Turtles

For about one hundred million years, the waters of North Cyprus have been visited by the green (Chelonia mydas) and the logger-head (Caretta caretta) turtles. The green turtle only nests in Cyprus, south-east Turkey and sometimes in Israel.

These fascinating creatures come ashore on the deserted beaches of North Cyprus between May and August to nest and Alagadi beach is classified as a special protected area.

After sunset, when it is dark, the adult females, sometimes with a carapace of more than 100 cms long, make their way up the beach to find a suitable nesting place. There they lay between 65 and 110 eggs, depending on the species. This can be repeated three to five times for each, 10-15 days apart.

When the nesting is done, the exhausted female returns to the sea. She will perhaps reappear on the same beach again a couple of years later. Visitors are welcome to observe this exciting experience.

Since 1992, Marine Turtle Reasearch Group, in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Turtles in Northern Cyprus and the Department for Environmental Protection , has been undertaking an annual survey, recording the turtles activity during the summer months.

In the company of the team at Alagadi Beach (30 minutes drive from Kyrenia), you can share this unique event.

Just before sunset you join the students at their base, "The Goat Shed" at Alagadi.

First, you are given information about the turtles and the project, and then, when darkness falls, you will be taken down to one of the tow Alagadi bays. There, you will wait while the students survey the beaches. As soon as a female has begun to lay, you are, in silence, allowed to approach the nesting place. (No photoflashes are allowed at this important time).

And there, before your eyes, you can witness this one hundred million year old wonder, as one after the other these mother-of-pearl shimmering eggs, the size of table tennis balls, are dropped into the nest cavity.

On a lucky night, you will be able to experience this unique happening several times before you return to your hotel, tired, but happy.

Incubation is indeed not by the female turtles but by the warmth of the Cyprus sunshine. After about 50 days, the small hatchlings begin to emerge from the surface of their sandy nests.

This is another fantastic experience that takes place in some forty nesting beaches around North Cyprus.

All are welcome to participate in this event as well. To witness up to a hundred of these amazing little creatures, not more than 6-7 cm long, fight their way from the nest down to the sea, is an unforgettable sight. It is a sad fact that only one in a thousand survive.

Even less would survive if it was not for the special conservation project taking place here in North Cyprus concerning this endangered species.

At Scuba Cyprus, we feel it is our responsibility to help these creatures to survive and to be able to continue, without threat to their nesting ground, to visit our island. This has been their home much longer that it has been our.