Sea turtles, also known as marine turtles, are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Most of these turtles are endangered. They are generally gentle and peaceful. They are also important to their ecosystems. They are keystone species. Diving with sea turtles is a memorable experience.
Not only is it a fun activity but gives a sense of accomplishment and a stronger affinity to Earth. For the best experience where are the best places to dive with sea turtles? With this question, you have to consider the entire experience and not just the turtles. You must consider things such as accommodation, food, and transportation.
In this article, we will go through the best places to dive with sea turtles on every continent and look at the top 10 places as well.
Table of Contents
The Sea Turtle
There are seven sea turtle species. These are the green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, olive ridley, Kemp’s ridley, and the flatback. The flatback is endemic to only the waters of Indonesia, Papua, and Australia. This species isn’t found anywhere else. Do not expect to come across the flatback turtle.
Most Common Sea Turtles You’ll Encounter When Diving
The commonest sea turtles are the green turtle and the hawksbill. These are endemic to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The green turtle is also found in the Mediterranean Sea. The hawksbill is absent from the Mediterranean.
The green turtle is massive and reaches an adult weight and shell length of 150 to 419 lb (68 to 190 kg) and 31 to 47 inches (78 to 120 cm) respectively. They are dark in color and are sometimes referred to as the black turtle. They are called green turtles because of the greenish color of the fat found under their shell. This green color is because of their diet which consists mostly of sea grass and green algae.
Green turtles are gentle turtles, they avoid humans. As herbivores, they feed solely on plants. You can find these near ocean grass beds. The green turtle is similar in appearance to hawksbill, ridleys, and even the loggerhead. They however have short beaks and round heads.
Another turtle you will come across is the hawksbill. This turtle is smaller than the green turtle. They reach an adult weight and shell length of 180 lb (80 kg) and 36 inches (100 cm). They are noticeably smaller than the green turtle. They can still be hard to tell apart. They are best identified by their beak which resembles a bird’s hence the name hawksbill. Their beak is sharp. Unlike green turtles, hawkbills aren’t herbivorous. They mainly feed on corals and sponges.
Least Common Sea Turtles You’ll Encounter When Diving
Apart from the green turtle and the hawksbill, there are five other sea turtles. These are rarer. You are less likely to encounter these turtles. If you wish to dive with any of these species, you need to do your research properly.
Flatback and Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
These are the most difficult to spot. They are limited in number and can be found in very few spots.
The kemp’s ridley sea turtle is also known as the Atlantic ridley turtle as it lives in the Atlantic Ocean. These turtles mostly inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. If you wish to spot the kemp’s ridley, you must visit the Gulf of Mexico. A popular location to view them is Rancho Nuevo Beach (Mexico) where you can observe the Kemp’s ridley arribada.
The kemp’s ridley is the smallest sea turtle with a weight of 79 to 99 lb (36 to 45 kg ) and a carapace length of 23 to 28 inches (58 to 70 cm).
The flatback is endemic to the waters of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Papua (a province of Indonesia). They can’t be found anywhere else. In Australia, they can be found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, and Queensland.
Nesting and Hatching Seasons
The best times to see turtles are during the nesting and hatching seasons. During the mating and breeding season, the turtles are generally close to the shore. Females usually return to their natal beaches to nest. Sea turtles nest about two to eight times a season with each nest containing 50 to 200 eggs.
About two months after nesting, the eggs hatch. Once hatched, the hatchlings rush to the sea. The sea turtles are most vulnerable to predators when they are eggs and hatchlings. Predators include dogs, rats, raccoons, pigs, monitor lizards, lynxes, crabs, ants, sharks, seagulls, frigate birds, and many other animals. An estimated 1 out of 1000 to 10000 sea turtles survive to maturity.
Rules To Observe When Swimming With Turtles
When swimming with sea turtles, you have to keep interaction to a minimum. It is essential to not touch the turtle.
When approaching the turtle do so from the side. Do not block the turtle’s part forward.
Approach the turtle calmly and observe from afar. If the turtle does approach and hang around you, it is still best not to touch it.
