sea turtle tours florida

• Wildlife & Habitats
• Wildlife Conservation
• Sea Turtle Program

Sea Turtle Viewing Opportunities

Where to view sea turtles.

Turtle Walks: Hatchling Releases: Hatch Evaluations: Housing Facilities

If you want to see a sea turtle in Florida, you can attend one of the permitted public turtle walks, a public hatchling release, or a nest hatch success evaluation.  You can also visit a facility that houses or rehabilitates sea turtles.

These activities are conducted by FWC's Marine Turtle Permit Holders (MTPH). They first present an interpretive program on marine turtle biology and conservation issues at an off-beach location. For turtle walks and hatchling releases you are then lead to the beach to observe a nesting loggerhead turtle depositing eggs or observe the release of hatchlings (both activities occur at night).

Public hatch success evaluations, conducted by MTPH's, are done after the sea turtle nest has hatched. A hatch success evaluation involves the excavation and inventory of a marked nest to determine the fate of each egg. Occasionally, live hatchlings are recovered from the nest and released at a later date if deemed necessary. 

For a closer look at sea turtles, please visit one of the state-permitted facilities that house or rehabilitate sea turtles. Many facilities conduct educational tours involving captive turtles. Please note that admission fees may be charged.

Help protect sea turtles:

If you happen to see a nesting sea turtle or hatchling while you are on the beach, please keep your distance, remain quiet, keep hands and other objects off the turtles, and keep all lights off (including cell phones, flashlights, flash photography, and video equipment).

Public Sea Turtle Walks

• Northeast Atlantic Coast
• Southeast Atlantic Coast

Coastal Connections Vero Beach, FL (772) 226-0133

Friends of the Carr Refuge Barrier Island Center Vero Beach, FL (321) 723-3556

Sebastian Inlet State Park Sebastian Fishing Museum Vero Beach, FL (772) 338-2750

Canaveral National Seashore Playalinda Beach Apollo Center (386) 428-3384

Disney Beach Resort Vero Beach Vero Beach, FL 407-WDW-TOUR

Sea Turtle Conservancy Barrier Island Ecosystem Center Melbourne Beach, FL (321) 723-3556

Sea Turtle Preservation Society Pelican Beach Park Spessard Holland North Melbourne Beach Community Center Melbourne Beach, FL (321) 676-1701

Stella Marris Environmental Research Coconut Point Park Melbourne Beach, FL (772) 338-2750

Ecological Associates, Inc (EAI) Jensen Beach, FL (772) 334-3729

Environmental Studies Center Jensen Beach, FL (772) 219-1887

Florida Oceanographic Society Stuart, Florida 34996 (772) 225-0505

Florida Power/Inwater Research Group Stuart, Florida 34996

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Boca Raton, FL (561) 544-8605

Hobe Sound Nature Center Hobe Sound, FL (772) 546-2067

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park North Palm Beach, FL (561) 624-6950

Loggerhead Marinelife Center Juno Beach, FL (561) 627-8280

Mitzell-Eula Johnson State Park Dania, FL (954) 923-2833

Museum of Discovery and Science Fort Lauderdale, FL (954) 567-6637

Public Hatchling Releases

• Southwest Gulf Coast
• Northwest Gulf Coast

Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program Nova Marine Environmental Education Center Carpenter House Hollywood, FL (954) 357-5161

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Dania Beach, FL (954) 923-2833

Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program Crandon Park Haulover Park (305) 666-5885

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Sarasota, FL (941) 388-4441

Turtle Time, Inc. Fort Myers Beach, FL (239) 481-5566

Eglin Air Force Base Eglin Air Force Base, FL (850) 882-7500

Public Hatch Success Evaluations

Panama City Beach Turtle Watch Panama City Beach, FL (850) 238-9895

St. George Island Volunteer Turtlers Eastpoint, FL (678) 205-6422

Tyndall Air Force Base Sea Turtle Program Tyndall Air Force Base, FL (850) 282-8124

Coastal Connections Sexton Plaza Beach Vero Beach, FL

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Areas Barrier Island Center Vero Beach, FL (386) 517-2086

North Peninsula State Park Flagler Beach, FL (386) 556-4456

Sea Turtle Patrol of South Ponte Vedra Beach South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (904) 349-6163

Ecological Associates, Inc (EAI) Jensen Beach Delray Beach (772) 334-3729

Sea Turtle Adventures Ocean Ridge Gulfstream (561) 704-5911

Sea Turtle Trackers Saint Pete Beach, FL (727) 501-5581

Call Wildlife Alert if you find hatchlings in the road, a parking lot, or headed away from the water.

• In the News
• Board & Trustees
• Impact Report
• Our Mission
• Coastal Lecture Series
• Summer Camp
• Outreach Programs
• Private Family Tours
• Adult Group Tours
• Group Visits
• Field Trips
• Virtual Field Trips
• Educational Resources
• Water Quality
• Oysters (FLOOR)
• Seagrass (FOSTER)
• Living Docks
• Current Projects
• In The News
• Meet Our Sea Turtles
• Ocean EcoCenter
• Purchase Admission Tickets
• Nighttime Sea Turtle Walks
• Sunrise Beach Walks: Science & Sea Turtles
• Shoreline Creations
• Guided Beach Walks
• Birthday Parties
• Gift A Membership
• Event Space Inquiry
• Internships
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Beach Cleanup Program
• Volunteer Calendar
• Teen Opportunities
• Volunteer Spotlight
• Volunteer FAQ
• Group Volunteer Request Form
• Business Partners
• Community Supporters
• Careers & Employment
• Stop Lake Okeechobee Discharges
• Florida Right to Clean Water
• Contact Florida's Officials
• Everglades Restoration
• Treasure Coast Water Crisis
• Florida Estuaries In Crisis
• Board Resolutions & Actions
• Lake Okeechobee
• Floridian's Guide to Algae
• Florida's Waterways Updates
• Current Weather Conditions
• Advocacy Sign-Up
• EcoChampion Program
• Memberships
• Purchase a Stingray Tile
• Purchase a Brick Paver
• Coastal Center
• Educational Tours
• What You Can Do

Photo taken in accordance with marine turtle permit #MTP-20-099

Registration begins on May 15th!

