The nearby Barcelo Maya Beach Resort also protects its resident sea turtles and invites guests to observe them hatch each year. Of the seven species (all endangered) that exist in the world, two (the green turtle and, to a lesser extent, the hawksbill sea turtle) can regularly be seen when snorkeling, and are sometimes abundant in specific sites. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They are trained to perform a number of tricks, such as back-flips, giving people rides on their backs, giving out kisses and much more. Jamaica is known for its beautiful beaches and marine life that snorkellers and scuba-divers flock to. Whew! Our cruise made a stop to a few of the US Virgin Islands and we got the opportunity to briefly explore the islands of St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Guests are offered bareback rides in the majestic Caribbean Sea on well-trained, thoroughbred horses. Resorts. Robert Curley is a freelance writer and guidebook author specializing in Caribbean Island and Rhode Island travel. “The nesting season is from March to November,” says Nathan Wilson, of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), of which the Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP) is part. Book your trip on their site or on Trip Advisor. An “arribada” is a mass nesting, in which thousands of female turtles come to a beach together to lay their eggs. There are seven known species of sea turtles in world. Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, How Hurricanes Actually Help Caribbean Fish, Caribbean Valentine’s Day: 7 Romantic Things to Do in Paradise, Caribbean Islands: a closer look at the region, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Puerto Rico, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica (from July to October and March to May. I hope everyone can read this so they can experience it too! Upon arrival, guests are given a brief orientation and safety briefing to demonstrate the correct way to handle a stingray. As their flippers made them natural swimmers, turtles evolved into a cross between amphibian and reptile. We uncover some of the best places to swim with sea turtles. Credit The Antigua Sea Turtle Project, Six Places to See Sea Turtles in the Caribbean. Turtles are one of the symbols of the sea. Get to touch young turtles and swim with yearlings in the lagoon. She currently pursues filmmaking on YouTube, freelance blogging, and an artsy side hustle with her husband of four years, Tyler, who goes on all her adventures with her. They are working hard to help stabilize the turtle population. Tales from the 17th and 18th century tell of mariners finding so many sea turtles in the Caribbean that net fishing without snaring one of these beautiful beasts was all but impossible. Our Cancun snorkeling tour is a 2 hours excursion where the whole area has a max depth of 9 feet, with calm waters and non or few current. He was such a cool guy! Sea turtles are among the most magnificent residents of the Caribbean, but they’re also among the most endangered. I'd like to receive the free email course. There was an error submitting your subscription. The turtles are waiting. Sea turtles are among the most magnificent residents of the Caribbean, but they’re also among the most endangered. However, if you would like to swim with young and adult sea turtles, you can do that year round! On the bright side, there are a number of major initiatives underway designed to preserve and protect the sea turtles, and many a Caribbean resort now includes sea turtle oriented activities and education among its guest offerings -- particularly in the summer and fall, which is sea turtle nesting season in the Caribbean. The awesome crew of The Cat provided us with all the gear we needed to be able to snorkel safely. Most of the island’s coral reefs are a little further and typically require a boat to get there. Carol M. Bareuther, RD, is a St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands based marine writer and registered dietitian. This is the turtle nesting season in the Caribbean. Hence, visitors can only visit on a tour arranged through the St. Patrick’s Environmental and Community Tourism Organization, the island’s leading advocate for Leatherback conservation. Once we climbed aboard the spacious boat, we took a seat and talked to some of the other passengers as we waited to set sail. These two smaller species can navigate rocky coastlines, so they favor the beaches on the Southeast Peninsula and the Caribbean side of the island, with occasional nests on the Atlantic side. They gave us really intimidating fake tattoos of their logo (a kitty with a pirates eye patch) to sport as we sailed to our destination. In fact, the name Akumal means “Place of the Turtles.” It attracts turtle lovers from all corners of the globe to come to enjoy the experience of swimming with them in the calm waters, which also makes it easy to venture even furth… Turtles have actually existed for more than 200 million years, dating back to the Age of Dinosaurs. However, if you would like to swim with young and adult sea turtles, you can do that year round! The best time to catch a glimpse of sea turtles hatching in the Caribbean is during summer and fall. It was the perfect temperature for me and I felt so comfortable floating there with all the sea critters. I pulled my mask to suction nicely to my face, and snorkeled away. Many islands have active research and protection programs in place, as well as ways for the public to see these charming creatures up close and personal. During turtle nesting season, which runs from June through