TortugaWatch.Com

Notations concerning
Green Turtle Observations 16 to 29 July 2002
in Akumal Bay

Upon arrival in Akumal I meet with the new director of Turtle Project at the Ecology Center. The director of the Turtle project, Rogelio Villavicencio B., informed me that there appeared to be more turtles in the bay this year than in any other recent period. He asked me to look for a three-limbed turtle, which had been spotted from a kayak and he wanted confirmation of the animal.

Tuesday 16 July. 11:30 AM -12:30
Observations commenced post visit to CEA. The water in the bay, particularly in shallows and up to 12 feet deep near the cut, was cloudy due to churning sand. There appeared to be fewer fish inhabiting the bay this year. In the AM during a general wide arching swim from the Dive Center next to the Hotel directly out to the deep cut and then arching southwest back to shore visible were grunts, angels, ray, and, and closer in to shore Wrasse and hatchlings. The wide blade turtle grass seems to be in a healthy condition and in larger meadows than in the summer of 2000. Later in the day, 3:30 PM, another ray (larger than the one seen in the AM was seen near the deep channel cut, and southwest of that position grunts, yellow striped, tangs and blue striped (?), all located near the coral heads southwest of the deep cut. In this location the water was clearer, less sandy, but still turning. As noted earlier in the day, Wrasse were closer into shore, but, at this hour there seemed to be a larger number of them. No turtles were visible.

Wednesday, 17 July, 11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Water calm, clear, and warmer into shore than in the deep. Swimming straight out from the Dive Center near the deep cut at the edge of a sandy plain and a meadow of wide turtle grass viewed a green turtle:
#1 for the day, totally unmarked, approximately 24" along the carapace. The turtle was grazing and moving in arcs following the curve of the wide bade turtle grass meadow. Its movements were of an arch from the southwest toward shore and ending facing the Cannon House at which point the turtle would rise for air. This procedure continued for about ten minutes with the turtle coming up for air three times and returning to where the turtle had stopped eating so it would continue along its path. When the turtle returned to grazing the third time it was joined from the southwest by two other turtles, one smaller and the other larger.
#2, The smaller turtle, 18" carapace, was marked on C2 and C5.
#3, The larger turtle had no distinguishing marks but measured about 28-30 " carapace. The three turtles took position along the arc of the turtle grass approximately a yard apart and preceded to graze when a fourth turtle joined the activity.
#4, this unmarked turtle had girth and mass, his carapace measured more than 36" and he too joined in grazing. Turtles #2 & #3 seemed to be more aware of each other and watched each other more than the other two. Turtle #4 did not eat as close to the others but always positioned himself between the smaller turtles and any sounds that penetrated the observers hearing. Turtles #2 & #3 came up for air in minuets of each other demonstrated quick evasive moments noted in earlier observations. A darting off to the right and a quick jerking movement to the left and quick swim toward deep grass and then an arch to land right back where it started. Turtle #1 was lost sight of after it returned to the grazing area and seemed to wander off into deep grass. Turtle #4 stayed down eating a considerable longer time than the other turtles and always seemed to know where the smaller turtles landed to graze on the feeding arc.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Water slightly cloudy with sand churning. In the same general area as in the AM, observed turtle #2 (18"carapace, marked on C2 & C5) and #3 (28-30"carapace, no marks) from the morning. These two graze in proximity to each other and barely disturbed their eating when the observer approached within ten feet. Their positions were kept constant with #3 always positioning itself toward the deep water cut. Approximately 15' across a sandy patch along the edge of wide turtle grass was another turtle:
#5 for the day, was not seen earlier and was about 36'' carapace with its head facing the sandy area and its body concealed in the grass. Nearby to the east and closer to the deep water cut was another considerably larger turtle. This turtle,
#6, 40"+ carapace had girth, mass, and had two Remora fish attached to it. It appeared that all four of these turtles were grazing on wide turtle grass around a sandy patch approximately 15-20' in diameter. Typical of all four turtles was the eating movements of turning the head to the side, biting on a carefully selected blade of grass, pulling back to straighten the head and chewing moving the tongue to bring the blade of grass in. During the observation the smaller turtles (#2 & #3) surfaced for air approximately every five minutes and the larger turtles were able to stay submerged for twice that length of time. The 40+" turtle seemed to be more selective in grass blade choice, biting each blade from just below its widest part and carefully dusting off the sand with its front flipper nails. This turtle stayed submerged longer and moved further away from the other three several times during the observation but always returned to its position on the feeding arc.

