Turtles

[parisbully]

Do you have to take one of the tours to see the turtles? Can you just go to a beach or are they only seen while on the water.

[barbados]

"Do you have to take one of the tours to see the turtles? Can you just go to a beach or are they only seen while on the water".

 

If you’re just visiting for a day, chances are that you will have to meet the Hawksbills in their environment. Very few day-cruisers are lucky enough to see them on land.

 

They nest from mid-May through late October on the island. They have favorite nesting spots and the establishments in those areas must turn off their outside lighting so as not to confuse them.

 

Barbados was one of the first islands to protect the Hawksbill turtle.

 

You can take a tour from your ship; Swim out to meet them (long swim!); hire a local to take you out, or take a local tour.

 

Whichever way you choose, the Hawksbills’ are beautiful, gentle creatures that you will remember forever.

 

Have a great time! :)

 

 

Hawksbill nesting sites, Barbados

[Aplmac]

Nice turtle-nesting map! - thanks.

 

Spotting turtles "on the fly" is very much a Luck and Chance thing

and I'll give you an example.

 

Early yesterday morning I was at my usual 'station' near the Port,

taking pix of the cruise ships for my website, as they enter Barbados.

I noticed something log-like floating in the water, about 30 ft. out.

A turtle? maybe not...

 

And then up came the head for a breath, in that unmistakable manner they have

and yes it was a turtle, right there in front of me, maybe about 2.5 ft. long

close enough I could see a large barnacle on his back!

I watched him for a while, taking many refreshing breaths - he was clearly in no hurry.

 

Would that work for you? probably not.

For me again? predictably? -in that same spot again? almost definitely not.

 

You pretty well need to take one of the tours,

since those guys have the whole thing 'wired'

and by now the turtles are "trained" to certain times of day,

maybe to certain alert sounds,too...that sorta thing.

[parisbully]

Thank you both for your response. I hate tours....But, now I will definitely take one. Because I love turtles more than I hate tours. Aplmac, can you tell me your website?