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Shell Shocked: 15 Amazing Sea Turtle Photos

By Scuba Diving Partner | Updated On December 26, 2023
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Shell Shocked: 15 Amazing Sea Turtle Photos

Here at Scuba Diving, we're very open about our love for sea turtles. And who could blame us? Not only are they adorable — if you need convincing, see image No. 2 — but they are also some of the most fascinating creatures you'll encounter during your time below the surface.

So to accompany this gallery of amazing images submitted to the 2014 Through Your Lens Photo Competition, here are some fun facts about these shell dwellers.

They're Old

Sea turtles can live for more than 100 years.

We Mean, Really Old

Fossils of ancient sea turtles date back to more than 100 million years ago, making these critters some of the oldest animals on the planet.

They Cry

To rid their bodies of excess salt, sea turtles have a gland that empties into their eyes that makes it seem like they are crying. These "tears" also help keep sand out of the eyes of female sea turtles when they're digging their nests.

They're Divers

Leatherback sea turtles routinely dive more than 1,000 feet, but can reach depths of more than 3,000 when seeking prey.

They're Fragile

According to World Wildlife Fund, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp's ridley sea turtles are listed as critically endangered; loggerhead and green turtles are listed as endangered; Olive ridley sea turtles are considered to be vulnerable; and flatback turtles do not have sufficient data to establish endangerment status.

They Need Your Help

In addition to making environmentally friendly choices, you can help save sea turtles by donating to a conservation agency or by volunteering at your local beaches.

Here at Scuba Diving, we're very open about our love for sea turtles. And who could blame us? Not only are they adorable — if you need convincing, see image No. 2 — but they are also some of the most fascinating creatures you'll encounter during your time below the surface.

sea turtle photos

Sea Turtle

Alexia Dunand

An endangered green sea turtle.

Location: Tenerife

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Sea Turtle in Bahamas

Alfonso Exposito

Location: Bahamas

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Indonesian island

Marcello Di Francesco

In this amazing Indonesian island, the miracle of life repeats almost every night ... many turtles come to lay their eggs on this piece of land, where the long journey begins.

Location: Sangalaki Island, Indonesia

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Sea Turtle in Komodo

Jeff LaFrenz

The observer became the observed when this turtle decided to investigate that strange creature hanging around taking his photo.

Location: Komodo, Indonesia

Category: Behavior

sea turtle photos

Green Sea Turtle

Massimo Zannini

A green sea turtle posing.

Location: Maratua Indonesia

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Curious turtle posing for the photo

Susan Shield

A very curious turtle! I was taking photos and she was posing for the camera. When I was taking this photo I was back fining as fast as I could to try and keep the most of her in the shot. An amazing experience with a very curious turtle.

Location: West of Eden, Similan Islands, Thailand

Category: Behavior

sea turtle photos

A Hawksbill Turtle

Ken Kiefer

A hawksbill turtle makes a turn into the current beneath the blistering sun in Cozumel.

Location: Columbia Shallow / Cozumel

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Turtle in the Arabian Gulf

Simone Caprodossi

After a month in the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitiation Program, this turtle was set free into the Arabian Gulf.

Location: Dubai

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

A turtle in Bonaire

Tacey Griffin

A turtle heads to the surface.

Location: Bonaire

Category: Behavior

sea turtle photos

A large school of jack fish was circling a turtle

Jan Wenger

This picture was taken on Sipadan Island. A large school of jack fish was circling when this turtle pushed through the school right with the sunlight on its back ... this is one of the moments that makes you realize why you started diving.

Location: Sipadan, Malyasia

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

A turtle in Koh Tao

Sebastian Åkerblom

Location: Shark Bay/Koh Tao

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Hawksbill Turtle

David Willis

For Palau, the dive had been unremarkable until I was approached by this hawksbill turtle, seemingly out of nowhere. I expected to be quickly joined by my dive buddies, but I was alone, just the hawksbill and me. We hung out for over 10 minutes while he (or she) posed for the camera. At one point, his nose was 4 inches from the dome port. I had to back away to get this shot.

Location: Palau

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

A friendly turtle in Tubbataha

Peter de Maagt

Tubbataha is a protected area of the Philippines located in the middle of Sulu Sea. The reefs also serve as a nesting ground for Hawksbill and Green sea turtles. On most of the dives you will meet one of these magnificent creatures. During a dusk dive I noticed this friendly turtle against the last rays of the day.

Location: Tubbataha

Category: Wide Angle

sea turtle photos

Perfect shot of the turtles in Tenerife

Montse Grillo

I find myself devoting much time to these curious creatures. When I take a picture, I always try to let the picture tell a story, and transfer feeling into the viewer. It took me hours — and a lot of patience — to capture this perfect moment.

Location: Tenerife (canary islands)

Category: Behavior

sea turtle photos

Chasing Green Turtles

Gil Woolley

Four male green turtles chase a mating couple in the hope of prizing off the male and taking his place on the female. We witnessed seven males chasing a mating pair on one occasion as the female struggled to reach the surface for a breath under the weight of the fighting males.

Location: Sipadan Island, Malaysia.

Category: Behavior

To accompany this gallery of amazing images submitted to the 2014 Through Your Lens Photo Competition, here are some fun facts about these shell dwellers.

They're Old

Sea turtles can live for more than 100 years.

We Mean, Really Old

Fossils of ancient sea turtles date back to more than 100 million years ago, making these critters some of the oldest animals on the planet.

They Cry

To rid their bodies of excess salt, sea turtles have a gland that empties into their eyes that makes it seem like they are crying. These "tears" also help keep sand out of the eyes of female sea turtles when they're digging their nests.

They're Divers

Leatherback sea turtles routinely dive more than 1,000 feet, but can reach depths of more than 3,000 when seeking prey.

They're Fragile

According to World Wildlife Fund, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp's ridley sea turtles are listed as critically endangered; loggerhead and green turtles are listed as endangered; Olive ridley sea turtles are considered to be vulnerable; and flatback turtles do not have sufficient data to establish endangerment status.

They Need Your Help

In addition to making environmentally friendly choices, you can help save sea turtles by donating to a conservation agency or by volunteering at your local beaches.