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Observations of Green Sea Turtles in Akumal Bay July 16 to 22, 2004
By Sheldon I. Aptekar
Click Here for 2004 Images
Initially the observer was located in Tankah Bay also known as Solimon Bay where he had been informed of turtle activity. However, after a week, 9-16 July, he was only able to locate one turtle nest and no turtle activity in the bay. The bay does have plenty of sea life, with Queen Conch visible in several areas. A sample of the variety: Spot fin, Butter fly, Angel, Blue Tang, Palometa, Jack, Mullet, Porgy, Grunts, Snapper, Damsel, Parrot, Wrasse, Goby, Blenny, as well as, lobster, shrimp, several variety of coral, urchins, Anemone, grasses and algae.
The location of the observation base in Akumal was at La Casita #7 and the stairs directly in front of the Casita into the Bay. All points of observation were based on the starting point in front of La Casita #7 and two other points so a triangular method of the observation area could be determined.
July 16
11:30 AM started swim and by 12: 24 PM located, between the initial position and Lol Ha Restaurant and Hotel Caribe in about six feet of water, two juvenile turtles grazing. One turtle was 18”+- carapace and the other 20”+ in carapace and both were tagged on the front left flipper (images #’d 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07.) Both turtles were moving while eating in a circular pattern around the edge of a semi grassed turtle grass area, which in turn was surrounded by a meadow of thick turtle grass. Throughout the time of the observation the turtles grazed near each other as can be clearly seen in image #05. Since several swimmers with snorkels showed up the observer moved to other parts of the bay on this his initial swim in Akumal in 2004. Rays were observed, as were Ballyhoo, Parrot, Monk Heads, Blow, Barracuda, Angel, Snapper, Grunts, etc.
01:00 PM located in the same general position as at 11:30 AM were the same two turtles observed, were still grazing. The smaller of the two, carapace 18”, was tagged with number XH 553, and the larger, 20”+, was tagged with number XH 556. XH553’s lower outer scutes tend to be shaped differently than XH556 and appear to be somewhat pointed.
03:15 to 04:15 PM swim from La Casita #7 to a point out east, from the Akumal Beach Resort, and south west of the Hotel Caribe Windsurfing shop and then returning following the curve of the bay but maintaining a distance of about 20 feet from the shore no turtles were observed but a great deal of sea life. In addition to the variety of fish mentioned before, there were a variety of rays, a family of squid and a mature large Barracuda whose body girth was larger than a human thigh.
06:00 to 07:00 PM
Approximately 10 minutes into the swim located off the La Casita #7 steps, south beyond the single mast yacht, and to the east of the Akumal dive shop observed two turtles grazing in semi vegetated area at a depth of twelve feet. #1, approximately 28” carapace, no tags or any other distinctive marking, was carrying two remora (image #08); # 2 from initial viewing was agitated, about 30” carapace, with living tags on the right side of C3 and C5, both front flippers tagged although the tag on the front left flipper was difficult to view (image #09). #1 was feeding in a circular pattern, (images # 10, 11, 12, 13), and watched the observer as well as four other people who arrived and were quietly watching. When the other people arrived #2 moved further southwest into tall grass, and started selecting blades of grass from a tense meadow of turtle grass. Throughout its eating #2 demonstrated skittish behavior and as it stuck its head into the grass and came up for air it was obvious that it too carried two remora (images 14, 15, 16). In image 15 one can see the smaller remora attached near the left side of the turtle’s head near the mouth. This series of image was taken between 6:10 and 6:30 PM.
17 July Saturday
10:15 AM to 11:45 AM
Located out from steps to La Casita #7, between the two catamarans, opposite Lol Ha in about 10’ to 12’ of water sighted a 12” carapace (image #17) with no tags or other marks moving east by southeast toward an area out from Hotel Caribe. This small turtle moved directly beneath a larger turtle, 20+” carapace who was grazing in semi vegetated turtle grass. The larger turtle (image # 18) moved to block the observer’s vision allowing the smaller turtle to disappear in the grass behind the larger turtle. The larger turtle proceeded to approach the observer and moved in front of the observer’s mask. Some of the turtle’s blocking actions were recorded in images # 19, 20, 21, and 22. Once these action were completed the turtle turned and moved off further south in the bay where it joined another turtle about 18” carapace (images # 23, 24, 25, 26) who was grazing at the edge of a meadow of turtle grass surrounded a semi sandy circle. These turtles were tagged on the front left flipper, 18” carapace with XH 553 and 20+”carapace with XH 556, and had been seen 16 July.