Thursday, 18 July, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Water is cloudy with sand. Approximately midway out from the Dive Center to the Deep water cut observed two turtles:
#1 observed for the day, was 18" carapace with black rash like substances or small circular tumor on the left side of the neck. The other turtle,
#2, also approximately 18" carapace, had no distinguishing marks and was of a light color. Both turtles were forging in ever widening semi circular movements with the arc ending toward the Cannon House when they would come up for air.
The observer lost visual contact with these turtles after approximately 30 minutes.

11:30AM - 12:30 PM
Water still cloudy with churning sand plus the added glared from the sun made photography a problem. Southwest of the deep water cut observed three turtles grazing:
#3 & #4, 18"carapace (different from earlier in the AM) unmarked, and a third,
#5, 24"+ carapace with living tags C3 & C4. These turtles are #s 3, 4,and 5 seen this day. While these three were grazing two more turtles joined them coming to this location from what appeared to be the deep water outside the bay.
#6 was about 30"+ carapace with living tags on C2 & C5, (although the living tags were in the same place as the turtle seen the day before this turtle was almost twice the size.) and
#7 about 20" carapace unmarked but with black tumors on the right side of the neck and under the front right flipper near the neck.

04:30 PM - 05:20 PM
Water is calmer at this time than earlier but still somewhat sandy. Approximately ½ way between the Dive Center and the Deep water cut south of the catamarans observed an
#8, 18"carapace turtle with no marks and different from the others seen was slowly moving toward the space between the three-anchored catamarans. This turtle, the fourteenth seen since arriving, was followed by the observer [p3.2002/001_xa.jpg] to the edge of a sandy circular area in the midst of a large meadow of wide blade turtle grass, where it joined five other grazing turtles. The largest,
# 9, was 36"+ carapace with girth, marked with living tag on L2 and had two Remora fish on it [p3.2002/002_00a.jpg.]. Grazing beneath this large turtle was a smaller turtle, [003_0a.jpg]
#10, whose carapace was maybe 12", with no marks. Next to them was a turtle,
#11, 18-20" carapace with living tags on C3 & C5 [p3.2002/005_2a.jpg]. A little further off along the
arc of the grazing area was turtle
#12, 24" carapace, no marks, [p3.2002/004_1a.jpg] and
#13, 20" with a chip (piece of scute missing) on R5. All six turtles were grazing in harmony with each other when two more turtles joined the group (flock?) from out of the dense turtle grass on the deepwater side of the bay.
#14, was 36+", no marks but with one large Remora fish, and
#15 was 18" carapace with chips on outer scutes R2/3 & R4/5 [p3.2002/013_10a.jpg].
This early evening grouping of eight turtles grazing in the same location at the same time was the largest number of turtles observed in this manner since this observer started observations. The movement pattern of the turtles followed the circular and semi circular moves described previously. [photos p3.2002/006_3a.jpg, 007_4a.jpg, 008_5a.jpg, 009_6a.jpg, all show L2 moving from feeding position to another location.] All turtles would surface for air at their own rate and return to their place in the feeding arc about the meadow. All of the smaller turtles demonstrated evasive movements once they surfaced for air with some of them moving further away from the group prior to returning to their spot. During the observation the decreased angle of the sun and the churning condition of the water caused visibility to decrease.

Friday, July 19
No observations. Windy, water choppy, storm brewing.

Saturday, July 20
09:30 AM
No Observations. It is a sunny day but windy, bay water choppy & churning with sand.

