Year-round reef residents. Patient, photogenic, surprisingly social.
21 destinations across Indian Ocean, SE Asia, Red Sea, Middle East, East Africa — peak seasons vary by location, so plan your trip around the right destination AND the right month.
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 12 sites
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr · 50 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Feb–Sep · 25 sites
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 40 sites
Tier 1Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Apr–Nov · 25 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 25 sites
Tier 3Sea Turtles here: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 2Sea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 4Coming soonSea Turtles here: Jan–May, Oct–Dec · 15 sites
Tier 3Sea Turtles here: Apr–Nov · 40 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSea Turtles here: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec · 22 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSea Turtles here: Apr–Oct · 12 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSea Turtles here: Jan–May, Nov–Dec · 20 sites
Tier 3Coming soonSea Turtles here: Mar–Oct · 18 sites
Tier 4Coming soonSea Turtles here: Apr–May, Sep–Nov · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonSea Turtles here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
Sightings vary by destination. The heatmap below shows where sea turtles are most likely each month.
43 bookable trips · all SSI+PADI affiliated · zero agency fee
Sea turtles are the easiest "big animal" sighting in scuba — present at almost every tropical reef destination, year-round. Greens graze on seagrass beds; hawksbills pick at sponges and corals on the wall.
They're ancient reptiles that hold their breath for 30+ minutes, so encounters often last as long as you're prepared to hover. They're generally indifferent to divers; if you stay still you can watch them feed for entire 60-minute dives.
For first-timers: Andaman's Havelock has more turtles per dive than almost anywhere in Asia. Maldives, Bali, Sipadan are reliable. Hawksbills are scarcer than greens — Sipadan is the gold standard for both.
Tell us when you can travel and your certification level — we'll match the right destination, the right season, and the right trip for diving with sea turtles.
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