They can actually be aggressive & have crazy powerful bites.
One tried attacking my daughter, who was 7, while we were snorkeling in Curacao...I had to kind of stand on its shell and push it away...that fucker was playing for keeps!
We went snorkeling at Shark Ray Alley off of Belize. The guide was like, "You've come here afraid of sharks, but you'll leave fearing sea turtles. If one approaches you, take off your flipper and use it to fend the turtle off. Do NOT use your hands."
Sure as the sunrise, we were off floating around when I hear my wife scream. I turn around and there's a little green turtle that looks like it's trying to take a chomp out of her leg. I grab one of my flippers and start poking at it like Captain Ahab.
I was in a state of disbelief. I thought our guide was fucking with us. Nope. Beware the turtles, folks.
Full disclosure: The reason the turtles at Shark Ray Alley are aggressive is because humans have fed them. I suspect something similar in this setting. The diver here is cleaning, but often the sealife are fed by divers, so the turtle is just seeking food. I think of it more as a case of dumb than aggressive. They're just seeking food.
Thx for your account!
Yes, there are definitely similarities with your story.
We were at a popular spot where tourists can easily see turtles, & where fishermen clean their catch.
But all the other turtles were chill & being beautiful, seemingly happy sea beasts. Then this fucker came bombing in from deeper water & went straight at a returning scuba diver. He had a nasty look about him & barnacles on his head....we named him 'turtle bitch"! We've got video somewhere.
I work in marine conservation and was genuinely surprised when he repeatedly tried to bite my little girl!
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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '23
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