Turtle

Sea Turtles are a common sight in Maldives. They stay in the sea in their entire life, except for the females who surface to lay their eggs in nests on the beaches.

The Hawksbill Turtle can be 1 meter in length and 80 kg on average. The name is given by the beak-like mouth, which resembles a hawk. The Hawksbill Turtle feeds on sea sponges, algae and jellyfish. It may by mistake eat plastic bags floating in the water, believing they are jellyfish. This can be fatal. The Hawksbill Turtle is considered to be critically endangered, and it is forbidden to capture and trade Hawksbill Turtles and products derived from them.

The Green Turtle is not green at all, but is given the name by the greenish color of the fat under the shell. It can be 1.5 meter in length and weight up to 200 kg. It feeds on sea grass and is often seen in lagoons. The Green Turtle is considered to be endangered.

It is easy for divers to get close to those gentle creatures, but it is important to know that they must have freedom of movement. When it feels threatened, the Turtle may seek refuge at the sea floor and in worst case drown.