This week in Nusa Lembongan… Even though the mola season has not been a crazy busy one, are divers have still had the chance to swim along with some friendly underwater creatures. Divemaster trainee Nicole, while helping with the group of 16 people we had from Denmark, saw 3 different turtles in one dive on the north coast of Nusa Penida. We get two different types of turtles in Nusa Lembongan, the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle.The hawksbill’s appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. In general, it has a flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and flipper-like limbs, adapted for swimming in the open ocean. It is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. Hawksbill shells slightly change colors, depending on water temperature. While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs.
The green sea turtle’s dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of thecarapace can be almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle, it is mostly herbivorous. The adults usually inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses. The turtles bite off the tips of the blades of seagrass, which keeps the grass healthy.
Like other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Many islands worldwide are known as Turtle Island due to green sea turtles nesting on their beaches. Females crawl out on beaches, dig nests and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge and scramble into the water. Those that reach maturity may live to eighty years in the wild. Make sure that you let us know if you are interested to see the turtles in Nusa Lembongan, we will be more than happy to assist you.