.
Algae thrives in wet areas with lots of sunlight which makes the manatee's back an ideal breeding ground for algae. It may look uncomfortable to us but manatees don't seem to mind the slimy stuff. Algae helps manatees camouflage, or hide, in their environment. Algae is also like suntan lotion. It helps to block out harmful rays from the sun that may potentially cause sunburn.