04:30 PM - 05:20 PM
Sunny, wind still up, water a little sandy while swimming ½ way out from the Dive Center and Deep water channel observed a turtle, the twenty-second seen to date, and first seen today
#1, 30+" carapace, with living tags on C3 & L4 and a tag on the front left flipper. Following this turtle as it traveled to a semi sandy area between two dense meadows of wide blade turtle grass, where it commenced to graze. [There are many photographs of this turtle: p3. 2002/018_15a.jpg, 019_16a.jpg, 020_17a.jpg, 021_18a.jpg, 022_19a.jpg, 023_20a.jpg, 024_21a.jpg.] It seemed that turtle #1 was all alone with the observer and a detailed report of its eating was possible. It movements of searching for particular blades of grass with its front flippers, twisting its head to chew off the blade and then lifting its head up as it chewed and swallowed was noted in prior observations. The turtle moved within inches of the observer many times but the tag number was blurred or out of sight. This turtle's general movement pattern was circular around the perimeter of the semi sandy area as it grazed on selected blades of grass. When coming up for air the turtle would move in an arc away from the grass where it was grazing break surface for a quick breath and quickly nose dive toward the bottom only to shift position in an acute angular manner at the last moment and then break surface for a longer breath of air and the return in a reverse arc to the feeding place. This pattern repeated itself and each time the cycle was over the turtle had shifted its position slightly closer to the grazing area note on Thursday between the catamarans. Visibility was starting to be limited as another turtle (#2) appeared from the dense grass seaside. This turtle about
#2, approximately 20" carapace, marked on C3 & C5 may have been the turtle observed on Thursday afternoon, # 11. Turtle #2, however, it was noted as it came close to the observer had a metal tag on its left front flipper but the tag number was illegible. Both turtles grazed close to each other near the catamaran and moved off when several noisy people come to look at them. [No photographs were taken of #2 as the water had become too murky.] Turtle #1 moved off first toward CEA at a slow pace, but when the tourist started to go after it, it rapidly disappeared into dense grass toward the Casitas. Turtle #2 slowly moved into ever-increasing arcs, which changed into an oblong shape as it extended it position closer and closer toward shore and the Casitas gradually swimming and fading out of sight in the grass.

Sunday, 21 July
04:15 P. M. south west of the Catamarans and on an angle toward the deep cut channel. It is Sunny, but windy and the water is somewhat cloudy churning with sand. The light rays are also causing some visibility problems. Start film roll #3. Many photographs of turtles Observed in the above mentioned location was
#1, 36" + carapace with girth and a living mark on L2, no metal tag but with two Remora fish attached, one about 18" and the other 10" (this turtle was seen before on Thursday as #9). [p2.002_00a.jpg & 003_0a.jpg]
#2, One photo of 30" carapace turtle with no marks but with a 10" Remora.[p2. 004_1a.jpg] Both turtles were grazing at the edge of the turtle grass meadow located in the center of a triangulation between Lo Ha Restaurant, Cannon House and the third Catamaran nearest the deep channel.

The water at this hour was cloudy and sandy. There appeared to be a churning movement undertow and as the sun moved to the west the visibility diminished. The 30" carapace turtle, #2, was grazing partially in the turtle grass. After several minutes of observation it came up for air in a circular and spiral pattern, circled its previous grazing place, and moved off in an arc toward the Cannon House. While moving toward the Cannon House the turtle remained just above the turtle grass as the distant grew greater and the light caused the turtle to disappear. The other turtle, 36" + carapace, #1, with an oval mark, living tag, on L2 and was grazing on the sandy side of the turtle grass for an extended period of time. It circled for air seven times and after each inhalation it drew closer to the observer. This turtle exhibited the typical eating pattern: selection of a particular blade of grass, head twist for the bite, chew, head moves to right and left, and then head lift with a double movement which seemed to indicate swallowing. This 36" + carapace turtle looks like the one observed Thursday afternoon within the larger group observed and identified as #9. This turtle was grazing in a meadow adjacent to the one in which the turtles were grazing on Thursday. Approximately 30 minutes lapsed observing this turtle when it started to shift location, following the same path as the 30" carapace, #2 had travel toward the Cannon House. This turtle #1 literally foraged through the dense turtle grass and stopped in a semi sandy area between the diving dock and the coral outcrop where it settled down to graze. The dense turtle grass meadow was now to the south west and in the distance two other turtles could be seen grazing. The light angle of the sun in the west caused extreme shadows and the water was now too cloudy with churning sand to continue the observation. 5:00 P. M. ended the observation & the observer returned to shore having observed twenty two different turtles to date.

Monday, 22 July
Water very choppy. No sightings due to sandy churning conditions underwater.

Tuesday, 23 July
Slight breeze over the bay but the water is calm and clear. A great deal of fish activity near the coral surrounding the bay but no turtle sightings.

Wednesday, 24 July
Water conditions are similar to the day before. Two exploratory swims: one in mid morning starting at 9:30 A.M. and another early afternoon at 2:00PM. Again there was a lot of fish activity but no turtle sightings.

