Searching for Sea turtles in Bahamas or Castaway Cay

[Ebranch]

Visiting Atlantis for the purpose of the Hibiscus Lagoon- the one with the sea turtles. (The cruise and location is picked by my 7 yr old watching Disney Jr and became infatuated with the commercials for Atlantis with sea turtle swimming) Has anyone had access without the full waterpark tickets? I was told I needed the full access for lagoons and the Discover Atlantis is only the Dig. Anyone with experience with the lagoon or other Sea Turtle experiences? Thanks in advance

 

[Dug720]

There is one turtle who is known to hang out at Castaway, but on the natural side of the island. No encounters.

The only ones I have seen in Nassau do not work with a ship's schedule.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I have seen a sea turtle twice while snorkeling the snorkel trail on castaway cay so definitely give that a try, but of course no guarantees - just a possibility.

 

[lindsay0526]

If you want to do the Atlantis and see the marine habitats, it looks like you will need to reserve the "Discover Atlantis Tour & Beach" package. You can book it from "Resort for a Day", but you would have to procure a taxi (which is easy) at the port - https://www.resortforaday.com/Atlantis-Beach-Day-p/nsnabd17-rfd.htm.

You can also book the same excursion through Disney and transportation is included- https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...bahamas-atlantis-beach-day-discover-atlantis/

If that's the one thing your child wants to see, then *I* would try my best to make it happen. I wouldn't take a chance that you *might* see a sea turtle at CC, and there isn't an excursion there to guarantee it would happen.

 

[Ebranch]

There is one turtle who is known to hang out at Castaway, but on the natural side of the island. No encounters.

The only ones I have seen in Nassau do not work with a ship's schedule.

Wow! Thanks much, I will look for that area then. My daughter plans to snorkel there but we thought to follow where the trail is.

 

[Dug720]

Wow! Thanks much, I will look for that area then. My daughter plans to snorkel there but we thought to follow where the trail is.

You can't go to the natural side of the island. Sometimes you'll see him hanging out near the ship though. I've seen him a couple of times in front of the pier.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

My daughter in the lagoon at Castaway Cay on this past February 3rd.

ETA: this is the second time we've seen a turtle in the snorkeling lagoon. DW saw one (same?) a few years back as well.

 

[dcassetta]

Wow! Thanks much, I will look for that area then. My daughter plans to snorkel there but we thought to follow where the trail is.

I think when the PP refers to the natural side of the island, they may be talking about Serenity Bay which is the adult beach. Unfortunately, your daughter will not be allowed to snorkel there. People have seen turtles at CC, but I have visited CC 14 times and have never seen a sea turtle swimming there. If seeing a turtle is important to your daughter, I would do whatever you need to do at the Atlantis resort.

 

[dcassetta]

My daughter in the lagoon at Castaway Cay on this past February 3rd.

I am so jealous. No turtles in January!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think when the PP refers to the natural side of the island, they may be talking about Serenity Bay which is the adult beach. Unfortunately, your daughter will not be allowed to snorkel there. People have seen turtles at CC, but I have visited CC 14 times and have never seen a sea turtle swimming there. If seeing a turtle is important to your daughter, I would do whatever you need to do at the Atlantis resort.

I think the "natural side" is the area out behind the dock (accessible to CMs only). The area to the right of the path and back into the trees here:

 

[Dug720]

I think when the PP refers to the natural side of the island, they may be talking about Serenity Bay which is the adult beach. Unfortunately, your daughter will not be allowed to snorkel there. People have seen turtles at CC, but I have visited CC 14 times and have never seen a sea turtle swimming there. If seeing a turtle is important to your daughter, I would do whatever you need to do at the Atlantis resort.

Nope. I'm talking about the undeveloped side that you can see from the port side of the ship most of the time.

 

[princessmommyx3]

This is the turtle we saw in the snorkel lagoon in October 2016. We saw another one, or possible the same one, on November 9.

 

[Sunshine2U]

DS has video of him/her(?) in the snorkeling lagoon on Feb. 12. But agree if it's the one must do, ditch every thing else and book the excursion.

 

[VFL]

We saw a smaller turtle in castaway cay lagoon in sept 2018 and a larger one in Feb 2019. Sadly, some idiot tried to touch the one in Feb so he swam away.

 

[Ebranch]

My daughter in the lagoon at Castaway Cay on this past February 3rd.

ETA: this is the second time we've seen a turtle in the snorkeling lagoon. DW saw one (same?) a few years back as well.

View attachment 386865

 

[Ebranch]

Beautiful! Though I won't count on it for her, very encouraging Is the snorkeling lagoon the area that has the trail I have heard of that has Mickey statues etc. under the water? Appreciate the photo!!!

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

The lagoon is direcly off the family beaches and has ropes marking the far reaches. Each of the underwater 'things' (statues, sunken boats...) has a floating buoy overtop to make it easier to find. Both times we've seen turtles was on the far right area (when looking out from the beach), fairly far out near the buoys

 

[Ebranch]

Nope. I'm talking about the undeveloped side that you can see from the port side of the ship most of the time.[/QU

 

[Dug720]

?

 

[nicdu]

There are a bunch of sea turtles in port Canaveral too. We see them often from the ship and always in jetty park. You can’t swim with them, but still cool to see.