I came across this hawksbill turtle on the house reef of the village of Soufrière in Dominica.
Sea turtles grow slowly and can get very old. This specimen is so young, probably about three years old, that you cannot yet see its sex. It can take 20 to 30 years for a sea turtle to mature. And then they can live for three times as long.
Compared to other Caribbean islands, the young turtles around Dominica are quite scared and shy. They are gone as soon as they spot a human. This one, however, was very curious, allowing me to swim with him for a while. When he swam towards my favourite piece of soft coral, I knew I had my shot.
I see many young turtles injured by plastic, fishing hooks or other human junk, which makes it extra special to witness a healthy young turtle this way.
Hi, I'm Lieke! I am 25 years old and work as a freelance underwater photographer, videographer and writer. After getting my Bachelor of Arts, I worked as a divemaster for several years. In 2024, I decided to combine my passion for the ocean with my passion.. Read more…