At a glance
| At a glance | In the Maldives |
|---|---|
| Species | Five of the world’s seven; green and hawksbill turtles are the ones seen most |
| Where | Hawksbills on reefs in every atoll; green turtles mainly in Lhaviyani, Laamu and Baa |
| Nesting | Mostly green turtles, in any month, most between June and August |
| Protection | Protected by law since 1995; all use of them banned since 2016 |
| The rules | At least six feet away; never swim above, chase, touch or feed a turtle |
Which turtles you will see
Of the five species found here, two are seen commonly. The hawksbill, critically endangered worldwide, lives on coral reefs in every atoll, and most seen are young. The green turtle feeds on seagrass meadows, and is found mostly in Lhaviyani, Laamu and Baa.
Nesting
Green turtles do most of the nesting, and can nest in any month, though most nests come between June and August. Important nesting beaches are in Baa, Laamu, Lhaviyani and Noonu, and Gaadhoo, in Laamu, is a key nesting beach. On a nesting beach, keep your distance and avoid bright lights, including torches and flash.
Protected by law
Sea turtles have been protected by law in the Maldives since 1995, and all use of them was banned in 2016.
How to behave
- Keep at least six feet, about 2 metres, away when you snorkel or swim; that is the national rule.
- Never swim above a turtle, chase it, touch it or feed it.
- If a turtle swims towards you, stay still and let it pass.
- Use natural light, without flash.