As a tourist, it is advisable to go diving with an instructor. The instructor should provide you with information on what to do and not to do.
Most places require a diving permit or diver certification before you are allowed to dive. Authorities with jurisdiction may provide you with a diving permit. A common certification generally asked for is the Open Water Diver (OWD).
Top 20 Places To Dive With Sea Turtles
Regardless of where you are in the world, there are places close to you where you can dive with turtles. You don’t need to fly across the world. Turtles nest all over the world and can be found in all the oceans of the world although they are most common in the tropics and subtropics.
If you wish to dive with sea turtles, you need to visit at the right time of the year. The turtles breed close to the shore and nest on beaches across the world. The mating and breeding seasons are among the best times to scuba dive to observe them.
1. Playa de Akumal, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Akumal is located close to Playa el Carmen and Tulum. It’s about an hour’s drive from Canncun and a 30-minute drive from either Tulum or Playa el Carmen. This beach is protected by a reef and is shallow with a depth of just 5 meters (15 feet). The sea bed here is sandy and covered by seagrass that provides turtles with food. This food attracts the turtles to the area.
Akumal is known for its turtles and stingrays. The sanctuary on Playa de Akumal known as “Centro Ecológico Akumal” allows tourists to swim among turtles. Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) organizes sea turtle festivals on the beaches. This festival attracts a large number of tourists.
Turtles that commonly nest in Akumal are the loggerhead and green turtles. The hawksbill can also be found here. They usually nest here from May to November. During this time, they can be found close to the beaches.
The best time to visit Akumal to see the turtles is May to August. The turtles that come here nest from May to November/October. The hatching season is from July to December.
2. Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Tortuguero means “region of turtles”. The marine park is home to several marine turtles including the green, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles. While less common, the Olive Ridley also nest here. The best places to see them in Costa Rica are the Ostional Wildlife Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Tortuguero Park is open to tourists and is one of the best places to swim with turtles. The park consists of the Caribbean coast and is made up of lagoons, canals, beaches, and wetlands. Apart from the coast, an untouched rainforest is also part of the park.
The park is also home to Arribada which is Spanish for “arrival”. During this period, thousands of turtles arrive on the coast to breed and nest.
The nesting seasons of Green and hawksbill start in July and end in September/October although the largest number of turtles can be seen in July and August. The season’s peak is in August. The leatherback also nests here from February to April (or March to July).
Hawksbill and green turtle hatchlings emerge from September to December. Leatherback hatchlings emerge from September to December.
The dates of the nesting and hatching seasons aren’t static and change yearly.
3. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are known for their giant tortoises such as the Volcán Wolf Giant Tortoise, Pinzón Island giant tortoise, and Alcedo giant tortoise to name a few. The island is also home to sea turtles.
The sea turtle most common here is the Galapagos green turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii), a subspecies of the green turtle). They are slightly different in appearance. The turtles here will swim around you unperturbed.
There are several scuba diving tours here that will guide you as you experience swimming and diving with the Galapagos green turtles. The best place to see them in large numbers is Quinta Playa on Isabela Island. Thousands of females nest here during nesting season.
I recommend visiting from December to March. The nesting season starts in December and ends in March The hatchlings emerge from February to May.
4. Ari Atoll, Maldives
If you are in Maldives, I recommend visiting North Ari and diving with the turtles here. Other marine animals you will come across include schools of barracuda, dolphins, starfish, nudibranchs, grey reef sharks, and manta rays. You can also explore several shipwrecks.
The location is known for its white coral sand and beautiful blue waters. While the sea turtles do not nest here, they live here. The coral reefs provide the turtle with food such as sea sponges. North Ari is a foraging area for the turtles.
The commonest turtle here is the hawksbill. The green and the olive ridley turtles can also be spotted.
The best time to visit is January to April.
There are hundreds of dive sites in North Ari. The location is easily accessible as it is close to the Malé-Velana International Airport.