4:40 P.M. Swimming between the moored catamarans I observed a large turtle
#1, 42+ "carapace with two Remoras on it but with no distinguishing marks. This turtle was larger than ones previously seen and was of substantial girth, mass and weight. Since this very large turtle was feeding in the shadows beneath the catamaran and the sun was at a sharp angle no photographs were possible. The turtle keep up an active rapid eating pace moving slightly up and down in the dense grass. With each movement the Remoras moved from top to bottom of the turtle. Many shadows played on the grass at this time of evening making the observation difficult and by 5:20 P.M. the observation was over.

Thursday, 25 July
No Observations due to inclement weather. Arranged a visit to Xcaret Turtle Project under the directorship of Alexander Arenas. Meet with Ms. Maru who arranged for a meeting with Alejandro Arenas Martinez, the Director of the Xcaret Turtle program. Ms. Maru showed us about the laboratory and the holding areas. We were asked not to take photographs as we saw a 14-year-old Siamese green turtle.

Friday, 26 July 8:20 - 9:40 A.M.
Swimming between the catamaran and the diving platform (dock) many fish were visible: parrot, Blow, Wrasse, French Grunts, Needle, etc. as well as three (3) Cuttle fish (mini squid) in three different sizes. As these fish propelled themselves about their colors change from white to pink to blue and with variations in between depending on what appeared to be danger/safe stimuli. In the deep water cut area bay side in the grass surrounding a sandy area observed a large ray, a spherical blowfish and then a triangular shaped fish. At the edge of this sandy area grazed 6 (six) turtles. All were well spread out around the periphery of the area calmly grazing. Occasionally a turtle would spiral up for air and spiral down making physical contact with one of the other turtles and then continue on to the next spot in its grazing pattern.
Four of the six turtles were 18" to 20" front to back carapace. Photographs of the first three seen, #1, #2, #3, #4, none of the fourth turtle, but several of the third turtle observed who lead the observer in a giant arc from the original feeding area all the way to the sandy area between the diving platform (dock) and the catamaran and then back to the original feeding area near the deep cut. Upon returning to this area the turtle picked up speed and quickly disappeared across the meadow into the turtle grass in the southwest leaving the observer hovering near two large turtles (36"+ carapace each).
#5 seen today, was marked on L2, had no tag, and carried two Remora-fish (one colored black/gray and the other green) and had been seen several times before. There are several photographs of this turtle marked on L2. The other large turtle
#6, was marked on L4 and its angle in relation to the observer obscured its tag on its front left flipper. No photographs were taken of this turtle as it tended to stay further off toward the deep water cut, and eat from within the turtle grass with its head facing out toward the sandy area and the observer. As several fishing boats started to pass turtle #6 marked on L4 moved rapidly into the turtle grass toward the southwest and disappeared. #5 marked on L2 on the other hand moved in an arc first southwest and then east and northeast toward shore as the boat approached the feeding area. Once the boat passed the meadow, the turtle marked L2 returned to its grazing area. All during this evasive maneuver the turtle keep the observer in eye contact. Once the turtle returned to eat it managed to move close enough to the observer to circle him at close range as if to check him out. The turtle repeated this circling three times and returned to grazing after each circle.

11:30 A.M. to 12: 30 PM
Southwest of the deep water channel, about 16'deep near a semi sandy area with dead coral pieces all surrounded by turtle grass, sighted a turtle,
#7 for the day, 16"- 18" carapace, no living tag, no tag on left flipper. The turtle started to graze on the north east of the area with typical head movements: bite, tilt to the left, pull grass blade into mouth and move head up as the blade of grass is swallowed. There is one photograph of this turtle. The turtle repeated this activity fully aware of the observer. Finally as it surfaced for air, a group of eight snorkelers appeared and attempted to touch, grab, and feel the turtle, which quickly vanished into the deep grass toward the southwest. The observer turned north and started to swim toward the red marker warning of the coral and the deep channel his position was ½ way between the Hotel & Dive shop and southwest of the red marker when he spotted two turtles.
#8 for the day, about 18"in carapace with no tags but with a distinctive brown/coffee colored bubble like growth along the left side of its neck. The turtle was nervous as there were several boats moving about the area as well as snorkelers. Attempts to photograph the turtle and its odd growth failed. The other turtle,
#9, approximately 20"in carapace was more focused on grazing. It had its body on the edge of the sand and its head in the grass. This turtle appeared to be selecting specific blades of grass at the lower stem level. It was not clear as to whether the turtle was eating carefully selected wide blades of grass mixed with some thin grass or eating items off the lower parts of the blades of grass. This activity went on for approximately ten minutes when the turtle surfaced for air, moved in a circular pattern and returned to same place it had left but a little further over. No photographs were taken as the sun's rays caused a haze. It appeared that the turtle fixed its body position and was eating grass in the path of its heads extension into the grass. Once it completed its "feed" it ascended for air and returned to the same place but a heads width over. The eating pattern continued and appeared to be in a circular pattern around the edge of the grass in an ever-increasing circumference. As the turtle eats into the grass the sandy area increases. This turtle completed two full circular eating patterns and then moved to another semi circular sandy area to graze in the same manner. This was thirty-first different turtle observed to date this summer.

