Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: Cristopher Vallejo Aragon · CC BY-NC

Hawksbill turtles graze on the sponges and soft corals encrusting La Moneda's boulders throughout the year, their narrow beaks precisely extracting prey from crevices that other herbivores cannot reach. Gorgona's protected status means these critically endangered turtles show minimal wariness of divers and can be observed at close range for extended periods. Up to 4 individuals are typically present on a single dive, making La Moneda one of the most consistent hawksbill encounter sites on the Colombian Pacific coast.