Where to freedive/dive with turtles?

[gabe13]

Should be going away in July and am looking for the best destination to maximise the chances of freediving or snorkelling or diving with turtles around the world, have got a couple of ideas, but just wondered what you guys would recomend?

[octopus]

Seen many in Maldives & Galapagos.

[sickbugs]

hmn.. barbados.. there are some spots here that your almost guarenteed to spot a few, usually they will keep their distance but i know of one small one that'll let u pet his shell

[Wanny]

yep, galapagos is a good spot. such a beautiful place above and below the water. plenty of turtles. can also snorkel/freedive with sea lions, scuba with hammerheads.

[Aber]

A very good place for spotting turtles is Malaysia. Sipadan on Borneo is the most obvious place. At the most I saw 25 turtles on one dive (Scuba). You meet them between 5-15 meters mostly, so snorkling with them is no problem. Another place is The Perhentian Islands (preferably the big one:Besar). The diving there is far from as good as Sipadan, but its more easy to get there and cheaper. You find many turtles outside the beach at the Perhentian Island Resort eating seegrass from 7 meters. They come up for air all the time, so they are easy to spot. Boatdrivers can take you around the islands for a reasonable amount of money for good snorkling.

[lungfish]

HI,
I often dive Hawaii because I live in San Francisco and its cheap..... many, many turtles there. I recommend the Big Island but there are attractions throughout the island chain. In Kona I have a favorite coffee shop where I sit and look over the railing at green sea turtles (they call them "Honu"). One of the best freediving spots anywhere, with turtles, is at Pu'uHonua OHonaunau - City of Refuge, South of Kailua-Kona about 20miles. However, there are many coves (search "Cottage at Turtle Cove" - stayed there many times) with resident turtle populations. They can range from about 20lbs and the size of a large dinner platter to 100lbs and a meter or so in length.
Fish and Game rules do not allow harassment, touching, etc but you can get a ton of great pics....I have many.

Good Luck!!

Lungfish

[fishon]

There is no question you will see tons of turtles in Hawaii (well in Oahu, I am not 100% sure about the other places). That being said, its not at all my favorite dive place, but if all you want to do is snorkel with turtles you can do it all day in Oahu. I don't touch them but you will get close enough that you could. Kahe Pt., Alii Beach, and Shark's Cove are just a couple places to check out. All pics taken freediving the last week or two here on Oahu.

[lungfish]

Howdy,
I have encountered turtles on the Great Barrier Reef while freediving off of professional dive boats but I have only seen them twice out of probably 30 trips out to the ribbon reefs.
The concentrations of sea life aren't as high in Hawaii as other places but I have encountered everything from Marlin and Tiger sharks and big Tuna to dolphins, turtles and sea snakes. The access to dolphins in Hawaii is particularly nice. I know of places to practice where dolphins come almost daily and will dive with you and around you while you train.
Hard to beat the environment. Blue Water, high viz, crazy sea life and plenty to do when you aren't swimming.
Lungfish

[pat fish]

Sipadan-Mabul is your first adress!

[Flying Bajan]

Barbados is a great place to go for turtle dives... the winter being the best time, but they are there all year round too. I saw 7 on one shallow scuba dive recently, with 5 in view at one time off the southern coast - a dive site known as "The Boot".

On the west side, the charter catamaran crews hand feed them with snorkelling gear. They are VERY tame.

[island_sands]

Originally Posted by lungfish

Howdy,
I have encountered turtles on the Great Barrier Reef while freediving off of professional dive boats but I have only seen them twice out of probably 30 trips out to the ribbon reefs.
The concentrations of sea life aren't as high in Hawaii as other places but I have encountered everything from Marlin and Tiger sharks and big Tuna to dolphins, turtles and sea snakes. The access to dolphins in Hawaii is particularly nice. I know of places to practice where dolphins come almost daily and will dive with you and around you while you train.
Hard to beat the environment. Blue Water, high viz, crazy sea life and plenty to do when you aren't swimming.
Lungfish

wow those pictures are stunning!

Cayman Islands has a turtle farm and also loads of turtles. Saw one on almost every dive. Turtle Reef is a PERFECT freediving location to see turtles - amongst other stuff -
see this link www.caymanislands.ky

[bigdiver]

Another great place is @ Francis & Maho Bay on the island of St. John, US Virgin Islands. Tons of turtle grass, so you are always sure to see some turtles feeding.

[Manuel]

Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos and Hawaii...
very nice, but not cheap for those who live Europe...

I recommend southern Egypt: There are a lot of bays with sea grass.
On 1 dive with a max. depth of -8 m I saw a least 12 turtles (pictures tomorrow).
In addition you can see there sometimes dugongs (sea cows) and around the deep water reefs some pelagics.

MANUEL

[AltSaint]

I was Scuba diving on the reefs around Diani, in Kenya a few years ago, and saw several on every dive. ( I also saw other divers touching and crowding around them .)

They were no deeper than 15 metres, and hopefully are still around.

[Manuel]

Here are my yesterday promised pictures.

MANUEL