The first of many helpful hints and insider information that’ll make your time on the islands that much greater. Be one of the ones in the know!

One of the beauties of snorkeling is the opportunity it offers to behold the sight of sea turtles and other aquatic animals, in turn making your snorkeling experience a memorable one. One mistake many make while snorkeling is getting too close for comfort to these turtles, in the process, harassing them and ruining your snorkeling fun. To have an enjoyable time with these sea turtles, here are a few tips you should keep in mind:

• In waters where you will find sea turtles, there are laws protecting them. You are not expected to touch, ride or attempt feeding them. For instance, in Hawaii, violators can pay as much as $80,000 in fine or serve a prison term. So, when swimming up to a turtle, do it quietly, as loud noise would likely scare them away.

• Just like other sea animals, sea turtles can feel stressed or harassed. Some of the telltale signs include; continuously opening their beak, and no, they do not feel sleepy, they are only just irritated and need you to let them be. Ignoring this warning puts you in harm’s way as the turtle might ram into you or attempt to bite you.

It might also want to hit you with its flipper, this means that you need to allow them some more space by moving away.

A stressed turtle may want to avoid you by swimming away, don’t follow them. Otherwise, they will avoid going up to the water to get some air, thus causing them suffocation, and in some cases, death, as a result of their inability to get oxygen. It is advisable you give them some space, it is an amazing experience when you float along, watch them eat, go up for some air or probably just glide along.

• Approach them from the side, it is often advisable to give turtles a minimum distance of 1.5meters or 10 feet. Whenever you are approaching a turtle, always do that from the side, this gives them a clear path ahead of them and a clear view of you if they need to swim away.

• When they are neither swimming nor eating, you will often find them resting beneath an undercut cave or rock. Look out for their large, brown shells juxtaposed with the rocks or a large indent where sand meets with the edge of the colorful reef. They are often found at stations where herbivorous fishes dine on algae.

• Need to take an underwater shot? No worries! Look out for a turtle that’s lying on the sand or perched on the edge of a cave, there’s a good chance you will find one before it decides to swim to the surface for some air.

• If you are snorkeling at night, wear dark colored clothes, and have a red-filtered night light. Avoid photography that requires you to use a flash, this causes confusion for hatchlings and mothers on the direction of the moon. Also, go with a guide to avoid disturbing their eggs.

Try to do more of floating instead of kicking, kick only when necessary. The more relaxed you are in the water, the more relaxed the turtles will be, and the better your snorkeling experience. Armed with this knowledge, you are on your way to having an a memorable and wonderful snorkeling experience.