03:30 to 04:15 PM
Located off the steps, between the two catamarans, in front of the single mast sail boat, and off shore from Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA), observed 16“ carapace moving in a circular pattern, which grew larger with each completion. The turtle (image # 27) was not eating but moving in high and low arcs creating an overall oval pattern, which extended southwest. Eventually the turtle was able to vanish in the sandy suspension of the water, tall turtle grass and the angle of the sun’s rays.
18 July Sunday
Water conditions in the bay was slightly choppy and beneath the surface the water appeared sandy, somewhat murky, making it difficult to see beyond ten to fifteen feet, depending on the angle of the sun.
11:19 – 11:47 AM
Located off the steps, beyond the boats and the red buoy, 3/4 out from the Akumal Resort toward the reef, observed a rapidly moving small turtle in 16’ of water. The turtle disappeared into a large school of fish in the center of which was a very large Barracuda. The entire mass was moving northeast toward the cannon house and the observer followed at a respectful distance. Somewhere opposite of Lol Ha the school moved toward the cut to deep water and the observer sighted a 16”carapace (image # 28) moving from shore out toward the reef. This turtle had a living tag on the right side C3 and a metal tag on it’s left front flipper. The turtle was moving in an odd swirling, undulating manner as it crossed in front of the observer. The observer continued moving toward the steps and when near the moored sailboat a 24+”carapace (image # 29) was observed quickly snatching blades of grass as it moved toward a semi vegetated area where another turtle, 18+” carapace, was grazing. The first turtle had not been seen before but the second (images # 30 & 31) with the 18+” carapace was tagged XH 553, and had been seen several times before.
19 July 28, 2004 Monday
It rained during the night and the water in the bay is choppy. There appears to be a constant tide pull disturbance beneath the surface causing a continuous sand suspension making observations difficult.
4:08 PM to 4:45 PM
Located beyond the red buoy out from Akumal Resort near the reef and in a line from the steps to La Casita #7, in about 12’- 16’ of water. Visibility toward the southwest was about 8’depending on the angle of the sun. Spotted a large turtle with no markings (no photo) moving rapidly out to deep water as it crossed my path and I followed it until it disappeared in a small school of Grunts. Then a large school of silver speckled fish crossed from the east to the southwest followed by a large Barracuda. The Barracuda, perhaps the one seen before, was hovering about 2’above the semi sandy bottom about 12’from the observer’s position.
The observer gave the Barracuda space and moved toward Las Casitas. Near the two catamarans and opposite the public beach, a turtle with living tags that appeared to be on C3 & C5 (image # 32) rapidly traveled from the deep toward the shore. As I followed, it disappeared above a 2nd turtle (seen at 4:38) with a living tag on C3, and a tinny white spot on the tip of C5 just above the tail (images # 33, 34, 35.) This turtle was grazing on the edge of a circular mound of turtle grass located in the center of a semi sandy area.
20 July 28, 2004 Tuesday
7:15 AM to 8:30 AM
Starting along the shore near Las Casitas the water is in shade, and clear with lots of small fish activity. About 40’out where the sun starts to shine on the water the temperature warms up, and the cool and warm water mix causing a fuzzy quality. The observer followed the reef edge within the bay and extended out beyond the buoys by Akumal Resort and near the new condos further southwest. Returning in a line from the red buoy to the steps observed many fish, rays, grunts, and a school of fish. Moving parallel to the observer for about 5 minutes was #1 seen this morning, a turtle, 20+ “ carapace with no tags or marks (images # 36, 37, 38, 39), who selected blades of grass as it moved along foraging. Continuing northeast the observer sighted a sting ray and then #2 turtle 24+”carapace with two living tags on C3 & C5 (images # 40, 41). This turtle was seen before. The living tag on scute C3 appears to be a double or smudged. The turtle moved across a large meadow of turtle grass and brought the observer to #3 turtle (image # 42 & 43), which had living tags on C3 & C5 and carried on it's back two remora; one of which was attached near the turtle’s mouth on its left side of the neck. This turtle has been seen before with the remora attached in the same manner. To the right of #3, toward deep water, was an even larger turtle, #4, whose carapace was about 36” and had an oblong living tag on L2 (images # 44, 45, 46, 47, 48) and a tag on the front right flipper. This large turtle carried on its carapace three remora. The close up in image #118 clearly shows the nail of the front right flipper. As #4 moved about eating at the edge of its feeding area, another turtle, #5, no tags or marks (image # 49) was seen eating at the edge of a coral mound near a semi sandy area located on the shore side the large meadow. Across from #5 turtle and in a slightly sandier location was yet another turtle, #6 viewed, with a tag on the front left flipper (image # 50). These turtle observations were located on the southwest side of the moored boats off shore from the Dive Center. As the observer moved toward the steps of La Casita #7, and was on the northeast side of the catamarans, the #6 turtle arrived to graze. This turtle was tagged XH553 (it has been seen several times before) and the observer could see in the distance the movement of yet another turtle, which he believes to have been XH556.
