Nov 10- Oct 11 - we have regularly sighted turtles throughout the last 12 months but they are so quick it is VERY hard to confirm sightings.  They come up and as soon as they realise you're there, they've gone so absolutely no time for photos or even to tell someone else....   However, we are finding many turtle shells washed up, mainly around White Patch and they don't look like they are very old turtles.  One shell found yesterday looked to be only about 20-30 yrs old and had a great crack and hole across the top of its shell - looks like boat strike....  plus all the many deaths happening up around Gladstone and the Great Barrier Reef, we are grateful for whatever turtle activity we see here at Bribie.

September 2010 - when out yesterday we saw about 12 turtles throughout the 3 hour cruise with many of them being quite large with most looking like they were feeding which was great.  They are coming in to prepare for egg laying later in the year.  Weather was mirror calm so absolutely PERFECT for spotting them as they come up to breath.

August 2010 - have started seeing a couple of turtles around.  Saw a couple of large turtles mating in the Passage just north of Donnybrook near the yellow marker in the channel.  

June -Aug 2010 - nothing to report with these wonderful creatures - not really their time of year here.

Feb 2010-June 2010:   Turtle sightings have been more scarce than we would like, however we have had rain throughout the last six months which may turn these animals off coming into the Passage if there is too much fresh water coming through.  They are very quick too, so chances are, they come straight up for a breath, and then are gone.

Dec-Jan 10:  Have seen a few heads pop up during some of the cruises but they are so quick.   Again we have had a fatality wash up on the beach here - about an 80yr old green female again either parasites or floating sickness got her (her shell was in pristine condition so it was not boat strike), so she is no longer with us to continue her species.  Please remember to put ALL your rubbish in the bin no matter where you are.  It can end up in the water and kill our sea life, long after you have left this earth........  Please care....

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.