These walks, which are authorized under a special permit issued by the State of Florida, provide a possible opportunity for you to witness a nesting loggerhead sea turtle in a safe and legal manner. Each turtle walk will begin with an educational presentation on sea turtle biology and conservation in Florida Oceanographic Society’s classroom, followed by the opportunity, if nature cooperates, for guests to go out on the beach to observe the nesting behavior of a loggerhead sea turtle. To ensure an enjoyable experience, space in these walks is extremely limited. Please carefully read all of the below information before registering. 

Reminder: These programs are conducted under a state permit. Conducting guided sea turtle walks on your own or disturbing sea turtles is against the law. Please keep all lights off while on the beach during sea turtle nesting season, including flashlights, red lights, cell phones and cameras. Don't forget to keep a respectful distance from nesting females or hatchlings.

Program Details

Program start time: 9:00 pm (Please arrive no later than 8:45 pm , and wait outside of the employee gate at the south end of our parking lot. A staff member will walk all attendees to our classroom as one group. The gate to our property will be locked promptly at 9:00 pm, and late arrivals will not be able to participate in the walk .)

Location: Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center – 890 NE Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34996

Program Fee: $35.00 per participant

Age restrictions: Participants must be at least 10 years of age . Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

Program Expectations

Participants must be able to walk in soft or wet sand for up to 1 mile to/from the nesting site. Boardwalks and stairs will also be used for crossing the dunes.

• The turtle walk might continue until 12:00 am or later, depending on when a turtle is spotted and how long her nesting process takes.
• Following a mandatory educational classroom program, guests will wait at the Coastal Center until a sea turtle is spotted by our scouts out on the beach. An educational film will be shown during this time.
• Cut off time for scouts to find a viewable turtle is 11:30 pm.
• Sea turtles are on their own schedule, so there are NO guarantees that a viewable turtle will be sighted. We cannot offer refunds if a turtle is not found, but we greatly appreciate your support, as all ticket sales directly benefit our sea turtle education programs.
• Participants must have their own means of transportation to follow the group from the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center to the beach access.
• Beach conditions can get rainy, muggy, and buggy, so please come prepared.
• We do not cancel the program in the event of rain – no matter how heavy – so bring a rain coat if rain is in the forecast. Lightning may result in delay of program or cancellation.

What to Wear and Bring

Black or dark-colored clothing is required (long sleeves and long pants reduce bug bites)

• Comfortable shoes that can get sandy and wet (bare feet are not allowed)
• Rain coat/poncho(no umbrellas please)
• Bug spray (please apply in the parking lot when you arrive)
• A drink and snack while waiting at the Coastal Center (please, no food once we arrive at the nesting beach)
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption during any phase of the turtle walk program

*Please DO NOT bring any flashlights, cameras, or cellphones on the beach. The use of any light or flash photography can disturb nesting turtles and is not permitted on our turtle walks.

Turtle walks are an intimate experience. During these walks, you will be in close contact with other guests, FOS staff members, and volunteers. All participants must attend a mandatory indoor classroom lecture prior to viewing a sea turtle on the beach. If you are not comfortable being in close proximity to other members of the public, please do not register for a sea turtle walk. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds or date swaps will be granted if cancelled within seven days of your reserved date. Due to the popularity and off-hour timing of this program, last-minute cancellations will be considered a donation to support sea turtle education at Florida Oceanographic Society.

• In the event that Florida Oceanographic Society must cancel a program, refunds will be issued, but date changes cannot be guaranteed.

Registration Help

Registration is limited to 16 spots per date. Please do not bring extra, unregistered guests to your walk.

During registration, your group size will be limited by the number of available spots remaining for your selected night (all remaining spots will appear in the pull-down menu).

• Please include the same email address for ALL participants in your party when registering.

Dates & Times

Registration for our Nighttime Sea Turtle Walks is full!

Home » Things To Do » Don’t Miss a 2024 Florida Sea Turtle Walk

Don’t Miss a 2024 Florida Sea Turtle Walk

Last Updated on March 7, 2024

Joining a Florida Sea Turtle Walk is a great way to personally observe a nesting loggerhead sea turtle.

March 1st is the kick off to sea turtle nesting season in Florida. Every day on Facebook someone posts a photo a new nest that has been spotted.

The sea turtle season officially begins again in May, so it’s good to find out where to join a 2024 Florida Sea Turtle Walk now and plan ahead.

Table of Contents

Where are most florida turtle walks, when are turtle walks available to the public, canaveral national seashore – titusville, sea turtle preservation society – melbourne/satellite beach, barrier island sanctuary – melbourne beach, sebastian inlet state park – melbourne beach.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center – Juno Beach

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park – North Palm Beach

Dr. von d. mizell-eula johnson state park – dania beach, gumbo limbo nature center – boca raton.

• Stella Maris Environmental Research – Melbourne Beach

Coastal Connections in Vero Beach

What to take on a sea turtle walk, how can you help florida’s sea turtles, florida sea turtle specialty license plate, join a florida sea turtle walk.

Volunteer-led beach walks can be daytime or night, allowing participants to see new and fresh nests or see live loggerheads nesting, depositing the eggs, covering the nest, and returning to the water.

On Florida’s east coast, tours are held after 8:00 pm. Tours are limited to small groups and start with an educational overview and discussion of sea turtles. 

A few programs include “turtle hatchling” evenings, where participants can see the newly hatched babies crawl from the nest down to the water’s edge.

Most organized turtle walks are on Florida’s Atlantic coast, with 80% found between New Smyrna Beach and Boca Raton.

The intense geographical density of the nesting activity creates more opportunities to see a turtle creating a nest.

• You can enjoy a sea turtle walk from June through July.
• All require reservations that fill VERY quickly.
• Most walks will charge a donation fee. Some fees are refundable, and others are not.
• There tend to be age limits if you are taking young children.
• Many organizations that host sea turtle walks are small and volunteer-driven, and it is best to call to discuss availability.

Is a Florida turtle walk on your bucket list? Then think about calling immediately to reserve your space. They fill up fast.

Locations for Florida Sea Turtle Walks

At Canaveral National Seashore, the National Park Service conducts turtle watch programs to view nesting loggerhead sea turtles. You can see them at the southern and northern ends of the 25-mile-long beach.

