Where to dive to see Turtles

[scuba_katt]

Dives off the coast of Cairns, down to Townsville, and still further south to the Whitsundays have rewarded us with many friendly turtle sightings, but the best by far would have to be at Lady Musgrave Island - about 3 hours by boat from Bundaberg on Queensland's South-east coast.

The waters around here are a major breeding location for the loggerheads, leatherback and green turtles. They appear used to divers and very curious (although their easygoing reception of divers worries me, that one day a not-so-nice diver will attempt to "hitch a ride" on them "just like in the movies!" and hurt them.

The turtles then come ashore in November-March at Mon Repos Beach, a turtle nesting beach on the mainland to lay their eggs. This beach is under protection by the Queensland's Parks & Wildlife Services, so that the turtles are not harassed by tourists. The rangers keep an eye on the nests and ensure that not only the mother turtle gets safely back into the water, but that noone interferes with the hatchings.

Then its up to mother nature!

 

[richhagelin]

Turtle Town, Maui

Directly toward Maui from Molokini Crater. All of the dive operators know it. Guaranteed Turtles every time.

Rich

 

[Bacchus]

Maybe not as many as in Sipidan (where we hope to go next year) but on our recent trip to FP we saw quite a few.

rafa and janine

rangiroa turtle

After the turtles you have hundreds of sharks and great mantas and lots of other gfreat sea life. Good luck on your "quest for turtles".

 

[Hootis]

Just got back from the Virgin Islands. Saw many on the trip, but on a night dive on the Wit Shoal (somewhat advanced dive) I saw many. 10 were bigger the 3 feet across. They use the wreck as a turtle condo. I guess you have to be careful not to wake them...rumor is that if they wake, they can loose their breath and drown. Don't know it that's true or not, but didn't want to find out the hard way.
Enjoy looking!
BTW Great vid clip DiverBuoy!!