chrispederick
chrispederick

I’ve swum with sea turtles before in Hawaii, but never the sheer numbers that we saw in the Galápagos

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chrispederick
chrispederick

@chrispederick Video here: chrispederick.com/blog/2019...

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Miraz
Miraz

@chrispederick Magnificent!

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crossingthethreshold
crossingthethreshold

@chrispederick At Hookipa Beach here on Maui, it is not unusal to see 18+ just resting on the beach. They have had to put a barrier round them because of the crowds coming to see them

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chrispederick
chrispederick

@Miraz They really are beautiful, graceful creatures.

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chrispederick
chrispederick

@crossingthethreshold I think I may have been there although I didn't see that many sadly! At the one spot in the Galápagos that is in the last clip of the video we lost count at 50 all resting and swimming together. It was incredible and not unusual according to our guide.

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In reply to
crossingthethreshold
crossingthethreshold

@chrispederick 50, wow! I have never seen that many.

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smokey
smokey

@chrispederick Wow, very cool!

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retrophisch
retrophisch

@crossingthethreshold I've swam with sea turtles multiple times off Kauai. An experience like no other. My wife also had a monk seal beach itself practically next to her in Poipu while I was out snorkeling. And we saw sea turtles taking a snooze on a black sand beach on the Big Island. (And no wonder, rough surf that day for them to be in.)

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crossingthethreshold
crossingthethreshold

@retrophisch I have definitely seen an increase in sea turtles since I started visiting the islands about 12 years ago. Even in the three years since we moved here (or back here in my wife's case) there has been a noticeable increase. And then there is their fearlessness of humans, I because of their protected status...which also speaks to the increase in numbers. But I have never seen a monk seal!

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retrophisch
retrophisch

@crossingthethreshold From 2012: retrophisch.micro.blog/our-frien...

My wife told me my back was to the seal as she swam by me, passing within about 6-10 feet of me.

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chrispederick
chrispederick

@crossingthethreshold @retrophisch That's brilliant that you've seen an increase in sea turtles! (Also, one of my upcoming videos from the Galápagos will be swimming with sea lions. It was incredible.)

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crossingthethreshold
crossingthethreshold

@chrispederick I have never seen a seal here. Would love to, never mind swim with one as well!

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crossingthethreshold
crossingthethreshold

@retrophisch I love how trusting these sea creatures are.

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