October, children ages three to nine participating in the Kids for All Seasons turtle education program receive a sea turtle adoption certificate and Sea Turtle Conservancy membership. Made your decision? There were times he would dive down to the sea floor to grab a hermit crab, starfish, or other piece of sea life to show to us as he explained a few things about their survival. One of the most comprehensive sea turtle programs in the Caribbean is at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, whose Pinney’s Beach is a major nesting ground for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle as well as other species. Dominica's Rosalie Bay Resort is fortunate enough to have nesting populations of three types of sea turtles (green, hawksbill, and leatherback); the resort founded the island’s sea-turtle conservation program and enlists guests to patrol beaches to protect nesting turtles, help researchers collect data or aid in relocating nests that are too close to the ocean from the shoreline to the resort’s turtle hatchery. Luckily, many resorts in Jamaica offer snorkeling adventures to their guests, but professional captains and boats are also available for rent. We jokingly sang the theme to Pirates of the Caribbean as we drew closer to Turtle Cove. As we put on our vest, fins, snorkel and mask, the sail was taken down and we floated to a stop. © Copyright %year%, All Rights Reserved | Kennan Holdings LLC. Check out these websites to see how you can get involved: Remember, it can be great fun to swim with sea turtles in the Caribbean, and even watch them lay their eggs. These gentle guys were living the good life! Everything felt like it was going in slow motion as we floated there watching the sea turtles going about their daily routines, grouping with other turtles, and swimming up to the surface to look around. Your email address will not be published. Of course, that’s not something that happens everyday. It was much like a dream, and an experience Ill never forget. Even large sea turtles are susceptible to entanglement in fishing nets. I loved that he did that because it became more of a learning experience for us. Gliding with friendly sea turtles along the shallow floor of the crystal clear Caribbean Sea thanks the best slots with free welcome bonus no deposit required casino uk. If you would like to see baby sea turtles hatch, the best way to do so is to book an ecotourism tour. Here are some great places to swim with sea turtles in the Caribbean: Unfortunately, all species of sea turtles in the Caribbean are currently endangered, especially the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle. Swimming with sea turtles incl. Subscribe for fun updates, in-depth insights, and browse her blog for more. DomSeTCO, which is made up of a network of small like-minded groups across the island, has trained guides that can tell more about turtles and take those interested to an active nesting site. The coral reef we were swimming along steadily emitted a weird crackling sound. In addition, certain resorts and turtle sanctuaries arrange for visitors to see adult turtles laying eggs, or witness baby turtles hatching and making their way to the sea. Equipped with complimentary snorkels and masks, you can easily view these magnificent and graceful marine creatures. Book early as there is room for only 13 people per guide each night. Stroll the resort’s beach to spot hawksbill turtle hatchlings, or head out on a jet ski adventure to swim with adult turtles. The GoldenEye Hotel and Resort in Jamaica guarantees guests who stay for five nights or more in the month of September the chance to see sea turtles hatch on Golden Sea Beach, where more than 10,000 turtles emerge from the sand between May and September each year. professional pictures on Tripadvisor As the water splashed against the boat, we could see shadows in the water that we quickly determined were sea turtles and manta rays. www.fws.gov/refuge/Sandy_Point/, Sea turtles nest year-round on the beaches of this two-island country. Out of all the shore excursions to choose from at St. Thomas, swimming with turtles sounded pretty divine. Theres something both magical and mysterious about the ocean that keeps pulling us back to its shores like a magnet. Visit The Cats website to learn more about the trips itinerary. Dolphin Cove is the most popular marine attraction in Jamaica, offering guests the chance to feed, swim and interact with dolphins. The captain had all sorts of teaching moments he enlightened us with. Culture Trip stands with Black Lives Matter. It was a beautiful sight. I whipped out my favorite newlywed gift and started snapping shots with my GoPro (1st gen) as we shoved off the tiny island of St. Thomas. She writes about experiencing things that give you a deeper perspective, practicing lifelong learning, saying yes to adventure, and is a sucker for anything involving the great outdoors. By day, there are interpretative signs that provide information about the turtles and the refuge itself. Even as we inched closer to them, they werent afraid. Where to see hatching sea turtles in the Caribbean. Never miss a post and always catch where I'm off to next. Take note that sea turtles, like other marine animals, are more active when the water is warm. Discovering other marine life like shapely starfish, lightning slots, and an octopus hiding in its den. Cutting through schools of tropical fish as they search the coral reef for food. The ocean is calling. Having a close encounter with wild animals is a common feature on a traveller’s bucket list.
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