Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Beautiful Wonder of Nature
Out of all the amazing creatures that live on Fripp Island the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is the pride and joy. Between mid-May and mid-October, huge female loggerhead sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. Approximately, two months later a swarm of adorable baby sea turtles will take to the beach. Waddling their way to the ocean.

 

Returning Home

From May to October each year, Fripp Island experiences a wonder of nature. It is during this time that the loggerhead sea turtles return to nest. Each year dozens of adult females come ashore, on various stretches of beach, to lay a clutch of 100 or more eggs. Many of these females were born on the island only to return some 20 to 30 years later to nest.

Each female will nest and lay eggs 3-5 times each season, digging an egg chamber near dunes away from rising tides. After laying her eggs, the turtle will return to the ocean before returning 12 to 14 days later to build another nesting spot. After the final nesting, turtles return to the ocean and will repeat the cycle every 2-4 years.

Hatchlings

A sea turtle egg will incubate in about 60 days. This varies a bit with temperature, with warmer conditions leading to faster development of the embryos. Interestingly, cooler sand has a tendency to produce more males, while warmer sand produces more females. Once an embryos has fully developed, the hatchlings break out of their shell using “a temporary, sharp egg-tooth, called a ‘caruncle.’ The caruncle is an extension of the upper jaw that falls off soon after birth.” (conserveturtles.org) Now out of their shells, the little hatchlings somehow know to emerge from the sand. Usually emerging at night when the temperature is milder, they dig their way up through about 18” of sand. As a group, the newborns paddle their way to the top before beginning their journey across the sand. This process of emerging can take several days.

Heading to Sea

The journey to the sea is no small task for these little creatures. They must move quickly so as not to get dehydrated or become prey to birds or crabs. As mentioned earlier, many sea turtles return to the beach where they were born. Some scientists believe this is due to a turtle’s ability to read the earth’s magnetic field, while others believe the hatchlings takes an imprint of their birth beach, smell, sound, even celestial cues, while making the trek from nest to water. All pretty amazing, nonetheless.

What to Know

Here on Fripp Island, we are blessed to be a key location for loggerhead nesting along the east coast of the US. With that, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of their habitat and respect their space. To that effort we have the Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol, made up of volunteers, which monitors and marks nests along the beaches each day throughout the season.

See their photo albums and logs: 

Thank you, Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol! We really appreciate all of your hard work.

Follow FILP on Facebook!

If you are fortunate and see an adult female nesting, or traveling to or from the ocean, it is very important to maintain a 20’ distance and be sure to stay clear of her path. Also, do not use flashlights while walking on the beach. If you encounter the hatchlings rising from the sand, or making their way to the water, do not get near and, again, do not use any lighting. Hatchlings rely on the moon over the water to guide their way and can get easily turned around if another light source is nearby.

If you see a hatchling moving away from the ocean, DO NOT pick it up, as it is against federal law to touch a sea turtle without the proper permit. If you see a hatchling and are worried about the direction in which it is moving, please call Fripp Island Security or the Activity Center at (843)-838-1516. (Source: Fripp Island Resort)

The wonders of Fripp island are abundant and the seasonal nesting of loggerhead sea turtles is no exception. Enjoy from a distance and share in the amazing process that has been going on for more than 100 million years!

Amazing 40th birthday trip to zante! 

Thanks to my mum & everyone else for making it all happen.This song means a lot to us all. i wish dad was still here to celebrate this milestone with me. He was there in spirit.gone but never forgotten,happy birthday up there mate x

#zante #zakynthos #sun #sea#familyholidays #seaturtles #loggerheadturtle #cavediving #cliffjump #bluecaveszakynthos#dronephotography #travel #birthday #40thbirthday

Amazing 40th birthday trip to zante!

Thanks to my mum & everyone else for making it all happen.This song means a lot to us all. i wish dad was still here to celebrate this milestone with me. He was there in spirit.gone but never forgotten,happy birthday up there mate x

#zante #zakynthos #sun #sea#familyholidays #seaturtles #loggerheadturtle #cavediving #cliffjump #bluecaveszakynthos#dronephotography #travel #birthday #40thbirthday
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14 1
Regulator Special 
Purchase a qualifying Regulator System to receive a free Octopus R105 or Sport Bag 125. 

Swing by and check out this special!

 #summerdive #greenturtles #loggerheadturtle #scubapro #sdidivers  #tdidivers

Regulator Special
Purchase a qualifying Regulator System to receive a free Octopus R105 or Sport Bag 125.

Swing by and check out this special!

#summerdive #greenturtles #loggerheadturtle #scubapro #sdidivers #tdidivers
...

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Junio marca el inicio de la temporada de nidificación de la tortuga común en Cabo Verde.

Cada mañana, al amanecer, nuestro equipo recorre las 28 playas a lo largo de los 15 km de costa para registrar las primeras salidas de hembras que anidan en esta temporada 2025.

- - - - - -
O mês de junho marca o início da época de nidificação da tartaruga comum em Cabo Verde.

Todas as manhãs, ao amanhecer, a nossa equipa percorre as 28 praias ao longo dos 15 km de costa para registar os primeiros focos de fêmeas nidificantes da época 2025.