Reservations for a Florida Sea Turtle Walk start May 15th. (386)428.3384, ext. 0. You must book your reservation over the phone as they do not accept online reservations.

• Turtle watch groups are  limited  to 25-30 people per watch.
• Watches are usually held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
• There is a small fee, around $15 per person. The minimum age is 8.

Canaveral National Seashore Address : North (Apollo Beach) – 6760 Surfside Blvd. Apollo Beach, FL 33572 South (Playalinda Beach) – S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL 32796

• STC conducts walks on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in June and July.
• Space is limited to 20 people per night. The cost is $20 per person, paid in advance, to reserve a space.
• Days vary at select locations (Melbourne & Satellite Beach)
• Children must be at least 7 years old.

Sign up for a June Sea Turtle Watch. Sign up for a July Sea Turtle Watch .

Sea Turtle Preservation Society Address : Melbourne Beach – 507 Ocean Ave, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 Satellite Beach – 499 DeSoto Pkwy, Satellite Beach, FL 32937

• To make a reservation, go online to the website .
• Walks are conducted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights between June 1 and July 27.
• The cost is $20 per person, paid in advance, to reserve your space.
• This is the largest and best nesting habitat for Loggerheads in the Western Hemisphere. Green and Leatherback turtles also nest here.

Barrier Island Sanctuary Address: 8385 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951

• The 2024 days are Wednesdays through Fridays in June and July.
• In general, the Florida Sea Turtle Walk is available Wednesday through Friday during June and July. 
• The program starts at 9 pm and may last as late as 1 am. NOTE: Participants may walk up to three miles on soft sand.
• Reservations are open now and are already filling up. Sign up online .
• The cost is a $15.00 donation per person, paid in advance, to reserve your space.

Sebastian Inlet State Park Address : 9700 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951

Loggerhead Marinelife Center – Juno Beach 

• Turtle Walks are $22 per person.
• All individuals, including children, must pre-register online to reserve their spot.
• Children must be ten years or older to attend the walks, and all participants must be able to walk up to half a mile.
• All scheduled Turtle Walk nights have the same odds of the group seeing a sea turtle nesting. There are no refunds on tickets if a sea turtle is not spotted.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center Address : 14200 U.S. Hwy 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408

• Turtle walks at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park are typically held on Mondays and Thursdays in June and July.
• You can make a reservation on the day after Memorial Day only.
• The walks begin at 9:00 a.m. Call 561-624-6950.
• You can book groups but you are limited to 12-15 people. There are no age restrictions. However, parents are expected to accompany their children.
• A fee of $5 per person or the regular admission park fee may apply.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Address: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Dr, North Palm Beach, FL 33408

• Group size is limited to 25 individuals; children under six are not permitted.
• Registration opens May 1, 2024. Call 954-924-3859, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The program is free with paid park entry: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people), $4 for single-occupant vehicles, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Address : 6503 N Ocean Dr, Dania Beach, FL 33004

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, May 28, 2024- July 3, 2024
• 8:45 pm-12:00 am (or after a nesting turtle is seen, whichever happens first)
• Ages 8 and up; children under 18 must attend with an adult. 
• The cost is $20 per person for this sea turtle walk.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Address : 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Stella Maris Environmental Research  – Melbourne Beach

• $20 per person. (Reservation must be made for all experiences)
• Every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday in June and July
• Adults and children ages 7+ are welcome.
• The arrival time is 8:55 pm.

Stella Maris Environmental Research Address : 155 Duval St, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951

• Turtle walks are in June and July on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday Nights
• Walks will begin at 9:00 pm.
• A $20 refundable reservation deposit is required to register.

Coastal Connections Address : 3244 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963

• Dark clothes
• Long sleeve shirts
• Bug repellant
• Comfortable shoes
• No camera equipment allowed.
• Expect to walk up to ½ – 1 mile in soft sand.

Tips for safeguarding our sea turtles:

• If you come upon a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance. Do not shine a flashlight or lamp.
• From May through October, if you are residing on/near the beach, turn off all lights visible from the beach. Pull drapes/blinds in the evening to dim the light cast upon the shore. (Turtles/hatchlings orient towards the light of the horizon. Artificial lights can disorient them.)
• Pull all beach furniture away from the beach.

• Fill in obvious beach holes where tiny hatchlings can fall, unable to climb out.
• Knock down sand castles to remove obstacles for baby sea turtles.
• Pick up all trash from the beach
• Avoid fireworks on the beach (where sea turtles nest)
• Do not pick up turtle hatchlings.
• Become a volunteer and help our future sea turtle population!

Funded by a portion of revenues from Florida’s Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, the Sea Turtle Grants Program distributes yearly funds to support sea turtle research, conservation, and education programs that benefit the Florida sea turtles.

Thanks to the efforts of the non-profit Sea Turtle Conservancy and other Florida sea turtle groups, in 1997, the Florida Legislature (Statute 320.08058 (19)) authorized the creation of a Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate .

It’s purpose is to promote the conservation and protection of Florida’s sea turtles through providing a permanent funding source for the state’s Marine Turtle Protection Program. 

Order your Sea Turtle License Plate on the Helping Sea Turtles Website .

Question: Can you touch sea turtles in Florida?

Sea turtles are protected under Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act and the US Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to touch sea turtles and their nests and eggs.

What is the best time of day to see sea turtles?

It is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. These majestic sea creatures are most active in warmer, gentler water. During the cooler months, the waves become more vigorous and less hospitable for the turtles. The best time of day to view the turtles is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., but just before sunset is an excellent time to visit, too.

If we missed a 2024 Turtle Walk, please post the details in the comments below.

4 thoughts on “Don’t Miss a 2024 Florida Sea Turtle Walk”

Longboat Key Turtle Watch hosts free public turtle walk events every Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m. until the end of July. These events begin at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. To stay up to date on the turtle nest count, visit Mote’s website

• Pingback: Early Morning Sea Turtle Excursions In Florida – planetlovelife.com

What about Turtle Walks on FL’s West coast?

