where to see turtles

[to.travel]

Is there a place where I can see turtles by snorkeling off a beach or from shore?

 

Thanks!

[pholter]

You can swim with turtles on any snorkling excursion pretty much. If you'd just like to see some turtles, then you can see them walking all over the place at the Wildlife Preserve. I'd recommend Glory Tours to do both. www.glorytours.org You get to see the best of Barbados for a very reasonable price, too.

[barbados]

Is there a place where I can see turtles by snorkeling off a beach or from shore?

 

Thanks!

Good question!

 

The Hawksbill turtles are seen quite regularly close to shore in the Alleynes Bay area about two miles north of Holetown and three miles south of Speightstown.

 

Their favorite feeding spots vary from month-to-month. Sometimes they are seen feeding close to shore as far south as Sandy Lane Bay. Other times, they are seen from the road as far north as Maycocks Bay, 12 miles from Bridgetown. It just depends.

 

Your best bet is to swim/snorkel off the beach in front of the Lone Star Garage Restaurant in Mount Steadfast, St. James, about seven miles north of the pier. They have been seen here on a regular basis, perhaps only 500 yards offshore.

 

Now, between May and late October they nest in the St. Lawrence gap area of our southwest coast. The establishments that have beach front property turn off their outside lights during these months so as not to alarm or confuse the Hawksbills. If you’re there in the evening during these months, you have a good chance of seeing them up-close-and-personal in the area between Hastings and Dover.

 

I might also mention that Barbados is the only island that considers these turtles an endangered species. They are protected and interference with them, or any attempt to remove any part of them from the island is punishable by two years in prison and a US$10,000 fine. These wonderful creatures are a national treasure to us.

 

Good luck in your quest! :)

 

Hawksbill Turtle, Barbados