#season2025  #conservação #tartarugasmarinhas #seaturtleconservation #nestingseason #patrolling #nest #census #loggerheadturtle #caboverde #boavistaisland #cvnatura2000

Junio marca el inicio de la temporada de nidificación de la tortuga común en Cabo Verde.

Cada mañana, al amanecer, nuestro equipo recorre las 28 playas a lo largo de los 15 km de costa para registrar las primeras salidas de hembras que anidan en esta temporada 2025.

- - - - - -
O mês de junho marca o início da época de nidificação da tartaruga comum em Cabo Verde.

Todas as manhãs, ao amanhecer, a nossa equipa percorre as 28 praias ao longo dos 15 km de costa para registar os primeiros focos de fêmeas nidificantes da época 2025.

#season2025 #conservação #tartarugasmarinhas #seaturtleconservation #nestingseason #patrolling #nest #census #loggerheadturtle #caboverde #boavistaisland #cvnatura2000
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198 2
Two weeks as a volunteer at wildlifesense ❤️❤️
#kefalonia #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #lovertjes #lixouri #wildlifesense #makingadiffrence

Two weeks as a volunteer at wildlifesense ❤️❤️
#kefalonia #loggerhead #loggerheadturtle #lovertjes #lixouri #wildlifesense #makingadiffrence
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What a Father’s Day to remember! 🐢💙

While diving, I had the incredible experience of seeing four huge loggerhead turtles up close in their natural habitat. Moments like this remind me how powerful and healing the ocean truly is.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this dive possible —
Grateful Divers Worldwide, Scuba4Good, Trashy Dive Club, South Florida Diving Headquarters, and of course, my amazing dive buddies. 🙏

Diving is more than just a sport to me — it’s my therapy.
It gives me relief from chronic pain and brings me peace of mind like nothing else. Underwater, I feel free. 💙

Thanks for following my journey — stay blessed,
Peace ✌️

#AdaptiveDiving #ScubaTherapy #MentalHealthAwareness #ChronicPainRelief #LoggerheadTurtle #GratefulDivers #Scuba4Good #TrashyDiveClub #SouthFloridaDiving #OceanHealing #DiveForACause #OceanTherapy #ScubaLife #UnderwaterWorld #TurtleEncounter #NatureHeals #BlueMind #DivingCommunity #ScubaAdventure #DiverLife #MentalHealthSupport #PainFreeMoments #ScubaAddict #GetOutAndDoMore #PeaceOfMindUnderwater #FatherDayDive

What a Father’s Day to remember! 🐢💙

While diving, I had the incredible experience of seeing four huge loggerhead turtles up close in their natural habitat. Moments like this remind me how powerful and healing the ocean truly is.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this dive possible —
Grateful Divers Worldwide, Scuba4Good, Trashy Dive Club, South Florida Diving Headquarters, and of course, my amazing dive buddies. 🙏

Diving is more than just a sport to me — it’s my therapy.
It gives me relief from chronic pain and brings me peace of mind like nothing else. Underwater, I feel free. 💙

Thanks for following my journey — stay blessed,
Peace ✌️

#AdaptiveDiving #ScubaTherapy #MentalHealthAwareness #ChronicPainRelief #LoggerheadTurtle #GratefulDivers #Scuba4Good #TrashyDiveClub #SouthFloridaDiving #OceanHealing #DiveForACause #OceanTherapy #ScubaLife #UnderwaterWorld #TurtleEncounter #NatureHeals #BlueMind #DivingCommunity #ScubaAdventure #DiverLife #MentalHealthSupport #PainFreeMoments #ScubaAddict #GetOutAndDoMore #PeaceOfMindUnderwater #FatherDayDive
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follow➤➤➤ urui._.kuon 

昨日、6/16は  #世界ウミガメの日 🫧

こちらに向かって一生懸命泳いでくる様子は
本当に愛らしかったです✨️
こんな平和な世界がずっと続いてくれることを祈っています…

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

📍: #神戸須磨シーワールド #kobesumaseaworld 

🐢: #アカウミガメ 
   #loggerheadturtle 

📷:#nikon #nikonz9 #z9 

 ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣𖦥𖥧┈┈

follow➤➤➤ urui._.kuon

昨日、6/16は #世界ウミガメの日 🫧

こちらに向かって一生懸命泳いでくる様子は
本当に愛らしかったです✨️
こんな平和な世界がずっと続いてくれることを祈っています…

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

📍: #神戸須磨シーワールド #kobesumaseaworld

🐢: #アカウミガメ
   #loggerheadturtle

📷:#nikon #nikonz9 #z9

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣𖦥𖥧┈┈
...

139 0
81 Loggerheads🐢!!! 😆
Don't miss the Turtle Dives! We saved a seat for you!

Call to book - 561-745-7807

 #loggerheadseaturtle #Jupiter #loggerheadturtle #wreckdivers #southfloridaliving #hobesoundfl #stuartfla #palmbeachflorida #blackwaterdive

81 Loggerheads🐢!!! 😆
Don`t miss the Turtle Dives! We saved a seat for you!

Call to book - 561-745-7807

#loggerheadseaturtle #Jupiter #loggerheadturtle #wreckdivers #southfloridaliving #hobesoundfl #stuartfla #palmbeachflorida #blackwaterdive
...

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The Fripp Island Resort offers a Turtle Walk nature program to visit the nests and learn about these magnificent creatures.  May through September. 

☏ 843-838-1516