Page 9 - Ocean Artist Society Winter2015r1

SEA TURTLES, WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THESE INTRIGUING ANIMALS? by Steven W Smeltzer
Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands as little as a hundred years ago, the Green Sea Turtle, the Hawksbill, the Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridely and the Olive Ridley are all listed as endangered species. While the Loggerhead Turtle is the only sea turtle not currently on the endan- gered species list, conservation efforts — including placing these turtles on the endangered species list — and the actions of many countries and individuals has helped select population groups, much work is yet to be done.
I remember my first encounter with Sea Turtles (almost 30 years ago) as if it were yesterday. I had just returned from a business trip to Australia and had stopped by the big island of Hawaii for a little relaxation before heading back to the states. I had wanted to start scuba diving for several years and the resort I was staying at had a dive shop on site that offered an “introductory dive” experience. After some brief drills in the pool, I was off to the boat and my first scuba diving adventure.
We were the second group to enter the water and just after my giant stride to enter the water, I looked to my left and there were three Green Sea Turtles, just off the reef not more than five meters from the dive master and me. It was love at first sight; the turtles were very relaxed and the dive master did an excellent job of having us just hover and watch the turtles as they swam in and around our small group and snacked at the local reef “deli”.
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