Diving with Turtles
There are numerous diving locations worldwide that offer unique opportunities to see turtles in their natural habitats. Maui in Hawaii offers some of the best diving spots in the world and offers plenty of opportunities to see turtles. Napili Bay and Canoe beach in West Maui are abundant with green sea turtles and Olowalu is ideal for diving beginners although caution should be taken with sharks. The underwater Jodo Temple is easily accessible by boat from Lahaina and again, an abundance of turtles can be found here. The cost of getting to Hawaii can be less than many other diving destinations, with flights from around £600 and there are a variety of accommodation options around Maui to suit all budgets.
Reef diving offers the chance to see a wide variety of wildlife and flora. The Great Barrier Reef is a breeding ground for six species of turtle and it offers not only amazing dives, but also the opportunity to watch sea turtles lay their eggs. A trip will start from around £1500 per person, excluding diving costs. The warm waters are ideal for all year diving, although the weather is usually at its best between August and January. The next largest barrier reef in the world, Belize, also brings divers in close proximity to a variety of turtles.
Pulau Sipidan, on the north coast of Borneo has limited access for diving, but the area is ideal for seeing turtles and has been voted “The Top Dive Destination in the World”. It’s possible for twenty or more different turtles to be seen on a dive. There are specific dive areas, such as Turtle Patch which allows you to get really close to the giant turtles that rest and feed in the area and Turtle Cavern, which offers opportunities to see hawksbill and green turtles. Any visit to this cavern must be with a local dive master. The diving season in this area is all year round, with the best conditions being between April and December. Accommodation and diving packages start from around £600 (excluding air fares to local airports).
The Galapagos Islands, which have been termed “one of the seven underwater wonders of the world” are for mid to experienced divers only as a result of the strong currents in the area. The Islands offer opportunities to see green turtles. The Galapagos Green Turtle nests on the Islands, but the opportunity to see these underwater is fairly limited as they spend their time in other waters. There are also plenty of opportunities for night diving. Turtles can be observed all year round, with February to April being the warmest months. There are lots of tailored packages available for the area, but it can be relatively expensive, with air fares being around £1000 per person and there are fees to pay to enter the National Park and Marine Reserve.
There are plenty of other diving spots that are ideal for watching turtles. These include the Similan Islands in Thailand or Komodo in Indonesia and in various locations throughout Europe, depending upon the season.
Photo Credit: Jurvetson on Flickr
My fiancee and I spent a week at the Kapalai resort and was lucky enough to get THREE days diving at Sipidan. I couldn’t imagine seeing more turtles than I did on one particular dive. I honestly probably say 35+ turtles. Sometimes with 3 or 4 swimming around you at the same time.
A magical place to say the least.
Seeing turtles underwater is truely wonderful. I have seen them a few times in the Red Sea. The thing I never realised is how they chew and break the coral apart with such ease (better them than divers fins..). Amazing creatures. Good post.
they’re elusive in asia… i think they’re on the menu for many here..