Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: MDC SeaMarc Maldives · CC BY-SA

Hawksbill turtles are resident year-round at Quilalea, nesting on the island's beaches between November and February and foraging on the reef throughout the year. The site's sponge communities — the primary food source for hawksbills — are extensive and in excellent health, supporting a resident population of 8 to 12 individuals that are reliably encountered on nearly every dive. Several individuals have been photo-identified over multiple years by the island's dive team, allowing visitors to meet named turtles and observe the long-term development of individual animals' foraging territories.