Video: A Sea Turtle’s View of the Reef

Have you ever wondered what it looks like from a sea turtle’s point of view?

As part of a tagging project in the Arnavon Islands, Nature Conservancy scientists temporarily attached a camera to the back of a juvenile green turtle. The resulting footage shows the turtle swimming past parrotfish and moray eels, and an incredible encounter with a large male hawksbill turtle. The Nature Conservancy’s Melanesia program director and scientist Richard Hamilton thinks that the male hawksbill likely swam over to evaluate the green as a potential mate.

For more on green turtles in the Arnavons, read our story about how a “turtle rodeo” catches green turtles like this one as part of a long-term tagging program.

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16 comments

  1. Edye Dunne says:

    Beautiful – thank you!

  2. Cindy Beam says:

    Thank you for the opportunity to see a reef from the turtle’s perspective – beautiful video!

  3. Rich Manfredi says:

    Great stuff!

  4. Carol Layman says:

    I love your Cool Green Science blog-so informative & fascinating! Thanks from a loyal reader & supporter..

  5. Janice Brown says:

    I rescued baby turtles on Lady Elliot Island in the Great Barrier Reef. A very spiritual experience! And one I will never forget.

  6. Donna Duncan says:

    That was so cool, reminded me of all my diving trips when I was younger.

  7. Carol Sydney says:

    I, like so many there, enjoy wildlife videos. I do have to wonder though, how these impact the animals themselves. How stressful it is, how intrusive? How detrimental in the long run?

    I’m certain there have been advancements but how much is simple curiosity? I am beginning to lean in the direction of “leave them be.” Let them be alone to live their lives, find their food and die in peace.

    If we cannot fine a balance between their complete freedom and simple lives then let’s leave them alone.

    Sincerely,
    One voice for the voiceless

  8. Francesca M Austin says:

    Great footage – GoPro SeaPro! Sending this to my daughter who is a diver and a terrific swimmer.

  9. Dianna L Burton says:

    The reef looks dead.

  10. Gautam says:

    I really enjoyed this