Often times considered the most beautiful of all sea turtle species with it’s mottled, colorful shell, the hawksbill sea turtle is one of the smaller species. These graceful creatures are the most tropical of all the turtles and can be found mainly on coral reefs throughout the warmest areas of the world’s oceans. They use their narrow, pointed beak (hence their name) to eat an omnivorous diet, feeding on sponges, sea anemones, and jellyfish.

Diving with hawksbill sea turtles is one of the most desired encounters for most scuba divers and, lucky for most divers, since they don’t venture far from the reef, seeing them while diving on a coral reef is common. The only time they venture away from the safety of the reef is when making the long migration between their foraging area and breeding ground. Want to dive with these beautiful, graceful underwater swimmers? Explore the map below for the best dive sites around the world.