Quillfred-That design is one of the designs that Swift offers in its paddles--they have lots of cool ones, and it was so hard to choose.

I've never paddled the Suwannee but would like to some time. I have seen manatees when paddling (and snorkeling) in Crystal River, which is farther south on the Gulf Coast.

Re: power boat traffic, you can get reflective tape to put on your paddle blades that makes them even MORE visible. I have these on mine because I paddle a lot on a bay and the jetskis and waverunners sometimes go crazy!