Hi Jeanette! It’s not as common as on the east coast. You can keep up with the latest nesting info at mote.org/2022nesting.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

2024 Florida sea turtle walks: It’s time to register for a fascinating encounter

By: Author Bonnie Gross

Posted on Last updated: May 7, 2024

I live in urban Fort Lauderdale and am always amazed and thrilled that thousands of huge Florida sea turtles still lumber onto Broward County beaches at night to lay eggs.

It seems so primordial for a place better known for Spring Break.

And yet, every summer our beach is decorated with neon-colored tape and signs to show where these ancient creatures have buried their eggs. 

Florida beaches are the No. 1 place for sea turtle nests in North America from May to October.

Up and down the Atlantic coast (where sea turtle nests are most common), parks and environmental groups organize night-time sea-turtle walks in June and July to observe the natural wonder.

Getting a chance to see a sea turtle in action takes some doing, but it’s a memorable experience. Visitors are led to a spot on the beach where a sea turtle is digging a hole a foot or two deep with her flippers. The turtle then starts filling the nest with soft-shelled eggs the size of ping-pong balls. After laying, she re-fills the nest with sand and heads back into the ocean. The whole process takes 30 to 60 minutes.

The most common variety of sea turtle here is the loggerhead, with leatherbacks and green turtles being much rarer.  Loggerheads average 200 to 250 pounds. Greens can way up to 500 pounds. Leatherbacks can get up to 1500 pounds. Wildlife-protection regulations limit turtle walks to observing only loggerheads.

How to reserve a walk to see Florida sea turtles

Nearly all sea-turtle walks require reservations. Some get booked for the season on the day they take reservations, and some don’t take reservations until specific dates.

Several of the best sea-turtle walk locations are away from urban centers, so a turtle walk might make a good anchor to a weekend getaway or vacation trip.

To see a nesting turtle, you need to go with a group: Guides for sea-turtle walks know the federal and state laws about what you can and cannot do regarding these threatened or endangered species. (For example: No flashlights except for guides, who need permits, and no flash photography.)

In most cases, you’ll be with a group of 10 or 30 people. All sea-turtle walk programs are required to begin with an information session or talk. During that time, most programs send out “scouts” to find nesting sea turtles for the group to observe.

In most places, participants have to be able to walk a mile or two on sand, and most sea-turtle walks discourage children under 8 or anyone with limited mobility. Wear dark clothing, bring insect repellent and a water bottle. And bring patience: One night I went on a sea-turtle walk, we waited several hours before a turtle was spotted, and for awhile, it looked like we weren’t going to get lucky. No matter where you go, there’s no guarantee you’ll see a sea turtle.

There are some beaches where the odds are better than others. Based on the past seasons, good places to see sea turtles nesting include:

• Palm Beach County beaches. In 2023, Palm Beach County’s 73 kilometers of monitored beach had 54,000 nests !
• Martin County had 24,000 turtle nests in 2023 in 35 kilometers of shoreline.
• Brevard County is home to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, which was specifically created to protect sea turtle nests, and it had more than 70,000 nests in 115 monitored kilometers.

Other Atlantic counties have a substantial number of nests. Even urban Broward County had about 4,800 nests on 39 monitored kilomoters of beach. (Miami-Dade had less than a thousand.) See statewide nesting data here .

Naturalists tell us there’s no way to predict which night will be good for turtle nests — there is no relationship between sea turtle nesting activity and the phase of the moon, the weather, or the tides.

All of these walks fill up quickly and some cost as much as $40 per person. There are two programs that are free  — FPL in Jensen Beach and Coastal Connections in Vero Beach.

Here’s a report on my experiences at a    turtle walk at Loggerhead Marinelife Center . (We went on a night when there were so many turtles nesting we couldn’t leave the beach until a few cleared the area.)

There are sea turtle walks up and down the Florida Atlantic coast. Information, where available, has been updated for the 2024 season. If you see 2023 dates, that’s because the 2024 dates have not been announced.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach

• 6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, 33304
• Reserve by calling 954-924-3859, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• For the 2024 season: Select evenings in May, June and July: May 21, 24, 28 and 31; June 4, 11, 18, 21, 25, 28; July 9, 12, 16, 19, 23. (These dates do not include three that were sold out at this writing.) Park entrance is at 8:30 p.m.; the program begins at 9 and concludes at 11:30 p.m.

The state park charges no additional fee beyond park entrance, which is $4 for a single car occupant and $6 for two to eight in a car. Reservations are required. Participants meet at a pavilion for a 20-minute ranger talk and Q&A. During the program, a scout looks for a nesting sea turtle to be observed. In recent years, about half the programs saw sea turtles. Reservations started in early May.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton

• 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, 33432
• 561-544-8605
• For the 2024 season, Gumbo Limbo will offer nighttime walks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, May 28- July 3, from 8:45 p.m. to midnight (or after a nesting turtle is seen, whichever happens first)
• The fee is $20. (For Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards Member or City of Boca Raton/Beach and Park District Resident, it is $15 each.)
• Gumbo Limbo also offers day-time sea turtle hatchling releases. For the day-time program, visitors were guaranteed to see sea turtles as they watch tiny sea turtle hatchlings scramble into the surf as they are released to make it on their own in the ocean. The 90-minute program was open to even the youngest kids.
• See more information on the Gumbo Limbo website

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park in North Palm Beach

• 10900 State Road 703 (A1A), North Palm Beach, 33408
• 561-624-6952
• The 2024 Turtle Walks start at 8:15 p.m. and run to 11:30 p.m. or later; you must be in the park by 8 p.m. Turtle Walks are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays June 2 to July 15.

Traditionally, MacArthur has one of the highest concentrations of turtle nests in the area, and only a handful of walks go without seeing a turtle most years. Each year, about 3,000 turtles nest on this 1.6 mile beach. Some nights, dozens of turtles nest here.

Registration is online through www.macarthurbeach.org . It starts at 9 a.m. on May 6. Price is $25 per ticket. Attendees should be 10 or older and be able to walk two miles on the beach. The Turtle Walks start at 8:15 p.m. and run to 11:30 p.m. or later; no one may leave early as the park gates are locked.

More about visiting MacArthur Beach State Park from Florida Rambler.

Barrier Island Sanctuary in Melbourne Beach

• 8385 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951
• 321-723-3556
• 2024 : 9 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in June and July.
• $20 per person.
• Reservations are made starting May 1. See their website.