Of all the turtles sighted this morning the one with the living tag on L2 was the largest at over three feet carapace. According to the Living Tag Chart provided by Alejandro Arenas Martinez in 2003 this turtle was marked in Ixcaret in1998 making it only eight years old. (See the Living Chart located in the report from 2003.)
Except for the turtle movement from one feeding area to another, turtle behavior has been similar to that noted in prior years. The major difference this year to date is that the observer was able to follow the actual turtle movement from one grazing meadow to another.
11:15 AM to 12:00 Noon
Swimming along the shore near Las Casitas following the contour of the bay to the south and southwest and then returning along the east shore.
Many fish were observed during this swim such as Grunts, Snappers, Parrot, Palmetto, Barracuda, Wrasse, Rays, Angel, etc.
Located in 12’ of water about half way between the deep water cut and the Hotel Caribe observed 20+-“ carapace turtle (image # 51) tagged on front left flipper as XH554. This turtle, #1 for this sighting, was grazing in a semi vegetated area grabbing short stalks of topped turtle grass and chewing it in place. It firmly bites at the stalk just above the root by twisting its head to the side and then jerking its head right and left until it has the blade in its mouth and then proceeds to chew and look about. As turtle #1 was chewing, another turtle, #2, was seen moving into the same location from deep water. #2 turtle was larger than #1 at about 24+” carapace (image # 52) with two living tag marks: one on C3 and another on C5. The C3 mark is smudged and this turtle was been seen before. As these two grazed, another turtle, #3, joined them from deep water (images # 53, 54). #3 turtle tagged on the front left flipper with XH 556 immediately took in air and then joined turtle #1 so that they both grazed next to each other (image # 55). Turtles #2 & #3 were tagged XH 554 and XH 556. Although this was first time XH554’s tag was noted, it is believed that this turtle has been observed before. It is clear that XH556 will allow calm observers to be around it. If threatened the turtle will go into evasive behavior with zigzag movements, deep dives, circular spiraling movement patterns and spurts of speed into tall dense turtle grass. All of these evasive movements have been observed and noted in detail in prior observations.
6:45 PM
Located south beyond the red buoy midway between the reef and the Akumal Resort, startled by a large unmarked turtle moving from beneath the observer. This turtle appeared to be well over 3’ in carapace but its rapid movement, angle and speed in addition to limited visibility prohibited detailed observation.
Relocated between the two catamarans and the moored sailboat in about 12’of water XH556 (image # 56) was grazing in a semi-grassed area. The time was 6:51 PM and the suns rays started to cause visibility problems beyond 15’. XH556 was aware of the observer and ate its grass in a relaxed rhythmic manner. Twice during the six minutes of undisturbed observation XH556 approached the observer within arm distance. At 6:57 PM another turtle appeared (image # 57), living tags on C 3 & L4, and a metal tag on front left flipper. This is the first sighting of this turtle during this observation period. This turtle’s movements were quick and almost seemed to be agitated. It quickly circled the grazing area, nose dived into tall grass, chopped off a large mouthful of grass, and darted upward as it chewed and the swirled and circled away in preparation for another nosedive. These movements were too quick to be photographed in the limited visibility in this part of the bay at 7:00PM.
21 July 28, 2004 Wednesday
01:00 PM
Located beyond the beach near steps to La Casita #7 in about 2’of water sighted a 12”+ carapace turtle moving out toward the diving platform. This is the smallest turtle observed so far this year; it had no tags or other markings and was moving away from human activity.