5:00 P. M. to 5:30 PM
Water at this time was very hazy, and cloudy with churning sand, making the underwater visibility poor. Saw seven turtles at a distance but were unable to adequately observe them due to the poor visibility.

Saturday, 27 July

9:30 AM. Sunny sky with a slight breeze causing little ripples in the bay surface. Positioned directly out from the space between the hotel & the Dive Center and just in from the deep cut, slightly southwest near a semi sandy meadow observed:
#1 for the day, 28" turtle with no distinguishing marks or tags eating grass from a
semi vegetated location. The turtle appeared to be rushed for it's eating was quick with little mastication. It circled the meadow in an almost non-stop action and continued to do so favoring the southwest where there was wide turtle grass and another turtle eating.
#2, This second turtle, also 28" in carapace, had no distinguishing marks or tags
and when the first turtle joined it, it moved further into the wide grass to join a third turtle
#3 approximately 28"-30" in carapace turtle with a small round living tag mark on L1 but no tag on left flipper. No photograph of this turtle. From its position this turtle started to move over to the sparsely grassed meadow eating rapidly as it moved in ever widening circles. Eventually it skipped over the wide turtle grass area and continued to move toward the northeast ending up closer to the catamaran and north east of the deep cut. It seemed that this turtle actually was leading the observer to a new location and to where a larger turtle was grazing.
#4 today, more than 30" carapace with living tags on C3 & L4 and a metal tag on the front left flipper. The tag on the flipper cannot be read as it hangs down too close to the body. There are several photographs of this turtle, [p2. 028_25a.jpg, 035_32a.jpg, 036_33a.jpg,] which has been seen before. This turtle was leisurely grazing on wide turtle near the edge of the meadow with its body on the semi sandy area and its head facing the grass. Turtle number four approached the observer several times during the observation. As had happened before the turtle would circle the meadow as it grazed and move up for air and then in several quick angular moves return to eat. Each time the turtle finished eating in a particular space it would approach the observer so it ended up viewing the observer from several different positions. This observation continued for about 45 minutes when the wind picked up. The water soon became hazy and visibility became poor terminating the observation at 11:30 AM.

1:00PM. Water cloudy, visibility poor, perhaps one foot. No sightings.

4:15 PM. Water still cloudy near to shore and clearer at ten feet or more. Half way out from the Dive center southwest of the deep water cut observed in addition to those seen earlier four turtles in sequence. Sun's angle prohibited photographs.
#5, 18" carapace, no tags or distinguishing marks, eating thin grass at he edge of a
sandy area.
#6, 36+" carapace with one large Remora fish on it, no distinguishing marks or tags, eating the same kind of thin grass across the open sandy area from #5.
#7, 20" with living tags on C3 & C5 and a metal tag on the left front flipper ending in the number 3. (This turtle was observed several times, first on Thursday afternoon as # 11.) This turtle was eating in a continuous movement around the sandy area and consuming in alternation both thin and wide grass. Once it would eat the carefully selected three or four blades of wide grass #7 would come up for air, circle the observer, and return to its spot around the edge of the sandy area to continue eating. Then it would select thin grass, come up for air, circle the observer, and return to its spot to continue eating but this time wide grass. This pattern was repeated for more than 15 minutes when yet another turtle joined the group.
#8 was larger than any of the other turtles observed this afternoon. It was approximately 40" in carapace, with more girth than the others and it carried two long Remora. It had no tags but a whitish "dimple" along the outer carapace at L3. This turtle was focused on wide turtle grass and actually pushed #7 out of the way to graze in its spot. #7 just moved over and continued to eat in the manner as described above. All four turtles continued to graze slowly increasing the distance between them as the sun started to shift it position in the sky the light angle made it difficult to see at a distance. Visibility became poor and the observation was terminated at 5:00PM.

