Drifting on the current with gigantic Pacific green sea turtles

Pacific green turtles are huge sea turtles with a gentle and mildly curious disposition. When a swimmer moves slowly and keeps a respectful distance, they will treat them with mild curiosity and allow them to drift with them and observe their feeding behaviour.Show more

These turtles were feeding in the shallows in a quiet bay on Floriana Island in the Galapagos. They come to the bay to feeb on sea weed and algae that grows on the rocks. The turtles can be seen in great numbers as they drift and munch contentedly. At this size, very few predators are able to harm them. They fear orcas and large sharks, but even those animals are generally discouraged by the nearly impervious shells of the turtles.

These are gentle creatures, having no means of attacking other animals, or humans. Their defense to an attack would be to simply swim away. Graceful and powerful swimmers, they propel themselves by flapping their powerful fins. They stay near the surface or in the relative shallows, needing to breath air to survive. They can dive deep, when they wish to and hold their breath for up to thirty minutes but they prefer to be in areas where the light allows the most lush vegetation to grow.

This lucky swimmer drifted on the waves and the current, recording dozens of these magnificent and peaceful animals as they went about their business. Occasionally, the waves and the surge would push the turtles within inches of him, which the turtles did not react to. It is never allowed to intentionally touch, harass, or swim too close to turtles of other animals. These turtles seem to understand the difference and they will swim away rapidly if they are uncomfortable.
Swimming with such gigantic, gentle beasts is a memory that will not soon be forgotten.