Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: MDC SeaMarc Maldives · CC BY-SA

Hawksbill turtles use the shallow reef plateau above the Blue Hole as a resting and feeding area, grazing on the sponges and encrusting organisms that coat the coral surface. Kosrae's fringing reef supports unusually high sponge diversity due to its pristine water quality, providing hawksbills with a year-round food source that keeps resident individuals in place rather than forcing seasonal migrations. Divers typically encounter one or two turtles on the approach to the hole before descending.