The Turtles of Diani: Why Every Encounter Is Worth Protecting

There’s a moment on a dive when everyone stops looking at their guide.

A turtle glides over the reef, takes a few slow strokes and settles down to feed. Suddenly, the whole group is watching. Whether it’s your first ocean dive or your five hundredth, seeing a sea turtle in its natural habitat is something special.

Here in Diani, we are fortunate to share our underwater world with these remarkable animals. But recent reports of alleged turtle hunting in Indonesia are a painful reminder that their safety cannot be taken for granted.

Meet Diani’s Sea Turtles

The two turtles you are most likely to encounter around Diani are green turtles and hawksbill turtles. Both are documented by the Olive Ridley Project’s monitoring programme in the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve.

Researchers have identified more than 800 individual green turtles and nearly 100 hawksbills during their work. These figures represent animals recorded over time, rather than the number present on any particular day. They show how valuable Diani’s waters are as turtle habitat. Olive Ridley Project – Kenya

Green Turtles: Diani’s Seagrass Grazers

Green turtles have a rounded head and a relatively smooth-edged shell. Despite their name, their shells are not necessarily green—the name refers to the colour of their body fat.

As they grow, their diet becomes mainly seagrass and algae. Protecting their coastal feeding grounds is therefore essential. A healthy reef alone cannot provide everything a turtle needs throughout its life. NOAA’s green turtle guide

Hawksbill Turtles: The Reef Specialists

Hawksbills are recognisable by their pointed, bird-like beak and overlapping shell scales. Their narrow beak helps them reach food inside reef crevices.

They feed heavily on sponges, influencing the balance between sponges and other reef organisms. Unfortunately, their beautiful shells have also made them targets for the tortoiseshell trade.

If you see turtle-shell jewellery or ornaments for sale, leave them where they are. Buying a souvenir should never contribute to the loss of the animals we travel to see. NOAA’s hawksbill turtle guide

Why Turtle Conservation Matters

Protecting turtles helps protect the habitats around them.

Green turtles graze in seagrass meadows, while hawksbills play a role in coral reef food webs. Conserving them means caring for feeding grounds, nesting beaches and the connections between those habitats. These same coastal environments support other marine life and communities that depend on the ocean. Olive Ridley Project – Kenya

Turtles also take a long time to reach breeding age. Female green turtles typically mature at around 25–35 years, while hawksbills can take decades to become adults.

Losing a mature turtle can remove an animal that survived years of hazards before having the opportunity to reproduce. Recovery requires protection sustained across generations. Green turtle biology, hawksbill research

For divers, there is another reason this matters. A turtle encounter can turn curiosity into a lasting interest in marine conservation. That opportunity depends on keeping wild turtles and their habitats safe.

The Recent Turtle Hunting Reports From Indonesia

On 16 September 2026, Indonesian National Police reported an investigation into alleged hawksbill turtle poaching within Raja Ampat’s marine conservation zone.

The report concerned incidents between 8 and 11 September and alleged that a turtle was killed with a speargun and subsequently cooked and consumed. The case remained under investigation at the time of writing. Indonesian National Police report

For anyone who loves the underwater world, reports like this are deeply upsetting. They also remind us that designating a protected area is only part of conservation.

Marine reserves need responsible visitors, committed operators, community involvement and effective enforcement. Everyone entering the ocean has a responsibility to respect its wildlife. Experienced divers and ocean professionals have an opportunity to lead by example.

Here in Diani, we should use that reminder to strengthen our own care for the marine life around us.

The Threats Extend Beyond Hunting

Direct killing is only one pressure turtles face.

Accidental capture in fishing gear can prevent them from surfacing to breathe. Plastic and discarded fishing equipment can cause injury or entanglement. Coastal development can damage nesting habitat, while artificial lighting can disorient hatchlings.

Boat strikes, pollution and changing environmental conditions add further risks. Protecting turtles therefore requires attention both in the water and on shore. NOAA’s green turtle conservation information

Looking after a nest matters. So does protecting a feeding ground, reducing waste and helping fishers prevent accidental turtle capture.

