My first seaturtle pics :) plus extras

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Not sure what kind of turtle this is, Paulwall thinks its a hawksbill. Only the second turtle I've seen while diving, but my first close encounter and my first while equipped with a camera. Turtle swam right up to us, it was very curious. Below 3 pics taken right off the beach at Alabama Point Jetties.

Crab porn for SeaYoda

Little blenny hiding in a sponge growing off the West Beach Paddlewheeler

 

[Jamdiver]

Wow that has to be the most algae encrusted turtle that i've ever seen....

Nice shots though.

 

[Gilligan]

Good shots but that poor turtle is a mess.

 

[friscuba]

Man, that turtle is it's own eco-system. Great pictures.

 

[Larry C]

Very nice shots Superbugman! I've never gotten close enough to a turtle for a macro. Maybe I'm too ugly. They all run away. I think this one is due to go to the cleaning station for an extended visit.

 

[Marriard]

Btw, it is a Loggerhead Turtle (Flat face, prominent nostrils, bulbous head, etc)

M

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

I agree. Looks like a VERY OLD loggerhead.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Great shots mate

I've never seen a turtle so covered: do you think it was healthy or did it seem sick?

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Btw, it is a Loggerhead Turtle (Flat face, prominent nostrils, bulbous head, etc)

M

Thanks for the ID.

Great shots mate

I've never seen a turtle so covered: do you think it was healthy or did it seem sick?

Cheers,
Rohan.

I can't really say, I don't have much experience with them at all. The only other turtle I've seen was a much smaller seaturtle that regularly visited the Destin Jetties before Hurricane Ivan. It would not let you get close and would swim at the outside of visibility.

This turtle was sitting on the sand between some of the jetty rocks until I came upon it. It swam towards and then behind us, circled us a bit, swam to us again, then sat infront of another rock and stuck its head underneath. Its illegal to mess with seaturtles here so I had to swim out of its way whenever he came towards us. It seemed friendly, and didn't seem to have any problems getting around despite the underwater jungle growing on its back complete with barnacles, hermit crabs, and a little remora.

 

[DennisW]

I think it is an old turtle. If the turtle were ill, it wouldn't have lasted long enough to get the barnacles and algae. A shark would have taken it. (No scientific knowledge here, just my humble opinion.)