Green Sea Turtle - At rest on a bed of soft corals

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia

by B. N. Sullivan

As divers, we always exercise great caution around corals so as not to damage them.  Sea turtles, on the other hand, are not always so careful.  The turtle in this photo decided to plunk herself down for a nap right in the middle of a lush stand of soft corals.  We watched her land on the coral and then wiggle a bit as if to snuggle into her chosen spot.

The turtle resting on the bed of soft corals is a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mudas).  She was photographed at Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia, at a dive site on the outer reef known as Staghorn Crest.