Sea turtles in Turks and Caicos: where to swim with them

Best for: first-time snorkelers

Two species do almost all the swimming here. Green turtles are the grazers, the only sea turtle that lives mainly on seagrass and algae, so look for them over the sandy, grassy flats. Hawksbills keep to the reef, where a narrow, pointed beak lets them reach into cracks for sponges, their favorite food.

Are the sea turtles in Turks and Caicos young?

Mostly, yes. Research on the Caicos Banks found the feeding turtles are mostly juvenile greens and hawksbills, and genetic studies suggest many hatched on beaches elsewhere in the Caribbean before settling here to grow up. Think of the banks as a nursery with a view. Loggerheads turn up only now and then.

Best for: families and groups who want the best odds

Can you swim with sea turtles in Turks and Caicos?

Yes, and a private boat charter is the easiest way to do it. Every charter carries snorkel gear, and the reefs and grass flats off Leeward, Grace Bay and the Caicos Cays are turtle country. Turtle sightings are really common out here, and our captains know exactly where to look.

A private boat also means no schedule. If a turtle is feeding near the boat, you can stay and watch for as long as it does, and nobody is waiting to move on to the next stop.

Best for: non-swimmers and little ones

Not everyone wants to snorkel, and a clear kayak tour solves that beautifully. You paddle the calm mangrove channels behind a guide, looking straight down through a see-through hull at the life below: turtles, stingrays, young sharks and fish. The two-hour Mangrove Tour stays in the channels, and the three-hour tour adds a stop on Iguana Island to meet its rock iguanas.

Can kids see turtles on a kayak tour?

Yes. Children from age 3 can come along, and both tours leave from Heaving Down Rock Marina in Leeward.

Best for: speed lovers with an hour or two

Our guided jet ski tours cover a lot of water quickly, and the guides lead you across the clear shallows where turtles feed. Keep your eyes on the water on the way out to the La Famille Express shipwreck or around the Caicos Cays, and you’ll often spot a shell gliding below.

Can you see turtles on a jet ski tour?

Yes, from the seat. Jet ski tours don’t stop to snorkel, so to swim with a turtle, pair the ride with a boat day.

• Look, don’t touch. Handling stresses a turtle, and a stressed turtle swims off.
• Let it lead. Chasing a turtle ends the encounter; floating still makes it last.
• Never feed one. Feeding wildlife harms it, and it’s against the rules in the national parks.
• Float, don’t stand. Standing on coral damages the reef the hawksbills feed on, and a life jacket makes floating easy.

Turtles are here all year, so any day on the water is a chance, and a longer day means more water covered and more time in it. They share the shallows with rays and, on lucky days, dolphins: our stingray guide and dolphin guide have more, and snorkeling by private boat covers the reefs themselves. There are plenty of ways to go: a private boat charter, a clear kayak tour, a jet ski tour or a group excursion. If you’d like to go with us, pick your boat below.

• Taxes included. The price you see is the price you pay.
• A deposit secures the boat. Every boat shows its free-cancellation window.
• Fast answers. Requests are confirmed within a few hours, nearly always the same day.