Sept-Nov 09:  Not seeing many of these great creatures at present - they are too quick for good sightings!!

July 09:   Had one of these magnificent girls pop her head up for a breath about 2 metres from us last week, up near Mission Point so they are now in the Passage checking feeding areas, and breeding beaches in readiness for the laying season coming up.  We also had a beautiful large female green turtle recently struck and killed instantly by a boat just off Sandstone Point.  So very, very sad to see such a magnificent and important animal gone in an instant!

May/June 09:  These guys have been fairly quiet over the last few months - maybe due to rain in the Passage - anyway, we are always on the lookout regardless.

Dec/Jan 09:  Turtles occasionally spotted, although brief - they are VERY quick.  Fantastic weather with alot of boat traffic have kept sightings to a minimum.

Sept/Oct 2008:  Not too many turtles have been sighted although have seen a couple of dead ones washed up recently which does not bode well for this summer season for the decline of our wonderful turtles.

August 2008:  This week while out on the boat had a lovely sighting of a good size turtle up near White Patch with it's head clearly out of the water and having a good look at us.  Then 'zoom' and 'splash' and it's gone.....

Recently a good size leather-back turtle was found washed up deceased on one of our beaches.  These are extremely endangered and are not often seen in these waters. 

We do not see too many turtles throughout our cruises unless it is oily calm and not much boat traffic on the water.   They are too quick - coming up for a breath and then gone for about 20 minutes before the next breath.

Unfortunately the main turtles we come into contact with are the ones that are sick, or dead from either 'floating sickness' or boat strike etc. 

Recently found a large (80+yrs) female green turtle washed up.  Looked to have had a crab pot and rope tangled around her throat and flipper.  Being unable to de-tangle herself, she has died from either drowning or starvation.

Also, a sub-adult washed up with no obvious injuries.  Possibly 'floating sickness' the culprit.  'Floating Sickness' is when they consume floating plastics, thinking it is food, and are unable to digest these items.  This then forms a gas in their stomachs and they end up floating on the surface unable to eat or dive.  Death is normally by starvation or boat strike.