Swimming with Sea Turtles
Winter is the best time of year in the Bahamas to swim with sea turtles. In January, the water in the shallow reefs that surround the Cove is the ideal temperature for the animals to hang out. (They prefer water that’s right around 68 degrees F.) When summer arrives and the water warms, the turtles swim farther into the Atlantic Ocean and spend time in deeper water.
The best way to see these majestic creatures is to join a guided snorkel tour around the point just beyond the soft white sand of our two private beaches.
The one-hour adventure begins with a guide briefing about what you might encounter during the outing—besides turtles, Yellow Tail Snappers, Bar Jacks and Needle Fish are all common sights. (Pro tip: The calmer and quieter, or less splashy, you are, the more marine life you are likely to see.) Then, you’ll walk into the waist-deep water, put on your provided snorkel gear and take your first peek below the surface. Eleuthera boasts some of the clearest water in the world. Here in the shallows, starfish are plentiful.
Once everyone in the group is comfortable, you’ll swim along the reef, quickly losing count of the number of brightly colored fish in your sights.
Near the point, it’s common to spot turtles peacefully grazing near the ocean floor. It’s one of their favorite locations because of the plentiful algae and sea grass. But these aren’t just any sea turtles: They’re green sea turtles, an endangered species that can stay underwater for up to five hours.
On my recent outing, one launched off from the bottom and, with a few flips of its front flippers, popped to the surface to breathe some air mere feet from our group. After filling its lungs, the turtle started to dive back down—but not before checking everyone out, making an arching loop to study us with its large, doleful eyes.
Our guide pointed behind us. There was a second turtle! This one was smaller and not quite as curious. It dove back down for a snack without giving us a second glance.
We watched the pair for a while before continuing on around the point. We were looking at the coral trees that were planted by The Cove, in partnership with the Reef Rescue Network, when our guide very excitedly pointed out yet another turtle. This one was a leatherback. It was much larger than the green turtles and moved more quickly and smoothly through the water. It was a majestic sight. Even our guide was mesmerized: It was the first time he’d seen one!
It was a fleeting moment, but one that won’t be soon forgotten. I hope you can join us to see these magnificent creatures at The Cove.
Sally Cooper,
Resort Manager