The month of August is smack in the middle of sea turtle nesting season here at Atlantis Paradise Island, and we want our guests to join in on the fun. Each year we hand release hundreds of baby sea turtles into the ocean, helping them get started on their long journey to the feeding grounds. Guests of Atlantis can participate in this rewarding experience with the help of our marine team.

Like many islands in the Caribbean, the beaches of the Bahamas have always been suitable nesting grounds for sea turtles. Each year the turtles remarkably return to the same nesting beach to breed, build nests, and lay eggs. Once the female sea turtle lays her eggs and buries them in the sand to protect against predators, she crawls back into the ocean. Over the next 60 days the eggs go through an incubation period and then once mature enough, the hatchlings break through their shell and dig out of the sand. These baby turtles then make their way down the beach and into the ocean.

The marine team at Atlantis closely monitors the beaches this time of year for nests. Once a nest is found the eggs are carefully moved to a protected beach far from predators. Following the 60 day incubation period the team gathers the hatchlings. And that’s where you come in, guests can help our team members bring the baby turtles to the water and let them swim away. This helps reduce the risk of being on the sand too long and dehydrating, while also keeping the newborn sea turtles safe from birds, crabs, and other predators.

It’s a long journey to the feeding grounds, and the risks are great, but with your help these bay sea turtles have a better chance at survival.