On Sunday 31st August the team went down to support and see 2 rescue turtles released. They had been rescued earlier this year and taken in by the Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre. 2 turtles were released – 1 green turtle and 1 loggerhead turtle who had both come to the centre in a bad way.

The green turtle had been caught by a fishing line, it looks like the line had been cut but the hooks remained in the turtles mouth and neck – you can still see the stitches on some of the photos.

The Loggerhead turtle had been found on the beach in a really bad state – he was nearly decapitated, he had got his head caught in a 6 pack plastic can holder around his neck, again you can see in the pictures.

The day was a great day – to see the turtles patched up and ready to go in the sea, they were unloaded and then taken down to meet the large waiting crowd, they let the crowd get very close to the turtles, which made the turtles look a little uncomfortable  –

the team explained they do this on purpose, they expose the turtles to the people so they are slightly stressed and therefore would fear humans. While they are at the centre they have a lot of human contact and therefore associate us as good and a source of food –  this is not natural for the turtles, they need to fear human contact as many of the injuries seen result from this.

Then came the magic moment, one at a time the turtles were released into the sea with a big cheer from the crowd, they both swam off without a look back, we saw both of them come to the surface for a breath and then they were gone. They swam off to where they belong, stretching their fins and probably off for a well deserved sleep!

If you want to come and see these beautiful creatures and much more underwater book a diving experience www.paradisedivers.co.uk

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Thanks to Gabor for the great pictures of the day

Happy Diving Everyone