(source: https://www.zubludiving.com/destination/maldives/central-atolls/north-ari-atoll)
5. Bunaken Marine Park, Indonesia
Another great place to dive with sea turtles in Asia is the Bunaken Marine Park. This park is part of the Marine Protected Areas established by the Government of Indonesia. Thanks to this protection, the number of turtles here has increased over the years.
The turtles to see here are the green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. There are about 390 coral species and 2000 fish species here. Apart from turtles, other popular marine life here include dolphins, giant clams, lobsters, reef sharks, angel fish, batfish damselfish, and pilot whales.
The park consists of the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain, and their coasts as well as the coast of Manado.
Popular diving sites include Lekuan 1, Lekuan 2, Lekuan 3, Celah-Celah, Timur, and Fukui Point.
I recommend visiting Bunaken Marine Park from May to October. The nesting season starts in April and ends in September. The hatchlings emerge from June to November.
(source: https://www.thalassamanado.com/diving/bunaken-marine-park/)
6. Sipadan, Malaysia
Sipadan is considered by many as the best dive spot in the world. This is for a good reason. The Sioadan Barrier Reef is the biggest in Southeast Asia. this reef also boasts of the highest marine biodiversity in the world.
Some of the best diving sites here include the Hanging Gardens, Barracuda Point, Turtle Cave, and South Point.
On average, you will come across 20 to 30 turtles a dive. The sea turtles here are used to the presence of divers and aren’t scared of humans. The two turtles found here are the hawksbill and green turtle.
Similar to most diving locations around the world, you need a permit to dive here. Sabah Parks Management provides and monitors these permits.
I recommend visiting Sipadan from April to November. The nesting season starts in April and ends in September. The hatchlings emerge from June to November.
(source: https://blog.padi.com/world-class-dive-sites-in-sipadan-malaysia/)
7. Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, Australia
This reserve is located close to Gold Coast in southeast Queensland. Turtles you can expect to see include the loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtle. You can also find leopard and grey nurse sharks here. Other marine animals you can find here are wobbegong, leopard sharks, groupers, pufferfish, and parrotfish.
I recommend visiting Cook Island Marine Reserve from May to October. The nesting season starts in November and ends in March. The hatchlings emerge from January to May.
8. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
This is one of the best places to dive with turtles. The turtles you should expect to spot when diving here include loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles. You may also spot the olive ridley, leatherback, and flatback but these are rare. The Osprey Reefs, Norman Reef, and the Saxon Reef, Ribbon Reefs are among the best places to dive and swim with sea turtles. These reefs are remote and pristine.
Here the turtles and the coral have a close symbiotic relationship. The turtles feed on sponges and thus promote coral growth. There are about 400 types of coral available in the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef boasts the world’s largest collection of coral reefs.
9. Maui Island, Hawaii
Hawaii is a tourist treasure trove and Maui is one of the islands that relies heavily on tourism. How many turtles can be found in Maui? Five sea turtles can be found in Maui. These include green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback turtles. The turtles you are likely to see include the hawksbill (locally known as “honu”), and the green turtle (locally known as “honu’ea”).
The green turtles found in Hawaii are the Hawaiian green sea turtles. These turtles can be found all year round. Some places best known for diving with the turtle include the west and south coast of Maui. South Maui Turtletown is one popular place you can dive with turtles on Maui Island.
Harassing sea turtles is illegal in Hawaii. So keep that in mind when swimming with turtles.
The best time to swim with turtles is April to October. Green sea turtles nest from May to October in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The Hawksbill nest on the Ka’u coastline of Hawaii Island.
The hatching season for the hawksbill turtles in Maui is generally from Late June to December.
10. Marsa Alam, Egypt
Marsa Alam is a popular tourist destination to swim with turtles. Marsa Alam has to be the most famous dive destination in the Red Sea. This destination has amazing coral reefs, Napoleon fish, reef sharks, tropical fish, and dolphins in addition to sea turtles.
A popular destination in Marsa Alam you have to visit is Abu Dabbab Bay. This gorgeous bay has a sandy beach. Here you can swim with both green turtles and dugongs. You can find green turtles in waters close to the beach. Hawksbill can also be found here. You will need to dive along the reefs to spot them feeding.
