Diving with SeaTurtles
The Most Majestic and Ancient Ocean Swimmer
Underwater enthusiasts are always overjoyed to see a turtle while snorkeling or diving. These friendly-looking, ancient reptiles are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. Sea turtles can live for up to 100 years and are believed to have existed here on earth for millions of years. Many facts about sea turtles are astonishing, but the most amazing is that female sea turtles return to the exact beach where they were born to lay their eggs. A journey that can cover thousands of kilometers, they dig their shallow nests in the sand with their flippers, an incredible achievement, and an awe-inspiring sight to see. Most locations where you can dive with sea turtles are also where you can sneak a peek at this miraculous egg-laying practice that is as old as time itself.
The best-known sea turtles are the Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, and Loggerhead Sea Turtle. All share the same basic body structure as their terrestrial relatives, the tortoise, but with a few adaptions for a sea-going lifestyle. Sea turtle bodies are slightly flattened and streamlined, with large flippers to propel them effortlessly through the water. Witness this majestic site on your next dive trip by finding the best spots to dive with the different sea turtles of the world on the map below.
Animals in this category
Diving with Leatherback Sea Turtles
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all the turtles on earth, both aquatic and terrestrial. It is easily identifiable by its massive, inky-blue leathery shell, different from all of the other sea turtle’s shells which are hard and bony. The leatherback is a massive, ancient relic; the only remaining species of the Dermochelys family of turtles. It can grow up to seven feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds!
Diving with Green Sea Turtles
The green sea turtle, also known as the green, black, or Pacific green turtle, is one of the largest species of sea turtles and has a wide population distribution throughout the world’s tropical and subtropical seas. There are two distinct populations in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but they can be found throughout the Indian Ocean as well. They are unique in that they are the only species that are strict herbivores as adults, feeding mostly on algae, seagrass, and seaweed.
Diving with Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Loggerhead sea turtles are easily recognizable by their very large heads, giving them their name. Unlike many of the other species, loggerhead’s shells do not have ridges, giving it a smooth appearance, another distinguishing characteristic of these strong jawed hunters. These large, solid bodied swimmers are primarily carnivorous feeding mostly on shellfish like clams, conchs, crabs, and other invertebrates. They have one of the widest distributions of all the sea turtle species and can be found in both temperate and tropical regions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In fact, they have been reported as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile in the eastern Pacific.
Diving with Hawksbill Sea Turtles
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 Olive Ridley Sea Turtles
One of the smallest sea turtle species, the olive ridley is named for its greenish skin and shell coloring, and is closely related to the Kemp’s ridley. The olive ridley is the most abundant of all sea turtles and is only found in warm, tropical waters, primarily of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but can also be found in parts of the Atlantic. Because of their large numbers yet small global distribution, the density of them is high, increasing your chance as a scuba diver to encounter these elegant swimmers as compared with species around the world.
Dive Sites with this Animal
★★★★★ Fenfushi Giri
If you want to see anemones you have to come to this place,, there is a field with hundreds of anemones where we also can always find turtles. The Giri has approx. a diameter of 120m and is easy to dive around. Some nice small overhangs
★★★★★ Aquarium / Lhohifushi Corner
This dive site is located right next to the island. The long reef ends into a corner of the canal. Here you can see several highlights. A very nice dive site for beginners as well as experienced divers.
★★★★★ Back Kani
Easy but always nice dive. The top of the reef drops down from 7m to 30/35m and then runs into the sand. Depending on the current, you simply dive the right or left shoulder. With a little luck, this dive site offers everything that makes diving exciting!
★★★★☆ Himmafushi Corner
Himmafushi Corner is a drift dive, best suited for divers with a lot of experience as this dive is deep and can have strong currents. The corner slopes from 5 to 30m and after that comes to a small drop off to 45/50m. This dive should only be conducted during the incoming current.
★★★★☆ Kottefaru Kanmathi
A very nice drift dive over several hundred meters along the island of Kottefaru. The top reef is made of hard corals that drop from 4 to 8m, sloping down to 15m, then a wall that drops far more than 30m. On the top reef between June and November the site becomes a cleaning station for mantas.
★★★★★ USAT Liberty Wreck
This is the only historical shipwreck in Bali, ranked #3 in the world for Wreck diving! The wreck is 25 meters form shore at a depth of 4 to 29 meters below the surface with most of it occuring in a shallow area. This dive site does not have strong currents, has clear water, and warm temperatures. Difficult entry!