Drifting on the current with gigantic Pacific green sea turtles
- last year
Pacific green turtles are giant 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, allow them to drift with them, and observe their feeding behavior.
These turtles feed in the shallows in a quiet bay on Floriana Island in the Galapagos. They come to the bay to feed on seaweed 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 can 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 without means of attacking other animals or humans. Their defense against an attack would be to 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 breathe air to survive. They can dive deep when they wish to and hold their breath for up to thirty minutes but 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 did 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 or 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.
These turtles feed in the shallows in a quiet bay on Floriana Island in the Galapagos. They come to the bay to feed on seaweed 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 can 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 without means of attacking other animals or humans. Their defense against an attack would be to 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 breathe air to survive. They can dive deep when they wish to and hold their breath for up to thirty minutes but 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 did 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 or 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.