Snorkelers wear hidden smiles under the water, even if they only put their head below the surface while swimming—happy endorphins explode wondering what may be encountered. It can be a lottery regarding what you see, unless you head to a particular destination where it's a given that your marine animal experience is anything but random—like all creatures, there's a definitive location for reproduction, for eating, merely hanging out, and migration lanes like an aquatic highway flowing with the oceans' currents. Whale sharks cruise about at La Paz, Mexico, dugongs munch on seagrass at Marsa Alam, Red Sea in Egypt, and the world's friendliest manta rays can be found at Socorro, Mexico. To swim with your favorite marine creature depends on the time of the year you wish to travel and your bank balance.

Sea turtles are super cute marine critters that make you smile when you see one. One of the world's inhabitants for millions of years, turtles are celebrated in legendary movie style—Oogway from Kung Fu Panda and Crush in Finding Nemo. While in Hawaii, sea turtles are seen as godly—the god of protection from evil spirits, Ka, takes the form of a turtle. The lovable sea turtle symbolizes peace, ancient wisdom, longevity, and emotional strength. Hindu mythology believes the earth is held up by four elephants standing on the back of a turtle—symbolizing that the turtle carries the weight of the world on its back. And, the First Nations coastal people ‘Arakwal' of Byron Bay in Australia honor and protect the sea turtle known as ‘Binguing', considering it to be a sacred messenger of the 'sea country.'

There are seven known sea turtle species, including the Flatback that can only be found in Australian waters: Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green Sea, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, and Kemp's Ridley—these species can be found in the oceans worldwide, apart from the Arctic and Antarctic—they don't like cold water! Sea turtles rely on outside sources to regulate their body heat—gravitating to warmer waters if the water is too cold, or vice versa; if too hot, they swim to cooler water. The bony shell of a turtle is covered in a layer of plates made of keratin, the same as a human nail, with plenty of nerve endings, so you should never touch one in any way—they do feel it. Most local governments have protection laws for interacting with sea turtles as they are peaceful creatures content to munch on coral and swim wherever their fancy deems fit. If you violate the turtle laws in Hawaii, you can be fined up to $80,000 or thrown into prison.

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles - The Wise Traveller - Snorkel

Snorkeling Tips

  • Don't get too close, as this will stress them out. When stressed, a sea turtle will continuously open their beak, giving you a clue that they are not open to being inspected at close quarters—just let them do their own thing with you at a distance of about 10 feet; if you don't want to be swiped with a flipper, or maybe bitten.
  • When you swim near a sea turtle, always approach from the side, allowing them to have a clear path in front of them if they wish to escape your ogling.
  • Do not follow a turtle if it's swum away from you—it's trying to get away! If you insist on following, the turtle may stay submerged without going to the surface for air and it will suffocate.
  • Always swim quietly in slow motion, more floating than kicking your flippers—turtles do not like loud noises or to be startled.
  • Trying to find them—sometimes a turtle will just be wallowing on a sandy bottom, hiding under the overhang of coral at a drop-off, floating over seagrass beds, or lazily feeding in coral beds.

Where in the World to Snorkel with Sea Turtles

  1. Marsa Alam Egypt
  2. Sipadan Malaysia
  3. Bunaken Marine Park Indonesia
  4. The Seychelles
  5. Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
  6. Gili Islands, Indonesia
  7. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
  8. Maui Island, Hawaii
  9. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
  10. The Maldives
  11. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
  12. Tioman Island, Malaysia
  13. Barbados and most of the Caribbean Sea

It's a fantastic experience to hear a sea turtle take a breath upon reaching the water's surface. When you see one rising, keep your distance and rise at the same pace, breaking the surface together. This is one of those OMG moments that will stay with you long after you fly home—remember not to gasp in excitement sending salt-water up your nose.

Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.