The turtles do not nest on the shores of Marsa Alam. They nest in offshore islands close by. Access to these islands is prohibited by law. This is to protect the species.
The best time to visit Marsa Alam is from June to September. The nesting season for green turtles and hawksbill turtles here is July and August. The hatching season for green turtles here is August to October and for hawksbill turtles, it’s July to October.
11. Fiji
There are several dive sites in Fiji where you can dive with sea turtles. Some of these include the Yasawa Islands, Turtle Island, Beqa Lagoon, Mantaray Island, Turtle Island Marine Reserve, Mana Island, Taveuni Island, Matamano Island, Kadavu Island, and Savusavu.
Turtles commonly found in Fiji are the hawksbill and green turtle. Mamanuca Islands has accessible reefs and is home to hawksbill turtles. Kadavu Island is home to both species and boasts of astounding reefs. Yasawa Islands is more challenging and the turtles are found in secluded dive sites.
12. Blue Corner, Palau
Micronesia is a well-known tourist destination. This region consists of thousands of islands and seven countries. One of these countries is Palau. A great dive site in Palau is Blue Corner. The strong currents here attract schools of fish that can be seen feeding.
Marine life to expect include spotted eagle rays, mackerel, tuna, and sea turtles.
13. Komodo islands, Indonesia
When in Kimidos, one of the activities you must have on your bucket list is diving. There are some amazing dive sites on the islands. Siaba Besar (Turtle City) dive site is ideal for beginners. The dives are easy and you will come across several turtles. You can find turtles feeding o resting on the seabed here.
Other dive sites to consider include North of Komodo, Siaba Kecil, Pengah, Tatawa Besar, and Batu Bolong.
Expect to see hawksbill and green turtles. Komodo Islands is also home to Komodo dragons.
Peak diving season here is from April to November. This is the dry season so there is less precipitation and visibility is great.
(source: https://www.padi.com/diving-in/komodo/)
14. Baja California Sur, Mexico
Here you can swim with the hawksbill and loggerhead. When here one of the best places to visit is Cabo Pulmo National Park. Here you can observe the turtles among the coral reefs. The waters are crystal clear and the beaches are pristine.
I recommend visiting from May to December. The nesting season generally falls between the start of June and the end of December. The hatchlings emerge from August to January.
15. La Flor Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua
One of the best places to observe olive ridley turtles is on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, specifically in La Flor Wildlife Refuge. Thousands of olive ridley turtles visit La Flor each year during the Arribada. There is strength in numbers. Their large numbers ward off potential predators.
I recommend visiting from July to November. The nesting season generally falls between the start of July and the end of December. The hatchlings emerge from September to February.
16. Turks & Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a collection of small tropical islands found in the Atlantic Ocean. The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory.
There are fancy resorts here and you can swim with several sea turtles including the green turtle, hawksbill, and loggerhead.
The best places to dive with turtles when in Turks and Caicos include Bight Reef and Smith’s Reef.
17. Key West, Florida
If you are in the United States, Florida is the best place to dive with turtles. The subtropical temperatures of Florida make it a conducive environment for sea turtles.
Some popular dive sites include Western Sambo Reef Reserve, Sand Key Light, and the Cayman Salvage Master. I also recommend that you visit the Dry Tortugas National Park. turtles you can see here include the Kemp’s ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and green turtles.
18. Providencia, Colombia
This place is host to one of the largest barrier reefs in the world. The coral reef habitats attract sea turtles. These include loggerhead, leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles. Some of the best places to dive here are the Rosario Islands, Bahía Solano, and San Bernardo Islands.
19. Fernando de Noronha Islands, Brazil
This place is a hidden treasure for divers. The waters here are home to coral, reef sharks, schools of barracuda, manta rays, and sea turtles. The most common sea turtles here are hawksbill turtles.
When you aren’t diving, you can hike the trails and beaches and visit historical sites. When you visit in the dry season (August to January). The waters are clear and warm.
