Long ago, ancient sailors looked to shore and saw manatees.  The manatees slowly lifted their head out of the water and watched the sailboats pass by in the wind.  The sailors, lonely and far from home, thought the manatees were beautiful; they thought the manatees were mermaids.  (The boats must have been going very fast!)  Cousteau divers say that manatees are very curious and very gentle. The animals are very affectionate.  They seem to kiss each other, and some divers have been surprised by getting a wet, bristly "kiss" from a big, slow manatee "mermaid."  Click here for more about manatees!