
One of the top questions I receive is – how can I see a sea turtle? Snorkeling with sea turtles is rather common here in St. John. There are certain areas that sea turtles are known to frequent, so it’s pretty easy to find them. That being said, the sea turtles found around St. John are all listed as endangered, so we not only need to respect them, we need to give them space.
Where to Find Them
Sea turtles munch on sea grass, which is why you see them more at Maho than say Cinnamon Bay, for example, Maho has a plethora of sea grass throughout the bay, whereas Cinnamon has a very sandy bottom. Maho is the top spot to see sea turtles, although they are known to frequent other areas like Saltwell Bottom beach, Leinster Bay and other less-popular spots.
If you are facing the water at Maho Bay, the turtles tend to spend more time to the right of the beach, rather than the left. If you are visiting the Maho tiki bar and snorkel across from it, you probably won’t see a turtle. If you go to the other end of the beach, you probably will.
How to Spot Them
Sea turtles breathe air, so you can spot them from the sand when they come up for air. This usually happens a couple times in a row, so if you see a head pop up once, chances are you will see it pop up a second or even a third time.
When you are on the beach, study human behavior Do you see a snorkeler out there who is hovering in one spot? Chances are, they are watching a turtle. Swim toward them to see for yourself.
Inevitably, someone out there is going to get so excited. They’re going to start flailing their arms to get a friend or family member’s attention. They’re going to scream “turtle!” Swim toward them. 🙂
How to Keep Them Safe
When you see a turtle, you should stay at least five feet away from the turtle. This advice is coming straight from Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. Because the turtles are endangered, they are protected by federal law. And please remember, you cannot feed a turtle under any circumstance. (Side note: Please do not feed the donkeys either.)
When snorkeling, you are likely seeing a green turtle. The majority of nests found around St. John are Hawksbill. Leatherbacks have also visited our waters and beaches from time to time. Loggerhead sightings are very rare, but they have been spotted over the years.
Have a great turtle picture? Feel free to send it over! You can email me your best shots at jenn@explorestj.com. You can also text them to me at 203-376-3786.
Want to learn more about St. John’s sea turtle population? Click here to visit Friends’ Sea Turtle Resource Library page.
Have a great day, everyone!
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour
See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.