20. Peninsula Valdes, Argentina
This place is close to the town of Puerto Madryn. It is home to the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena Australis), one-haired sea lion, orcas, elephant seals, and turtles. Turtles are quite rare here nevertheless, it is a great place to dive.
Honorable Mentions
21. Zakynthos, Greece
If you are in the Mediterranean, this location is one of the best places to visit as a diver. Zakynthos is commonly referred to as Zante. One of the best diving sites here is Cameo Island. Another popular destination is the Diving Center Turtle Beach located on the Keri (or Limni Keriou) Beach. You can spot loggerhead sea turtles when diving here.
22. Sardinia, Italy
Sardinia has the best dive sites in Italy. Some of the best dive sites here can be found in Isola Rossa, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Costa Paradiso, and Palau & La Maddalena.
23. Azores archipelago, Portugal
The Azores is an autonomous region of Portugal and the outermost region of the European Union. These islands are found in Macaronesia. These islands are about 1500 km from Morroco, 1930 km from Newfoundland, Canada, and about 1400 km from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
Five sea turtles call the Azores home with the leatherback and the loggerhead being the most common.
24. Corsica, France
This French island is found in the Mediterranean. The island is southeast of mainland France and is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The largest city here is Ajaccio.
Popular dive sites in Corsica include Sanguinaires Islands, La Revellata, Cap Corse, Lavezzi Marine Reserve, and Ile Rousse.
25. Malta
Malta is a small island country located in the Mediterranean Sea. malta is an archipelago that consists of several islands with the largest ones being Malta, Gozo, and Comino.
The sea turtles most commonly seen in Malta are the loggerhead and green sea turtle. Hawksbill, kemp’s ridley, and leatherback turtles may be seen here but their sightings are rare.
Popular dive locations in Malta include Blue Lagoon in Comino, St Paul’s Bay, Siggiewi’s Ghar Lapsi, Gnejna, Paradise Bay, Golden Bay, and Hondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo.
26. Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination. There are several places here where you can watch turtles and even dive with them. If you wish to swim with turtles when in Zanzibar, the best place to visit is the turtle sanctuary known as Mnarani Marine Turtles Conservation Pond.
27. St Lucia, South Africa
Another destination to visit if you are interested in diving with turtles is St Lucia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to dive with turtles?
For me, the best place to dive with turtles is Playa de Akumal in Mexico. Other excellent dive destinations include Tortuguero Park in Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands (a favorite of many), North Ari in the Maldives, and Bunaken Marine Park in Indonesia.
Where is the best place to swim with sea turtles?
The best places to swim with turtles include the Galapagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Ari Atoll in the Maldives, Maui Island in Hawaii, and Marsa Alam in Egypt. The best place is subjective and is down to your experience.
You cannot miss the places mentioned. These are popular tourist destinations. They are popular for a reason. They have excellent resorts to stay and dine at and several tour companies you can register with.
What island is popular with divers and sea turtles?
Many of the dive locations mentioned here are islands. There are several excellent islands for both divers and the turtles. The most popular island is likely the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands may be popular but the experiences you can obtain there are long lasting.
What place has the most sea turtles?
Tortuguero Park in Costa Rica is home to the largest green turtle nesting population. About 22,500 turtles nest here yearly. Raine Island in the Great Barrier Reef also hosts many nesting females with as many as 18,000 females arriving each year.
What country is known for turtles?
Different countries are known for different turtles. For instance, the Galapagos Islands are known for giant tortoises and swimming with sea turtles and the United States is known for freshwater turtles such as red-eared sliders and cooters.
The country with the most turtles is the United States with over 60 turtle species.
Conclusion
Amazing dive sites can be found all over the world. Diving with sea turtles is an unforgettable experience. When considering the best places to dive with sea turtles, you need to consider the environs as well. You have to consider things such as accommodation, accessibility, and safety.
The best places are well-known places but there are hidden treasures to discover as well. While places such as Key West, Florida are accessible (depending on where you live), places such as Fernando de Noronha Islands, Brazil are also wonderful places to visit as a diver even if it is more challenging to swim with turtles in this destination.