Sunday, 28 July
Overcast day, bright but clouds moving through the gray sky, water in the bay choppy. There were no early observations.
5:15 PM wind calmed down, water is somewhat hazy from all the churning sand. Zero visibility at shore but visibility opened to about 10 feet in distance in about 16 feet of water. Located midway between the hotel & the Dive center, half way out to the deep cut in an area that spans the distance between the catamaran and the hotel pool. This is a large area with several semi sandy meadows all surrounded by thick growth mostly wide blade turtle grass. The hazy water conditions and the lack of sunlight prohibited photographs. Facing shore observed
#1, 28"- 30" carapace turtle rapidly moving from the south to the promontory
with the cannon house. This turtle, seen before, (Saturday #3) had an odd mark in L1 (a small whitish dot) placed toward C1. As the turtle continued it past over
#2, Saw the same turtle from the other day living tags: C3, C5 and metal flipper
tag ending in the number "3". Grazing in the center of a semi sandy area and selecting in alternation both wide and thin grass. This turtle took note of the observer and circled him several times. After 15 min. of this behavior the turtle moved directly in front of the observer, turned, moved off toward the cannon house, stopped and turned to look at the observer as if to see if it was being followed. Once the observer followed the turtle continued several yards when it nose dived onto
#3, a 36"-40" turtle with a living tag on L2, no metal tag, but with two Remoras (one gray, one green). [p2. 2002/020_17a.jpg] This turtle had girth and has been seen several times before. When #2 hit the back of #3, #3 rotated vertically 360 degrees dislodging the Remoras and #2, then turtle #3 turned horizontally 180 degrees and faced the observer. It approached to arms distance to look directly into the face of the observer and then turned and went back to grazing in a spot next to where it had been feeding prior being interrupted. In the meantime #2 moved off toward the catamaran and disappeared in the haze. #3 ate large mouth full of grass rather than selecting specific blades of grass. While chewing a mouthful it moved to another spot in the turtle grass to continue eating. At the edge of the area another turtle was seen
#4, marked with living tags on C3, L4 [p2. 2002/028_25a.jpg] and a metal tag on its front left flipper the number was not visible. This turtle circled both the observer and turtle #3 and then quickly disappeared into the turtle grass toward shore. Not far away from where #3 had started to graze yet another large turtle was grazing.
#5, marked with a living tag on L5 this turtle was at least 40" carapace with girth and algae growth covering the metal tag on it's left front flipper. This turtle also had a chip on it outer scute at 6&7 as well as three Remora attached to it. Two of the Remora were almost as long as the carapace and the third half the size. Turtle #5 demonstrated odd eating behavior. Once it had surfaced for air it would nose dive into the center of a large field of thick growth wide blade turtle grass and chop off a full mouth of grass. It would then pause lift its head, lower it's back and place its rear flipper down on the sand. Once in this position it would start chewing and while chewing slowly move to the surface for air. Once it finished its mouth full and inhaled it would once again nose dive but into an adjacent field of turtle grass. Each repetition of this eating sequence brought the turtle closer and closer to the area of the catamarans where another turtle was grazing.
#6, 30" carapace with no distinguishing marks or tags but with two green/yellowish Remora on it. This turtle just selected single blades of turtle grass from the edge of the meadow and ate in the typical manner.
6:10 PM in about eight feet of water visibility became extremely poor and the observer returned to shore. En route he observed
#7, 28'carapace with no marks or Remoras. This turtle had just completed inhalation and was shifting its grazing area by moving in an angle form the cannon house & the catamarans toward the hotel pool when the observer approached it. Both observer and turtle paused, looked at each other and continued. The turtle descended to graze, the observer to end his observations.

Monday, 29 July
10:00 AM It is sunny but with a hazy sky. The water is choppy and somewhat cloudy. Entered water between the Hotel and the Dive shop and swam toward the red flag and orange round marker to the north of the deep water cut on an angle to the cannon house. Near a large dense field of wide blade turtle grass edged with thin grass off the coral near the cannon house observed:
#1,24" carapace turtle with two odd spots on C3 & C5. Photographed [p1. 2002/016_13.jpg] This turtle was moving east were it joined another turtle eating
#2, 26"carapace turtle with no markings or tags. Photographed both #1 & #2 [p1 2002/015_12.jpg] as they grazed along the edge of the meadow eating both full-length thin blades of grass with stubs of wide blade grass.
#3, 20" carapace no tags or marks but a tiny dot on R3 joined, at a slight distance
#1 & #2. Two photographs as #3 proceeded to eat thin blades of grass. Approaching from the South was
#4, 30+" carapace with living marks on C3 & L4 and a metal tag ending in the number 3. This turtle has been seen several times. #4 looked at the observer and proceeded to descend and eat wide blades of whole grass. Photographed turtle and close ups of head and flippers. Another turtle appeared to be grazing
#5, 30" with a faint odd shaped mark in the upper center of L1 (this turtle had been seen before).

