OCEANGRANT IMAGES LLC
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

Natural light highlights Carli’s and the gal manatee’s soulful eyes and faces! Thanks for making my birthday lucky all! Big Sister Spring, Feb. 11, 2017. On the personal side to this story, this photo was taken 12 days after I finished 10 months of medical treatment for breast cancer. Of course, yes, it was devastating to be diagnosed at 51, and without a family history of this disease. But I fought it like one has to do with cancer. Fortunately, all my doctors wanted me to get back into the water with the manatees and helped me reach my goal. I recall going through radiation and the staff even came in early around Christmas to treat me before the office opened so I could make it to see the manatees underwater. I tasked myself with kayaking a mile each way before I would get in the water, just to build my strength back up. As an additional good omen, this birthday I saw Dr. Bob Bonde and he gave me an encouraging hug after hearing what I was fighting. Also on this day my husband, Theo, joined me on the kayak to the springs and in the water. In fact he is responsible for alerting me to these two manatees. I had observed the female taking an interest in the calf but I became distracted by a nearby pregnant manatee. Sometimes calmly observing a pregnant manatee can reward you with witnessing the movement of the calf in the womb! So I was rather irritated when my husband touched my shoulder. But when he said, “There’s an interesting behavior here you might want to see…”, I was immensely grateful! This photograph resulted! Yay! Hopefully none of you gals will ever have to experience what I did but if you ever know anyone who really wants to get back in the water, a drysuit, pantyhose cut off at the hip and water-based personal lubricant all do wonders for getting back out of a drysuit seals and hood when your strength is a bit less. Also my head was still really sticky from the chemo so the pantyhose over the head (like a bank robber, hah) really helped slip off that neck seal! Natural light highlights Carli’s and the gal manatee’s soulful eyes and faces! Thanks for making my birthday lucky all! Big Sister Spring, Feb. 11, 2017. On the personal side to this story, this photo was taken 12 days after I finished 10 months of medical treatment for breast cancer. Of course, yes, it was devastating to be diagnosed at 51, and without a family history of this disease. But I fought it like one has to do with cancer. Fortunately, all my doctors wanted me to get back into the water with the manatees and helped me reach my goal. I recall going through radiation and the staff even came in early around Christmas to treat me before the office opened so I could make it to see the manatees underwater. I tasked myself with kayaking a mile each way before I would get in the water, just to build my strength back up. As an additional good omen, this birthday I saw Dr. Bob Bonde and he gave me an encouraging hug after hearing what I was fighting. Also on this day my husband, Theo, joined me on the kayak to the springs and in the water. In fact he is responsible for alerting me to these two manatees. I had observed the female taking an interest in the calf but I became distracted by a nearby pregnant manatee. Sometimes calmly observing a pregnant manatee can reward you with witnessing the movement of the calf in the womb! So I was rather irritated when my husband touched my shoulder. But when he said, “There’s an interesting behavior here you might want to see…”, I was immensely grateful! This photograph resulted! Yay! Hopefully none of you gals will ever have to experience what I did but if you ever know anyone who really wants to get back in the water, a drysuit, pantyhose cut off at the hip and water-based personal lubricant all do wonders for getting back out of a drysuit seals and hood when your strength is a bit less. Also my head was still really sticky from the chemo so the pantyhose over the head (like a bank robber, hah) really helped slip off that neck seal! Selfies…, well we used to call them self-portraits, but now it seems they have taken on a viral life of their own! Those who know me realize I’m always very focused on making the most of my time photographing manatees in Florida’s striking springs. I know I’m a bit light on photographs of myself as it’s not an area I put much attention on. Mainly I want compelling photographs of Florida manatees, the lovely springs, and polite passive observation of our Sirenian friends. Therefore, I often forget that some people would like to see pictures of me in the springs.