Sea Turtle Ecology course

Sea turtles are among the most impressive and beloved animals you can encounter while diving. With the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty program, you will not only get to know these remarkable creatures better, but also learn to interact with them in a more conscious and responsible way.

This course is locally developed in collaboration with Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao and focuses specifically on the situation around Curaçao. You will learn to recognize and identify the seven species of sea turtles worldwide, with special attention to the three species found around Curaçao:

• the green turtle (green turtle)

• the hawksbill turtle (hawksbill turtle)

• the loggerhead turtle (loggerhead turtle)

In addition, you will delve into the life cycle of sea turtles, their migration behavior, and their crucial role within the marine ecosystem of coral reefs. You will also learn about the threats these animals face and what you, as a diver or snorkeler, can do to protect their habitat.

An important part of the course is learning responsible diving and snorkeling practices when observing sea turtles. You will learn how to respect their natural behavior and how to become an ambassador for sea turtles and the ocean—both underwater and beyond.

Upon completion, you will receive the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty certification, which counts towards the free SSI recognition ratings Specialty Diver, Advanced Specialty Diver, and Master Diver.

As with all our ecology programs, we donate 20% of the course fee to a charity supported by our dive school. For this course, the entire donation goes to Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao, so your participation directly contributes to local protection and research.