03:36 PM
Located south between the catamarans off shore from the public beach sighted the three- legged turtle (missing front left flipper) with the chip out of its outer lower right scute (image # 58). This turtle is now tagged on it front left flipper. This turtle was seen in 2002 but not photographed and then seen and photographed in 2003. This turtle was in no hurry but was grazing and calmly moving from one eating-place to another. This turtle did not graze but ate some grass from a selected spot and then moved to another spot.
03:46 PM Swimming around contour of bay from the canon house toward the deep water cut and beyond sighted all kinds of fish, coral and sea life. The large barracuda was once again sighted and avoided. The three- legged turtle seen earlier was sighted again (image # 59). It was casually eating at different spots. Its movements, although “jerky”, allowed it to move quickly and efficiently. It’s eating habits, except as noted before, were no different than other turtles.
22 July 28, 2004 Thursday
08:30 AM
Located midway out from Hotel Akumal Caribe toward deep water cut and in line with the steps to La casita #7 in a sandy area surrounded by turtle grass sighted a 22+” carapace turtle (image # 60) with no distinctive marks or tags, slowly moving toward the southwest. The turtle noted the observer and descended to a circular semi vegetated area surrounded by turtle grass where the three flipper turtle (image # 61) observed before, was grazing. Following the 22+”carapace turtle (image # 62) it started eating at 8:38 AM (image # 63) across the sandy area from the three flipper turtle. About five minutes latter at 8:43 AM another turtle (image # 64) with no distinctive marks circled the same gazing area but continued on its way toward the northeast. A minuet later, 8:44 AM, another unmarked turtle (image # 65) approached this grazing meadow but stayed at a distance circling the area and then swimming off to the northeast.
12:49 PM
Located near the catamarans and the sailboat observed a turtle with living tags on C3 & C5, about 26” carapace carrying two large remora (images # 66 & # 67). Near it another turtle appeared (images # 68 & # 69) marked with a living tag on L2 measuring about 36” carapace. Both turtles were grazing in a semi vegetated area near a meadow of dense turtle grass.
01:10 PM
About 80’out from the beach and the steps to La Casita #7 a small turtle about 12’- 16” carapace was sighted (image # 70) in the dense turtle grass.
04:48 PM
Located beyond the moored catamarans and the sailboat east of the Hotel Caribe and at least mid way out or further to the deep sea cut in 12’or more feet of water.
There were no marks or tags (image # 71) on this 36” carapace but it did have some girth and carry two remora on it shell. This turtle had light coloration on the outer scutes (image # 72). It was selecting wide blade turtle grass (image # 73) from a semi vegetated field. As it raised to the surface for air the remora moved to the lower carapace, the underside (images #74 & #75). In it’s foraging this turtle moved into an area where four other turtles were grazing (images #’d 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80, are of these turtles, two of which had been seen before).
Observations were completed at 5:20 PM.
Over the seven days of observation from the 16 to 22 July 2004, the actual time observing turtles was 7 hours 48 minutes. During the very brief observation in 2003 only the three-flipper turtle was observed, the observation lasted for a total of four minutes. In 2002 eighteen hours of actual turtle observations were logged and reported. This was the single largest number of hours of actual turtle observations logged in during a selected period since the inception of these observations commenced in 1998. With the addition of 2003 and 2004 observations, 7 hours 54 minutes, added to the previous en situ observations, the grand total of observation time is 108 hours and 29 minutes.
This year most of the turtles observed eating, selected wide turtle grass from semi vegetated areas in water 12’or more in depth. Except for the turtles of 12”- 16” carapace who were seen close to shore in about 2’of water near the beach off the shore of the Las Casitas, most turtles were seen midway out from shore, south to southwest of the moored boats. Two years ago the grazing areas of the turtles were more diversified throughout the bay. Although most observations were to the south there had been many observations to the north and north east of the moored boats. It appears that as the density of human population increases in the northwest part of the bay and with it boat traffic, the turtle population moves further off to the south.
A positive sign during this observation period was that no turtle was seen with any kind of abnormal growth or tumor as had been seen in 2002. Queen Conch seems to have been depleted from the bay, yet the quality and abundance of sea life, fawn and fauna, appears to be healthy. Clearly the work of the people at the Centro Ecológico de Akumal has made a positive impact on and in the bay.
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