The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is home to 6 out of the 7 types of marine turtles found in the world. 3 of the species are found regularly including the Hawksbill, Green & Loggerhead turtles. The Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Flatback are here but very rarely seen. Turtles migrate thousands of miles during the year and may even cross entire oceans. When the female is ready to lay eggs she will migrate close to the beach from where she was hatched. Nesting is not an annual event and the female may spend several years at sea feeding to get the energy for the next laying.
A turtle's diet includes grasses, weeds, jellyfish, some shell fish and crustaceans. Some turtles are vegetarians and others will include a variety in their diet. Turtles range is size from the Olive Ridley of 50 kilograms and 1 meter long to the Leatherback turtle which can reach 750 kilo and 1.75 meters in length.
Operating out of Port Douglas we are lucky enough to encounter turtles on almost a daily basis. It is unusual NOT to have a turtle encounter. Most often we see the Green and Hawksbill turtles while snorkelling and diving and quite often they are kind enough to let you get up close and personal to have your photo taken together, like the ones displayed on this page.
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