Sea turtles like Hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles are a familiar side in the area of Abu Dabbab Bay Marsa Alam. Some of these green turtles are really huge in size. It’s a beautiful sight to see sea turtles part the water with their claws in slow motion, graciously swimming to find their daily vegetarian fix by grazing the sea prairies and meadows, separating the wonderful house reefs. Here are some facts you’ve always wanted to know about sea turtles but were afraid to ask.

Sea turtles love jellyfish

Marsa Alam turtles like leatherbacks and hawksbills feed on jellyfish. Tragedy and cynicism dictate that plastic, floating in the water, conjures up visions of jellyfish. Subsequently, se turtles die from consuming plastic.

Sea turtles take care of meadows

A patchwork of algae, meadows of seagrass,  sargassum patches and floating weeds. That’s your sea turtles’ favourite habitat at Turtle Bay Marsa Alam. They indulge in a plant-orientated diet menu. By grazing seagrass, sea turtles keep them short and at the same time prevent harm for other aquatic creatures.

Sea turtles don’t hide in their shell

Sea turtles do not have to fight off natural enemies or predators. Evolution dictates that sea turtles cannot retract their flippers and head into their shells. However their anatomy characteristics make them pretty vulnerable when nesting and hatching on land.

Sea turtles are vulnerable to climate changes

The warmer the nests the more female offspring a turtle produces. The cooler the nests the more turtles will give birth to a male species. The picture is clear. Climatic changes have a dramatic effect on the gender balance of sea turtles and hence reproduction.

Sea turtles outlive many other animal species

Sea turtles have been with us for more than 100 million years. They once shared their existence on earth with now extinct dinosaurs.

Sea turtles are breathtaking in more than one way

Hold your breath. Sea turtles can hold their breath for five hours underwater. They are capable of conserving oxygen and do so by slowing their heart rate to up to nine minutes in between heart beats.

Sea turtles and their century

Sea turtles can reach the age of 100 years. This matches the amount of eggs they lay when they nest.

Sea turtles love GPS

Sea turtles sense the earth’s magnetic fields and they apply their detecting skills as if they were a compass. Their sense of direction is truly amazing.

Sea turtles and their baby turtles

Baby sea turtles usually have to struggle to get out the nest. It has been suggested only 1 in 1,000 baby sea turles survive to reach adulthood. Baby turtles from leahterbacks and flatbacks are larger than other sea turtle species.

Baby sea turtles navigate to the ocean with the aid of natural light horizon, together with the sight of wild horses, the white crests created by waves. They get disorientated by other light sources.