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The 11 best places to snorkel with sea turtles

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Sea turtles are some of the most remarkable animals you can encounter in our oceans. They have existed for over 100 million years, can live for over a century, and some swim more than 10,000 miles between nesting and foraging grounds each year. There are seven different species of sea turtle, and you can find them at locations around the world. Here is our roundup of the best places to snorkel with these charming animals.

1) Australia

Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash

Whether you choose to explore Australia’s eastern or western coast, there are numerous places to go snorkeling with sea turtles. The Great Barrier Reef has world-class snorkeling and hosts six of the seven species of sea turtle. A visit to this special area also offers the chance to explore the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree Rainforest. Western Australia also has great snorkeling and numerous sea turtles, especially at Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and the Muiron Islands.

2) Malaysia

Mabul, Sipadan and Kapalai offer some of the best and most diverse snorkeling opportunities in the world, especially for sea turtle fans. Sipadan’s bright blue waters are teeming with big fish and huge green sea turtles, whilst Mabul is the place to go for spotting sea turtles cruising along coral reefs. Make sure you visit in August if you want to see nesting sea turtles at Sipadan.

3) The Maldives

Maldives scuba diving is high on many divers’ wish lists, but you don’t need to be a diver to make the most of this stunning destination. There are excellent snorkeling opportunities and numerous sea turtles throughout the atolls, including leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, green and olive ridley sea turtles. To surround yourself with green sea turtles, visit Lhaviyani Atoll and especially the seagrass meadows of Kuredu Island. This idyllic atoll hosts almost half of the Maldives’ green sea turtles.

 4) Wakatobi, Indonesia

Wakatobi is renowned for having some of the world’s most biodiverse reefs and has easy snorkeling conditions. Sitting in the Coral Triangle, this special destination has everything from prized critters through to schooling reef fish and plenty of sea turtles. Snorkel over the colorful outer reefs to find adult Hawksbill turtles munching on huge sponges or simply walk off the beach to look for juvenile and adult green sea turtles at the seagrass meadows.

5) Akumal, Mexico

Mexico is another top destination for snorkeling with sea turtles, especially at Akumal in the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal means ‘the place of the turtle’, so it’s no surprise to find out this is a great place to swim with sea turtles. With numerous green sea turtles and loggerheads there, which are used to the presence of humans, it’s an experience not to miss.

6) Hawaii

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

If you’re visiting Hawaii, you have a good chance of encountering sea turtles whichever island you choose, but Oahu is one of the best. You can either join snorkeling tours to meet the turtles or explore without a guide. Laniakea Beach (also known as Turtle Beach) is one of the most popular places to swim with turtles but there are plenty of quieter turtle hotspots around the island.

7) Egypt

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

People go scuba diving in Egypt every year and with good reason. It is one of the most accessible and affordable places to experience vibrant reefs, warm water snorkeling and year-round sunshine. It truly has something for everyone, including snorkelers. You can spot sea turtles on any of Egypt’s reefs but visit Abu Dabbab Beach at Marsa Alam for almost guaranteed green sea turtle encounters. You will also be able to swim with dugongs whilst you’re there.

8) Greece

Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is the top place in Europe to swim with sea turtles. In the summer months, thousands of loggerhead turtles head inshore to lay their eggs on the beaches. You can snorkel with them at Zakynthos and at nearby Cameo Island, or go island hopping and watch them come ashore at Kefalonia’s beaches.

 9) The Galapagos Islands

Photo by Dustin Haney on Unsplash

Wild and remote, the Galapagos Islands are an iconic haven for wildlife above and below the waterline, and sea turtles are no exception. There are numerous snorkeling spots where you’ll find sea turtles and Galapagos green sea turtles nest on some of the islands’ beaches.  Wherever you snorkel, the waters are teeming with life. There is nowhere else in the world where you can swim with sea turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins, schools of fish and more. Don’t miss it.

 10) French Polynesia

French Polynesia, with its lush volcanic islands, luxurious resorts and soft white sands, is the perfect destination to get away from it all. As if that’s not enough, French Polynesia is also stunning underwater, with calm lagoons ideal for snorkeling, healthy coral reefs and abundant marine life. You can go snorkeling with sea turtles at Tahiti and Moorea, where the shallow waters make it ideal for new snorkelers.

11) Barbados

Barbados is an idyllic Caribbean destination, with azure waters and numerous sea turtles, including green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles. There are a handful of snorkeling tour operators and plenty of infrastructure, meaning you can get out and swim with the turtles easily. If you don’t want to join a tour, grab your snorkeling gear and go in search of sea turtles off the west coast beaches. Make sure you follow local snorkeling safety guidelines and enjoy.


Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

Scuba Schools International (SSI) is the largest professional business-based training agency in the world. For over 50 years now, SSI has provided the ultimate training experience for millions of certified divers, not only in Recreational Scuba, but in every training category: Freediving, Extended Range, Rebreather Diving, Mermaid, Swim and Lifeguard.

Marine Life & Conservation Blogs

Creature Feature: Undulate Ray

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In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.

This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.

This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.

Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.

It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.

Scientific Name: Raja undulata

Family: Rajidae

Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)

Diet: shrimps and crabs

Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.

Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website


Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando

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Guarding Against Coral Invaders

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Protecting (Dutch) Caribbean Reefs from Unomia stolonifera

Recent reports highlight the concerning spread of the invasive soft coral, Unomia stolonifera, currently devastating Venezuela’s marine ecosystems and detected in Cuba. With the potential threat of its expansion to the (Dutch) Caribbean islands, urgent action and awareness are essential to safeguard marine biodiversity and local economies from possible catastrophic consequences.

Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment. These species can have major ecological effects by decimating native flora or fauna. They can also cause large economic losses and impact human health. Invasive species also pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, including the Dutch Caribbean. Among these invaders is the octocoral species Unomia stolonifera or “Pulsing Xenia”, originally from the Indo-Pacific. With its rapid growth and lack of natural predators, this species can outcompete native species and disrupt fragile marine habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs.

Background

The invasive soft coral U. stolonifera was first identified in 2014, off the coast of Venezuela. It is believed to have been introduced via the illegal aquarium trade.  Since this species can reproduce sexually and asexually (or fragment), even small pieces can regenerate to spread.  Once introduced it quickly took over shallow reefs and hard substrate at depths of 0-50 meters, outcompeting local corals and seagrass for space.  Follow on surveys found that this coral species exhibited average percentage cover as high as 80%, vastly outcompeting native corals. In highly colonized areas, fish are disappearing due to loss of habitats.

In 2022, during a survey conducted in Cuba by the University of Havana, an unknown octocoral was discovered which was later identified as the invasive Unomia stolonifera. It is suspected that the coral larvae arrived in ballast water from fossil fuel ships originating from Venezuela, as nearby sites adjacent to Venezuelan ports have been heavily affected by the invasion.

How to help

Prevention through continuous monitoring, particularly in high-risk areas such as marine harbors and oil facilities, is paramount. Early detection plays a pivotal role in mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera.

The public’s involvement and awareness are also vital. Local communities, recreational divers, tourists, and all stakeholders are urged to participate in early detection efforts by reporting sightings (photo, location and date) of this invasive coral to their respective Protected Area Management Organization (PMO’s)- the Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)STINAPA BonaireCARMABI Curaçao Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF)Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM) and St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA). If an invaded area is confirmed, follow the recommendations by the local PMO’s.

Keys to Success

Despite the challenges, early detection is key to mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera. With continued vigilance, research, and community engagement, there is hope for containing this potential issue before it becomes a major threat.

About the DCNA

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains the results from several scientific studies but the studies themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article.

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