These walks are through the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, the largest nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles in the Western Hemisphere. It has more endangered green sea turtles nests than any other place in North America, plus the world’s largest sea turtle, the endangered leatherback, nests here too. Regulations, however, limit turtle walks to observing only the nesting of the more common loggerhead turtle.

Sea Turtle Preservation Society in Melbourne Beach and Satellite Beach

• Sea-turtle walks are offered in both Melbourne Beach and Satellite Beach.
• 2024 dates include nights in June and July.
• Reservations are made online. Information: 321-676-1701.
• $18 minimum donation per person.

Stella Maris Environmental Research in Melbourne Beach

• Sea-turtle walks are offered in Melbourne Beach, leaving from Coconut Point Park. 3535 S. HWY A1A, Melbourne Beach.
• 2024 walks will be held Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday in June and July
• Reservations are made online starting May 1.
• Tickets are $20.
• Walks are held at Coconut Point Park, inside the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, the most important loggerhead nesting beach in the world. One quarter of all loggerhead nests occur inside the refuge, which ranges annually between 8,000 to 20,000 nests.
• The organization won a grant to buy night-vision technology to “provide you with an upgraded picture taken while on your walk.”

Florida Power & Light in Jensen Beach

• These sea-turtle walks are among very few free ones offered and thus fill up quickly. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on May 1.
• There is a $10 ticketing charge, which can be refunded upon your arrival to the event or donated to Inwater Research Group’s (501c3 non profit) sea turtle conservation programs. 
• 2024 turtle walks will be held Friday and Saturday nights in June and July.
• 6501 South Ocean Drive, Highway A1A, Gate B, Jensen Beach, 34957
• St. Lucie nuclear power plant at the Energy Encounter, Hutchinson Island, 1-888-646-6396.
• Information and registration at the Marine Education Center.

Hobe Sound Nature Center

• 13640 S.E. Federal Highway (U.S. 1), Hobe Sound, 33455
• 2024 walks are offered Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m. in June and July.
• Call (727) 546-2067 or make a reservation here .
• A donation of $20 per person is requested when you make your reservation online.
• Groups will meet at the Hobe Sound Public Beach at Jupiter Island Beach Road and Hwy. A1A.
• Reservations started being taken in early April. Sea-turtle walks go rain or shine.

Sebastian Inlet State Park, Fishing Museum

• 9700 South A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951
• 772-388-2750
• 2024 schedule: walks are conducted on Thursday and Friday nights between June 1 and July 31.
• $15 donation paid in advance.
• In recent years, more than three-quarters of the sea-turtle walks saw a loggerhead turtle.
• Reservations start May 1 or soon thereafter. Reserve online at friendsofsebastianinletstatepark.org. Programs are conducted by state park rangers.
• You are responsible for your own transportation to the Sebastian Fishing Museum.

Coastal Connections in Vero Beach

This Vero Beach-based group offers these tours free , although they require a $20 refundable deposit to ensure those who register show up.

• Riomar Beach Club 2426 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963
• 2024 schedule: Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays in June and July, starting at 9 p.m.
• Free . A $20 refundable reservation deposit is required to register. 
• Register online starting May 1.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach

• 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1, Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach, 33408
• 561-627-8280
• 2024 walks are Tuesdays to Saturdays in June and July. 
• Tickets are $40 each.
• Registration began May 1. Schedule and registration is here.
• Walks begin at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and can last until midnight.  
• In 2014, I joined a walk at Loggerhead Marine Center; here’s my report.  Loggerhead is a good place to take a turtle walk because before it starts you get to view the many tanks of turtles in rehabilitation.

Canaveral National Seashore , both in Titusville and New Smyrna Beach

• In 2023, sea-turtle walks were offered every week on Friday and Saturday in both districts of the national seashore in June and July. No information on 2024 sea turtle walks was available in early May. The following information is from 2023.
• Participants meet at 8 p.m. at the Playalinda ranger station, East of Titusville along Florida Highway 402, or the Apollo Visitor Center, 7611 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach.
• For reservations, call (386) 428-3384 ext. zero.
• $14 per person; children 15 and under are free. No children under age 8. Walks can go until midnight. Those with National Park Services passes for seniors or the disabled pay half price.
• The park is the longest undeveloped stretch of beach on Florida’s east coast.  Canaveral National Seashore website.

Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale

• Turtle walks are not being offered in the 2024 season. A representative said they would be back in 2025.

Florida sea turtles along Florida’s Gulf Coast

Florida sea turtles do nest along the Gulf Coast, but not as densely. As a result, turtle walks are rare along the Gulf Coast. The area with the greatest density of sea turtle nesting is Sarasota County. (If you know of a turtle walk, please add it to comments below.)

See Florida sea turtles every day

Several of the groups offering sea turtle walks have turtles in their care on exhibit — Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton, Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach and  John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Here’s a list of places where you can see captive sea turtles.

You can get close to an endangered species any day of the year with a tour of a non-profit turtle rehabilitation center in the Florida Keys. Read more from Florida Rambler about the  Sea Turtle Hospital in Marathon .

All articles on FloridaRambler.com are original, produced exclusively for our readers and protected by U.S. Copyright law. Any use or re-publication without written permission is against the law. Read more: floridarambler.com/licensing

This page contains affiliate links from which Florida Rambler may earn a small commission if a purchase is made. This revenue supports our mission to produce quality stories about the authentic Florida destinations at no cost to our readers.

The author, Bonnie Gross, travels with her husband David Blasco, discovering off-the-beaten path places to hike, kayak, bike, swim and explore. Florida Rambler was founded in 2010 by Bonnie and fellow journalist Bob Rountree, two long-time Florida residents who have spent decades exploring the Florida outdoors. Their articles have been published in the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Herald, the Orlando Sentinel, The Guardian and Visit Florida.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Sonia Guyer

Wednesday 19th of June 2019

Is there any place near Daytona beach or new Smyrna that have where you can help with releasing turtles? My daughter loves turtles and stops on the road to help them safely across and I would love to get her a gift where she can help release them somewhere.

