hhi - sea turtles?

[ellenmiele]

Anyone know if there are any sea turtle activites at HHI? I'm looking for something along the line of conservation/preservation re: turtle nests/hatchlings.
Thanks

 

[cgcw]

Here is a link to the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. We've never been there but one of these days when we are tired of just sitting back and relaxing, we'll probably check it out. I do see that they offer a turtle program.

http://www.coastaldiscovery.org/




A couple summers back, our DS pulled a diamond back turtle out with his crab net. My DS & DH brought it to the pool to show to anyone around at the time --- it was really something to see. When they were done, back into the water it went -- a very grateful turtle to be let go.

We've also seen the huge sea turtles floating at the top of the water as we've been out deep sea fishing.

Last year, as we walked up and down the beach, there were several turtle nests roped off from the public. Definately a good sign.

 

[sweetp0618]

My daughter (now 14) and I have done the sea turtle lecture and walk sponsored by the Coastal Discovery Museum (see post above). It was very informative. The lecture is held in a hotel meeting room (the Westin, when we went) and then the guide takes the group out to the beach to see how nests are marked. The first time we went was the week of July 4th--it was really interesting, but we were much too early for hatchlings. I believe they normally start around mid-August. We did the tour the second time around the third week in August and we were 2 days too early for the first anticipated hatch of that season. The guides are volunteers and are very knowledgable about sea turtles, their habitats and habits. We weren't too disappointed when we didn't see anything the second time after one of the guides--who has been a volunteer for over 10 years--told us that she had never seen hatchlings.

Make sure to wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet and make reservations as soon as you can because the sessions fill up fast.

Hope you enjoy it!
sweetp0618