High 5 Locations to Dive With Sea Turtles

Consider it or not, sea turtles have existed on our planet for over 150 million years. They spend round 95% of their lives within the sea, permitting us a singular expertise of diving of their surroundings. Think about popping in your goggles and snorkel, leaping into the crystal clear ocean, and swimming alongside these calm, stunning sea creatures.

Having an up-close and private expertise with sea turtles isn’t one thing you are able to do in any location. That’s why we’ll undergo the highest 5 locations to dive with sea turtles. In the event you’re able to dive into the ocean and swim with some shelled mates, preserve studying.

1. Maui, Hawaii

Hawaii contains a gaggle of islands positioned within the Pacific Ocean. The volcanic archipelagos provide breathtaking environment and surroundings, each within the water and out. Probably the most common islands is Maui, primarily attributable to its wealthy marine life, together with a number of sea turtle species.

Maui is the right vacation spot for anybody seeking to swim with turtles. The most typical turtles within the space are inexperienced sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Make a journey to the South or West Coast and scuba dive with sea turtles as they swim by the nice and cozy water.

Maintain a watch out alongside the seaside; chances are you’ll be fortunate sufficient to identify a turtle catching a tan on the sand. Observe that you can be fined for touching a sea turtle, as that is strictly forbidden.

When to Go to: April to October

Nesting Season: Could to October

Hatching Season: June to December

Native Species: Hawksbill, inexperienced sea, leatherback, Olive ridley, loggerhead

2. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

These Ecuadorian islands are well-known for his or her vibrant array of endemic species. Actually, this is the reason the Galapagos Islands have featured so excessive on our checklist. Individuals journey from world wide to see the Galapagos inexperienced sea turtles, a subspecies of the inexperienced sea turtle.

They’re solely discovered within the waters surrounding these island archipelagos, making them actually particular. In the event you’re a turtle lover, it is a distinctive expertise you gained’t wish to miss. So seize your snorkel and dive into the tropical waters of this luscious Pacific Island.

When to Go to: December to March

Nesting Season: December to March

Hatching Season: February to Could

Native Species: Galapagos inexperienced turtle

3. Ari Atoll, Maldives

You’ll be hard-pressed to search out somebody who hasn’t heard of the Maldives, a powerful group of over 1,000 unimaginable coral islands positioned within the heat Indian Ocean. Of all of the islands, Ari Atoll is without doubt one of the largest pure atolls positioned on the western a part of the archipelago. It’s usually thought-about the principle attraction because of its ocean experiences.

The seashores are completely white, the solar is heat and alluring, and the ocean life leaves nothing to be desired for nature lovers. Not solely will you discover an array of starfish, dolphins, and fish within the crystal clear waters, you may swim with the inexperienced sea, hawksbill, and Olive Ridley turtles.

When to Go to: January to April

Nesting Season: Uncommon

Hatching Season: Uncommon

Native Species: Hawksbill, inexperienced sea, Olive Ridley

4. The Nice Barrier Reef, Australia

Australia’s Nice Barrier Reef is without doubt one of the world’s largest marine ecosystems. The coral reef is so expansive that it may be seen from house. Diving and snorkeling on this space could have you investigating an abundance of animals and crops and 6 completely different sea turtle species.

On this spectacular marine formation, you’ll discover inexperienced sea, hawksbill, leatherback, flatback, Olive ridley, and loggerhead turtles. On the Southern and Northern ends of the reef, there are a staggering 18 inexperienced turtle nesting websites.

When to Go to: Could to October

Nesting Season: October to February

Hatching Season: December to April

Native Species: Hawksbill, inexperienced sea, leatherback, flatback, Olive ridley, loggerhead

5. Akumal, Playa del Carmen, México

In Mayan, Akumal in Playa del Carmen is known as the “Place of the Turtles.” That ought to trace at what you’ll discover on this space. Akumal is without doubt one of the oldest coastal resort places within the Yucatan, and the wealthy historic side completely matches the pure animal life – there’s one thing for everybody.

Akumal has chic seashores, and you may collect for a turtle night time watch every night at 9:15 pm. A neighborhood information will give background and details about the turtles, making for a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. You may as well dive or snorkel with the inexperienced sea, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles.

When to Go to: Could to August

Nesting Season: Could to October

Hatching Season: July to December

Native Species: Hawksbill, inexperienced sea, loggerhead

About Sea Turtles

Worldwide, there are seven sea turtle species. Six of those are present in each ocean however the Antarctic and Arctic. The seventh species, the flatback sea turtle, is simply present in Australian waters.

Sea turtles weigh between 70 and 1,500 kilos and develop to be 2 to 7 ft lengthy. The leatherback turtle is the most important species and weighs as much as 2,000 kilos.

Sea turtles are omnivores, in order that they eat crops and animals.

In the event you’ve watched Discovering Nemo, you’ll know that sea turtles make lengthy migrations between their breeding and feeding zones primarily based on the seasons. Enjoyable truth: the leatherback turtle swims over 3,500 miles in every route between their breeding and feeding zones.

Sea turtles mate at sea however lay their eggs in holes they dig within the sand on the seaside. They cowl their eggs with sea sand to guard them and preserve them heat earlier than returning to the water. Roughly 60 days later, tiny turtles hatch from the eggs and scramble to the water. This can be a “fight-for-your-life” second, as many child turtles are killed by predators on this course of.

Conclusion

There you will have it – 5 of the perfect locations to dive with sea turtles. Whether or not you’re planning to go to one or all of those particular places, you gained’t be disenchanted. Bear in mind to stay within the second and take in the expertise. It’s such a privilege to swim with these docile creatures.