Bob Rountree

Thursday 20th of June 2019

Try Canaveral National Seashore, which you can access from A1A in New Smyrna (just past JB's Fish Camp). They have a robust turtle-nesting program and already are reporting more than 1,000 nests on Apollo Beach. The phone number is (386) 428-3384. Good luck!

Kelly Clinevell

Monday 22nd of May 2017

Hello, Thanks for this informative article. Are there any walks to see the hatchlings? My family will be traveling down the Atlantic Coast in mid September. Thanks for any information you might have.

Bonnie Gross

Tuesday 23rd of May 2017

Hi Kelly, It looks like mid-September is late for this activity. The only place that does hatchling walks is Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton, and those end Sept. 7. If you're exploring the Atlantic Coast and are nearby, however, you might enjoy stopping at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach or Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton. Both are very nice facilities with tanks of sea turtles and exhibits.

• Skip to right header navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary navigation
• Skip to primary sidebar

Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Florida!

7 Best Places To See Wild Sea Turtles In Florida

September 29, 2020 //  by  Florida Trippers

If you have any interest at all in marine life, this list of the best places to see sea turtles in Florida is for you! Think of it as your comprehensive Florida sea turtles guide.

We will go over the different types of Florida sea turtles, as well as when and where they can be found in the wild! Some of these spots may surprise you.

If you really want to see the Florida turtles, plan a trip to Florida during sea turtle nesting season. More sea turtles nest in Florida than anywhere else in the country!

Speaking of sea turtle nesting season, Sea turtles are creatures of habit so Florida turtles will stay Florida turtles. They often return to nest just feet away from where they were the previous year, meaning you can see these cute guys hanging out in Florida year after year!

Florida sea turtles can be big or small, brown or green, but they are all absolutely adorable. Sea turtles in Florida are beautiful creatures that you should not forget when planning your next Florida vacation.

Sea turtles in Florida come in many different varieties. Keep reading to find out what they are, and how you can spot each of these Florida turtles!

What Kind Of Sea Turtles Live In Florida

Florida sea turtles are not just one species. There are a total of seven different types of sea turtle in the world, or six depending on who you ask.

There is actually a scientific debate about whether to include the seventh species in the sea turtle classification. Who knew sea turtles could cause such controversy?!

The reason for this disagreement is that six of the seven species of sea turtle all fall into the family Cheloniidae. They have plated shells that all look relatively similar.

The seventh species of sea turtle belongs to the Dermochelyidae family, and has a shell that is one single piece. These sea turtles are the easiest to identify because they just look so different from the others.

The highly debated seventh turtle species is known as the leatherback, and is actually one of our Florida sea turtles. For that reason we will be including the leatherback on this list, no matter what the scientists say!

Five of the seven total species of sea turtles can be found in Florida. These Florida sea turtles include the loggerhead, green turtle, kemp’s ridley, hawksbill, and the aforementioned leatherback.

Although the leatherback is the most distinctive of these Florida turtles, each species has unique characteristics.

You can spot a loggerhead by its large, square head and medium size (for a turtle), up to 275 pounds. These Florida turtles have a brown shell and yellow belly, and are the most common sea turtles in Florida.

The green turtle is larger than the loggerhead (up to 350 pounds), and has a small head for its body. These Florida turtles are known for being, you guessed it, green!

Florida is extremely lucky that the kemp’s ridley sea turtle calls it home, as this is the rarest and most endangered sea turtle in the world. These turtles are quite small, an adult turtle only weighing 85-100 pounds.

Hawksbill turtles have an amber colored shell with darker markings, and are also quite small (100-200 pounds). If it has a skinny head and raptor-like jaw, that’s how you know it’s a hawksbill.

Leatherbacks are by far the largest Florida sea turtles, weighing up to 2,000 pounds! You can spot them by the seven vertical ridges they have on their backs and obviosly, their one-piece shell.

Now that you know how to spot the differences between species of Florida sea turtles, read on to find out when and where you can see each of them in action!

Best Time Of Year To See Sea Turtles In Florida

Sea turtles are a transient animal, meaning they migrate to different waters depending on the season. Florida turtles are no exception.

The best time of year to see wild sea turtles in Florida is during the summer, during sea turtle nesting season. Sea turtle nesting season lasts from roughly May to September.

The turtles generally nest at night, so be prepared for a late night walk on the beach!

Almost 90 percent of all sea turtle nesting in the United States occurs in Florida between the months of May and October. Watching sea turtles nest in such great numbers is really an unforgettable experience.

If you think about it, Florida is the only place in the country where you can see that many sea turtles at once. And all in the wild!

What Month Do Sea Turtles Hatch In Florida

Sea turtle eggs hatch about 50-60 days after they are laid so in theory they will begin to hatch around the 19th of June, with the last eggs of the season hatching around mid December. Colder temperatures will lengthen the incubation period, while warmer ones will shorten it.

It’s also interesting to note that colder temperatures produce more male sea turtles and warmer temperatures produce more females, so the sea turtles in Florida tend to be largely female!

Sea turtles tend to hatch at night between 9 pm and 5 am (pretty much the same time of day the eggs are laid), so you have yet another reason for that late night beach stroll!

Can You Touch Sea Turtles In Florida

You absolutely should NOT touch a sea turtle, especially a baby one. There can be legal repercussions, but it is also extremely harmful to the turtle itself (hence the legal repercussions).

Sea turtles are protected under both Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act and under the US Endangered Species Act of 1973. It is illegal to touch sea turtles as well as their nests and eggs.

Six out of seven species of sea turtle are on the endangered species list, including all of the sea turtles in Florida. Humans pose the largest threat to their population, so it is important to follow a few rules when observing sea turtles.

Endangered species laws don’t just prevent touching the turtles. They also prohibit the trade, selling, and ownership of sea turtles.

The most important thing prohibited by these laws however is light.

Sea turtles hatching in Florida use the light of the moon to find their way to the ocean. Any artificial light will lead them in the wrong direction, leaving them vulnerable to predators, as well as to dying of hunger or dehydration.

This means no flash photography, no bright cellphones, and no flashlights.

If you’re worried about being able to see the turtles in the dark without any light, turtle-safe flashlights are a thing! This way you can still get a good view of the sea turtles without putting them in danger.