During the observations visibility was clear within two to five feet otherwise the water had a haze to it depending on the angle of the sun and waves. The smaller turtles observed #1, #2 and #3, were, for the most part, grazing on blades of thin grass. These turtles also appeared to be nervous and intentionally joined the larger turtles to graze. Once the larger turtles would acknowledge the smaller turtle both turtles would graze together for a period of time during which the smaller turtle appeared to calm down. Once the grazing pattern fell into place and the smaller turtles calmed down they started to explore and roam about the grazing area.
11:10 AM Observation ended.

12:30 PM located in deep water near the orange marker mentioned in the morning observed:
#6, 26" carapace with no living tags, tags or marks grazing on stubs of wide blade turtle grass. Then there appeared an oddly moving turtle
#7, 16"to 18" three limbed turtle, missing front left flipper with an indentation on the outer scute at R5. This three-limbed turtle was traveling in a large arc, descending to eat blades of grass, as it constantly kept moving. It moved east from the catamarans toward the coral in the south and the southwest toward the deep water cut. Due to its physical condition the turtle moved was somewhat wobble but that did not hinder its ability to move quickly, dive, eat or ascend for air.
During the observation, which ended at 1:30 PM, the visibility was somewhat hazy depending on the waves and the angle of the sun. There seemed to be floaters suspended in the water, which also had an effect on visibility. No photographs were attempted.

5:10 PM East and slightly west of the orange marker (float) further out than where the catamarans are moored first observed two turtles southwest of the area while swimming to the location and then saw
#8, 30" carapace no distinguishing marks or tags but with a Remora on it. (This turtle was observed as #6 on 28 July). Photographed this turtle that was eating both full length and stubs of wide blade grass. Then there appeared
#9, 28" carapace with what appeared to be a natural dot in C2. Once again at this time of day the angle of the sun created visibility problems and the water continued to be hazy from the churning of the sand and the suspension of other matter.
At 6:10 the observation ended.

During the period 16 to 29 July 202 eighteen hours of actual turtle observations were logged and reported. This is the single largest number of hours of actual turtle observations logged in during a selected period since the inception of these observations in 1998. With the 2002 observations of eighteen hours added to the previous en situ observations the grand total of observation time is 100 hours and 35 minutes.

There appears to be considerable amount of wide blade turtle grass in Akumal Bay this July and by comparison to 2000 it is noteworthy. Sandy and semi sandy areas and coral break these dense meadows. Thin grass grows sparsely throughout the semi sandy areas and around the periphery of the wide blade meadows.

According to the observer forty-six different turtles were observed during this period. Although more turtles were observed fewer fish were in evidence. Granted the variety is substantial but where there were schools of fish, two, three and four years ago, this summer there were two or three fish of a particular species. Close to shore in shallow water, where the water is warmest, and the turtle grass densest hatchlings are in evidence. Throughout the bay many of the semi sandy areas contain what appears to be dead algae or hanging sea moss/weed just above the sand in suspension with smaller pieces of matter. There are now twenty-two boats in the bay, at times, twenty-six, and three catamarans. Three years ago there were five fishing boats and one catamaran. Every time a powerboat enters or exits the bay it upsets the turtles and causes fumes to be emitted above the water and who knows what is injected into the water. The increase of boats just represents an increase in population in this area and the potential stress their development places on a fragile environment. The impact of waste in the Akumal Bay area has been duly noted by studies of the Centro Ecológico Akumal and specifically the reports of Dr. Charles Shaw. This summer for the first time this observer noted several turtles with what appeared to be black or brown tumors (bubble like growths) along their necks. At the start of observations this summer the observer saw two turtles with what looked like black tumors on their necks and beneath their front flippers. Unfortunately the observer was unable to photograph these turtle with the tumors. Upon reporting the observation to Rogelio Villavicencio B., the current Director of the turtle studies of the Centro Ecológico Akumal A. C., he said these growths are different then tumors found on turtles in other places and need to be studied.

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