Baby sea turtles bravely pass through a gauntlet of crabs and seabirds on their way to the water to begin the mighty swim to reach deep oceans and the floating beds of kelp where they will spend their first few years floating, eating, and growing. Sea turtles migrate thousands of miles to return to the same beach where they hatched in order to mate and lay eggs. They grow to reach 3-4 feet in diameter and several hundred pounds depending on the species. Eggs are laid every few years. Males never leave the water, mating takes place in the waters just off shore.
Females only return for a short time to build their nest and lay their eggs.
The Remarkable Journey of Adelita the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Sea turtles can be seen in the waters around each of the Hawaiian islands. During early morning and around dusk they can be seen popping up for air every few minutes while they feed on seaweed clinging to off shore rocks. As the turtles age, their diet preferences turn to sea vegetable sources. Seeing them flying through the water while snorkeling is even more amazing. Some turtles will be curious and observe what you are doing.