Sea Turtle Watching in Dominica!

As a species they have literally withstood the test of time by being able to adapt to change over a span of 150 million years.

There are currently seven species of sea turtles:

• Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
• Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
• Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
• Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
• Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
• Flatback (Natator depressus)
• Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)

Luckily, of this list, four species can be seen right in Dominica's waters and on the beaches: Loggerhead; Hawksbill; Leatherback; and Green Sea Turtle.

Sea turtle watching in Dominica is a unique and wonderful experience.

Dominica is committed to the preservation of these beautiful creatures, whose very existence continues to be threatened by

• pollution of the oceans
• large-scale poaching for meat, shells and leather
• commercial exploitation of sea turtle eggs
• development and destruction of nesting beaches

Dominica's commitment to preserving sea turtles has helped it become one of the most popular sea turtle watching destinations in the world.

So, if you really want the opportunity to observe these fabulous creatures in their natural habitat, Dominica is where you'll want to be.

The sandy beaches along Dominica's south east coast provide the perfect nesting ground for sea turtles such as the giant leatherback which tips the scale at over 1000 lbs.

Like all other sea turtles, Leatherbacks return to the beach where they were hatched to lay their eggs.

If you are fortunate enough to witness this amazing act of nature, I can assure you it will be a memory you will cherish for the rest of your life.

As mentioned earlier, Dominica is thoroughly committed to the protection and preservation of sea turtles.

As a result, nesting beaches are monitored daily by the Rosalie Sea Turtle Initiative (RoSTI) beach patrollers.

Here are a few handy tips on sea turtle watching:

1. Remain a safe distance from sea turtles, as they can easily feel threatened and become aggressive.
2. Never feed or attempt to feed sea turtles.
3. Do not shine lights in a sea turtle's eyes or take flash photos.
4. Never disturb a sea turtle that is crawling to or from the sea.
5. Avoid or reduce beach lighting at night.

Sea turtle watching in Dominica is an adventure. So visit Dominica and experience this adventure for yourself.