Two sea turtles are common in Seychelles, the hawksbill and the green turtle. Hawksbills nest on beaches mostly in daylight between about October and February, while green turtles tend to nest at night. You can see them nesting on protected beaches and swimming while snorkelling in places like Curieuse, the Ste Anne Marine Park and Cousin. Always watch quietly from a distance and never touch or block a turtle.
Sea turtles are one of the quiet joys of a Seychelles trip. You can meet them two ways, gliding past your mask in shallow water or hauling up a beach to nest, and both are special. The islands are an important refuge for them, with strong protection, so a little knowledge makes the encounter better and keeps the turtles safe.
The two main species
The turtle you are most likely to see is the hawksbill, a smaller turtle with a beautiful patterned shell that feeds on the reefs and nests on many inner-island beaches. The other is the larger green turtle, more common in the outer islands but seen throughout. Leatherbacks and others pass through but are rare sightings.
When they nest
Hawksbills are unusual in that they often nest in daylight, mostly between about October and February, which makes them easier to witness than most sea turtles. Green turtles generally come ashore at night. Nesting females dig above the high-tide line, lay their eggs and return to the sea, and hatchlings emerge weeks later and scramble for the water.
Where to see them
- Curieuse and the Ste Anne Marine Park for snorkelling encounters with feeding turtles.
- Cousin Island, a reserve and an important hawksbill nesting site.
- Wild beaches such as Anse Intendance on Mahe and quieter sands on Praslin and the smaller islands during nesting season.
- The outer islands like Bird and the far atolls for green turtles.
How to watch responsibly
Turtles are protected and easily disturbed. Keep your distance, stay quiet and still, and never touch, ride or chase one in the water. On a nesting beach, never use flash or bright lights, never get between a turtle and the sea, and never dig for eggs or handle hatchlings. If you find a nesting turtle, give it room and let it work. Good operators and reserves brief you on this.
Snorkelling with turtles
The easiest encounters are in the water, where a feeding hawksbill will often ignore a calm, slow snorkeller entirely. The protected, shallow marine parks are the best bet, and a boat trip out to Curieuse or around Ste Anne gives a strong chance in season and good conditions.
How to plan
Time a trip for the October to February window if nesting matters to you, and book snorkelling or marine-park trips for in-water encounters. Browse verified places to stay near the good spots in our directory, and look at boat-trip options to reach the reserves and islands where turtles gather.
Frequently asked questions
What turtles live in Seychelles?
Mainly the hawksbill, a smaller reef turtle with a patterned shell, and the larger green turtle. Hawksbills are the ones you are most likely to see, both snorkelling and nesting.
When can you see turtles nesting in Seychelles?
Hawksbills nest mostly in daylight between about October and February, which makes them unusually easy to witness. Green turtles tend to nest at night. Hatchlings emerge weeks after the eggs are laid.
Where can you see sea turtles in Seychelles?
Snorkelling in Curieuse and the Ste Anne Marine Park, the reserve on Cousin Island, wild nesting beaches like Anse Intendance, and the outer islands such as Bird for green turtles.
How should you behave around sea turtles?
Keep your distance, stay quiet and never touch, ride or chase them. On nesting beaches use no flash or lights, never block a turtle's path to the sea and never handle eggs or hatchlings. They are protected.
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