This information is not to dissuade you, but rather to make sure your visit with the sea turtles hatching in Florida is safe for you and for them. Keep your hands to yourself and your flash off, and go enjoy the turtles!

7 Best Places To See Sea Turtles In Florida

Melbourne beach.

Melbourne Beach is one of the most important places for sea turtles hatching in Florida. Many of the following locations offer educational tours so that everyone knows how to observe the sea turtles without disturbing their nests.

Having an educated guide also means you are sure to see turtles and nests on your adventure. It’s a much more reliable way to find them than going alone!

If any of the following Melbourne beach locations pique your interest, you can find more information about their tours and services at the links provided!

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is a 20.5 mile stretch of Florida’s coastline spanning from Melbourne beach to Wabasso. More loggerhead sea turtles come here for sea turtle nesting season than any other place in the Western Hemisphere.

You can also see leatherback and green turtles nesting here. Due to the protections the Wildlife Refuge has put in place, these two species of sea turtle have been nesting there in increasing numbers the past few years!

Sea Turtle Preservation Society

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society is located just north of Melbourne Beach in Indialantic, Florida. Conveniently, it is also just north of the aforementioned Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge.

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society actually offers sea turtle walks to the Wildlife Refuge. Although there is no absolute guarantee that you will see the turtles on these walks, they have a very high success rate.

This success rate is largely due to the efforts of both The Archie Carr Wildlife Rescue and the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. Because of their work to preserve the sea turtles’ habitats, there are now a lot more turtles to see than there were a few years ago.

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sebastian Inlet State Park is another great Melbourne Beach location to spot sea turtles. The most abundant species here is the loggerhead, with green turtles a close second, as well as the occasional leatherback nest.

There is also the rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nest. The last reported sighting was in 2018, but you might just be the lucky traveler who spots the unlikely Kemp’s ridley nest!

Just like Melbourne Beach, Vero Beach is located on Florida’s east coast. Vero Beach is less than an hour south of Melbourne, so you can easily visit both if you take a Florida road trip .

This stretch of Florida’s coastline is commonly referred to as the “treasure coast”. And although you may not find any buried treasure, this guide will definitely help you to find some sea turtles!

Coastal Connections

Coastal Connections offers a plethora of ways you can encounter wild sea turtles in Vero Beach. They also have an “adopt-a-nest” option.

Adopting a sea turtle may not be the best way to view their nests in real time, but it comes with a whole bunch of cool perks. You will get an official adoption certificate, as well as information about your nest once it hatches.

This information includes how many turtles were hatched from the nest, how many made it safely to the water, as well as whether they were male or female. You may also receive some special gifts from Coastal Connections, and your nest will have the opportunity to be featured on a Turtle Dig!

Turtle Digs are probably the most foolproof way to view wild sea turtle nests in Vero Beach. You will have the opportunity to learn a little bit about sea turtle biology and conservation efforts just steps away from where the nests are hatching!

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort offers a Sea Turtle Night Walk! This experience is probably your best option when it comes to being certain you will see the turtles.

This is because while you listen to a presentation on sea turtles, official monitoring scouts will go out and look for nests. The scouts then return and take you directly to the nests they have spotted just minutes earlier!

You will also be given night vision goggles to better observe the turtles, and an earpiece to listen to an expert narrate the tour as you look at the nests. You do not have to stay at the resort to enjoy this turtle walk, and anyone over the age of 8 is welcome!

Florida Keys

As you might have guessed, the Florida Keys are prime real-estate when it comes to sea turtles. You can find five out of seven species of sea turtles in the Florida Keys.

The Florida Keys are gorgeous any time of year, but if you plan your visit during nesting season it’s sure to be a particularly unforgettable stay. Check out the following locations to find the best places to spot sea turtles in the Florida Keys.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 70 miles west of Key West, and is only accessible by boat or plane. This may sound like a hassle, but it is one of the best places to see sea turtles in the Florida Keys and totally worth it!

The Dry Tortugas are also some of the most beautiful islands in Florida , and your boat or plane ride will really give you the chance to see that.

As the name suggests, Dry Tortugas was named for its large turtle population! In 1513, Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon saw so many sea turtles nesting on these islands that he called them “Las Tortugas”.

Loggerhead, Hawksbill, and Green sea turtles all nest here. And even when it’s not nesting season for the sea turtles in the Florida Keys, you might spot some swimming in the surrounding waters!

Key West Reef

Another great way to find sea turtles in Key West is to go snorkeling! And at Key West Reef, otherwise known as “ The Great Florida Reef “, you can do just that.

This coral reef is actually the only living coral barrier reef in the United States. It is also the third largest reef in the world!

Adult sea turtles migrate to and from this reef year round, so no need to wait for nesting season here. That is, unless you really want to see the baby turtles hatch (they’re so dang cute who could blame you?!).

This will be an unforgettable adventure whether you encounter wild turtles or not. It’s also a great place to use your underwater camera.

Coral reefs are extremely beautiful and colorful. They also accommodate so many different species of marine life that they’re sometimes called “rainforests of the sea”.

There are many snorkeling tours you can choose from, or you can just stay in a nearby Airbnb and go turtle hunting on your own!

Sea turtles in Florida are truly a sight to behold, especially in the wild. This is even more true during their nesting season.

If you’re planning a trip any time between March and October, you do not want to miss the natural wonder that is sea turtle nesting season. And now, you have all the information you need to make the most of your turtle watching.

We’ve gone over the different species of sea turtles, where and when they nest, as well as tips and tricks for spotting them on some of Florida’s prettiest beaches . Now go forth and make some turtle friends!

We sincerely hope you learned something from this article, whether it be how to distinguish each sea turtle species, how to best protect sea turtles in Florida, or most importantly, where you’re going to go on your Florida sea turtles vacation!

Did You Find This Post Helpful?

If so, we would love to keep in touch! We enjoy seeing photos and comments about your experiences in Florida! You can follow us on Instagram and we will repost your photos on our feed and comment too! Just tag us at @floridatrippers and hashtag #floridatrippers. We can’t wait to see your travels!