Conservation Starts With Local People

Diani has dedicated people working to understand and protect its turtles.

The Olive Ridley Project’s Kenya programme combines research with education and community outreach. Its photo-identification work helps researchers recognise individual turtles and monitor them over time. Olive Ridley Project – Kenya

Through its Balozi wa Kasa, or Sea Turtle Ambassador programme, the organisation also works with fishing communities. Fishers bring practical knowledge of coastal waters and can become important partners in reducing threats and encouraging conservation. Balozi wa Kasa programme

Lasting protection depends on cooperation. Visitors, dive centres, hotels, researchers and coastal communities all have a part to play.

How to Enjoy a Turtle Encounter Responsibly

The best turtle encounter allows the animal to continue doing exactly what it was doing before you arrived.

When diving or snorkelling:

• Give turtles space. The Olive Ridley Project recommends keeping at least two metres away.
• Never touch, chase, feed or try to ride a turtle.
• Keep its route clear, especially when it needs to surface for air.
• Control your buoyancy and avoid contact with the reef.
• Let photographs follow the encounter. Never corner an animal or disturb it for a better picture.

Watching quietly often gives you more time to appreciate natural behaviour, too. Olive Ridley Project’s Sea Turtle Code of Conduct

On the beach, give nesting turtles and hatchlings room, avoid flash photography and bright lights, and follow trained conservation staff’s guidance.

If you find an injured or entangled turtle, alert your guide and contact a local turtle conservation team or Kenya Wildlife Service. Seek expert help before attempting to handle it.

Learn More With Our SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty

Want to understand more about the turtles you meet on Diani’s reefs?

At Ocean Tribe, we offer the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology specialty course, helping you turn an exciting wildlife encounter into a deeper understanding of these remarkable animals.

The programme explores the seven living sea turtle species, including how to identify them, their nesting and hatchling journeys, swimming and migration, adaptations to life at sea, and the threats they face.

You will also discover practical ways to become a more considerate underwater visitor and support turtle conservation.

A Course for Divers and Non-Divers

The academic programme welcomes participants aged 10 and above, with no diving certification needed for the theory.

Academic sessions take around three hours, and SSI digital learning allows you to begin studying before arriving in Diani.

Open Water-certified divers can add an optional ocean dive. You can also combine the specialty with your Open Water course while learning with us.

Explore Ocean Tribe’s SSI Sea Turtle Ecology course in Diani and make your next turtle encounter even more meaningful.

Dive With Diani’s Turtles—and Help Protect Their Future

At Ocean Tribe, watching a turtle move through Diani’s underwater world is one of the experiences we love sharing with divers.

Join us to explore the reefs, learn about their marine life and develop the skills that make you a considerate underwater visitor. Turtle sightings can never be guaranteed, but every dive offers a chance to deepen your understanding of the ocean.

The next time a turtle glides past, take a moment to appreciate the encounter. Give it space, watch quietly and let it carry on its way.

That is how we want future divers to meet Diani’s turtles too.

Contact Ocean Tribe to plan your diving or ask about the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology specialty.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diani’s Turtles

What turtles can I see in Diani?

Green turtles and hawksbill turtles are the two species most commonly encountered around Diani. Sightings vary with the dive site and conditions.

Can I touch a turtle while diving or snorkelling?

No. Keep a respectful distance and never touch, chase, feed or restrict a turtle’s movement. Always leave its route to the surface clear.

Why is turtle conservation important?

Turtles play roles in seagrass and reef ecosystems, and they take decades to reach breeding age. Protecting them requires safeguarding their habitats and reducing threats throughout their lives.

Does Ocean Tribe offer a turtle ecology course?

Yes. Ocean Tribe offers the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology specialty, covering identification, life cycles, migration, threats and conservation.

Do I need to be a diver to take the course?

No diving certification is required for the academic programme, which welcomes participants aged 10 and above. The optional ocean dive requires Open Water certification, or you can combine the specialty with your Open Water training.