Sea turtles — green, hawksbill, loggerhead

Sea turtles are large marine reptiles that live in tropical oceans. They spend most of their lives underwater. You will see Green turtles near seagrass beds in Koh Tao or Hawksbills hiding in coral crevices in Komodo. Loggerheads often appear in deeper waters because they prefer different food sources. Most sightings happen between March and October when water temperatures stay above 27°C.

Keep your distance. Many divers swim too close to nesting females or resting juveniles while they try to get a better photo. This stress can cause the animal to flee into deep water where you cannot follow. Always maintain a 3 m gap between your mask and the turtle. If the turtle changes its swimming direction, you are too close. Watch their breathing patterns carefully.