Since 2001, REEF has been counting sea turtles on surveys through a partnership with Seaturtle.org. It’s always fun to see these reptilian friends underwater. Sometimes close up and sometimes in the distance, they can be easy to identify or pose a real challenge. Hopefully, these tips will help if you see one close up munching on sponges, or as a shadowy shape in the distance on your safety stop. The most commonly reported sea turtles are:
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta): Look for the BIG head that allegedly drunken sailors thought was a floating log. Its shell is a uniform reddish brown. Range: All REEF regions.
Green (Chelonia mydas): Look for a small to proportionately sized head relative to its body. Its shell has radiating streaks of brown. Greens have two prefrontal scales between their eyes. Range: All REEF regions.
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata): Look for the hooked, hawk-like beak. If you can’t see its head, look for a shell with flecks of amber, black, and gold (true tortoiseshell). Juveniles have serrated edges on their shells. Hawksbills have four prefrontal scales between their eyes. Range: All REEF regions.
Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii): A wide, rounded shell with wide scutes. Body and shell are grey overall. Range: TWA, SAS.
Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea): A heart-shaped shell with wide scutes. Body and shell are olive in color. Range: IORS, SIP, CIP, TWA.
Visit this page for a handy identification guide and more information. When in doubt, snap a photo! You can also report them as Unidentified Sea Turtle on your survey.