2024 Turtle Krawl 5K! Click Here to Krawl.

2024 Turtle Night Walks! Click Here to Walk.

Turtle Night Walks

Our Florida State Permit allows us to guide groups to observe nesting loggerhead sea turtles. The walk team is comprised of many volunteers including greeters, presenters and guides all trained and experienced in their respective roles.

There are no guarantees that guests will see actual nesting, though – because it is all up to Mother Nature and the respective sea turtle to cooperate. However, the STPS turtle walk team has a very good success rate because we’re located near the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, the site of the second largest loggerhead nesting area in the world!

Teams provide Turtle Walks for the public several nights a week during June and July at different locations in South Brevard County. Guests must make reservations to participate.

To make 2023 reservations click here: Turtle Walk Registration

Or alternately, click on one of the monthly sign-up links for: June or July

What to expect:

• Guests arrive on the night of the walk.
• The night begins with a presentation about sea turtles that nest in the area, the threats they encounter, and what we can do to help.
• Meanwhile, permitted scouts are looking for loggerheads that are coming ashore to nest.
• If a scout spots a nesting loggerhead, the group is led to the location and allowed to observe while the turtle is laying her eggs.

Commemorative turtle night walk shirt can be purchased here.

Latest Blog Posts

• Sea Turtles and the Red Light Myth! May 17, 2024
• Celebrating All Things STPS – Our Sea Turtle Night Walks May 15, 2024
• Celebrating All Things STPS – Our Logo May 13, 2024
• Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts – Size, Appearance, and Diet May 9, 2024
• Celebrating All Things STPS – Our Founder Peter Bandré May 3, 2024
• Sea Turtle Week Contests Now Open April 26, 2024
• Preventing Wildlife Entanglements April 20, 2024

Checkout our Facebook Feed

Upcoming events, subscribe to blog via email.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The 11 Best Places to See Sea Turtles in Florida

There is so much amazing marine life to see in Florida, but in my opinion, sea turtles are the coolest. Sea turtles are found all along Florida’s coast, both swimming in the water and nesting on the shores. Though they are common, I wanted to share the best places to see sea turtles in Florida.

I have seen sea turtles in the wild many times and it never gets old! The best way to see them is to visit during nesting season (May through October) and go on a turtle walk. However, you can also see them hatching on the beach, while scuba diving, while snorkeling, or at rescue centers. This post will highlight all the different ways you can see sea turtles in the Sunshine State!

Table of Contents

1. Melbourne Beach

There is no better place for finding sea turtles in Florida than Melbourne Beach and I would know. I have lived here for over ten years! Every summer, we head out to the beach at night and find them crawling up the shores to lay eggs. It is a miraculous sight that is actually very common here!

Though leatherback and green sea turtles nest here, the most common sea turtles to see are loggerhead turtles. Usually, June and July are when you will find the highest concentration of sea turtles nesting on the Space Coast. In 2021, over 50,000 female sea turtles nested here, which is the highest amount of turtle nests for a county in the entire state!

Take a Guided Sea Turtle Walk

Multiple organizations like the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the Sea Turtle Preservation Society host turtle walks at night. This way a nature guide can help you find the turtles in the dark and make sure they are not disturbed. Guided walks fill up fast, so make sure to book early!

If you can’t find a guided walk, you can walk along beaches like the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and look for them yourself. When doing this, you must take great care to avoid disturbing the turtles. if you see a sea turtle in the wild, stay far away, make no noises, don’t shine any lights or flash cameras at them, and of course, do not touch them under any circumstances.

Spotting Hatchlings in Melbourne Beach

Hatchlings (aka baby sea turtles) will emerge from sea turtle nests about 50-60 days after the sea turtle lays her eggs. They can emerge from their shell at any time. I have only ever seen a few hatchlings emerge and it is usually in August. It is pretty unlikely to ever see a whole nest of baby turtles hatching in Melbourne Beach, but you might get lucky! There is no timing for this and it is totally random.

Other Ways to See Sea Turtles in Melbourne Beach, Florida

Another seasonal way to see sea turtles is to attend the Turtle Krawl 5k. This is one of the most fun running races around and there is usually a turtle release at the end! This is when a rehabilitated sea turtle gets released into the ocean. These happen regularly around Melbourne Beach, Florida so keep an eye on the Sea Turtle Preservation Society Facebook page to find out when these events take place.

2. Vero Beach Sea Turtle Walks

Just south of Melbourne Beach, Vero Beach is also a popular spot for turtles to nest. You can often find sea turtles nesting on the beach at night on your own here. However, to get the full experience, I recommend booking a turtle walk with Coastal Connections.

This is a nonprofit that works to help sea turtles recover and protect their coastal habitats. The walks are free but require a deposit, and you get a picture from a night vision camera of the turtle you see! Keep in mind that seeing a nesting loggerhead sea turtle is not a guarantee and will only occur if one can be viewed following FWC permit guidelines.

If you are staying at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, you can take a turtle walk right at the hotel! This costs $35 per person but includes night vision goggles to borrow for better viewing. With so many turtles flocking to the east coast of Florida, Vero Beach offers plenty of excellent opportunities to see them.

3. Canaveral National Sea Shore

In addition to Melbourne Beach, another Space Coast place to see sea turtles is the Canaveral National Seashore. Located in Titusville right by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, this is one of the most pristine stretches of beach in Florida. It is protected by the National Park Service and they take great care in conserving its natural beauty.

The National Park services offer turtle walks every June and July for $14 per person, in both the Playalinda and Apollo Districts. Though seeing a turtle is not guaranteed, the success rate of groups seeing them is over 90%. Considering over 8,000 sea turtles nested at this beach in 2021, I think your odds are pretty good. If you are extremely lucky, you might even get to see a rocket launch view from here on the same night.

4. The Sea with Nemo and Friends at Epcot

Surprisingly, you can find and even swim with sea turtles in Florida nowhere near the coast! Future World at Epcot has a huge aquarium with both green sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles. I love watching them swim around with other fish in the big tank, but if you are scuba-certified you can swim with them too!

We did Epcot DiveQuest where you get to scuba dive in the aquarium with turtles, sharks, rays, and more. It’s one of the best scuba dives I have ever done and a sea turtle even swam right into me! My family could watch us from behind the glass so it was an awesome experience overall.

This is the best way for young kids to see sea turtles because you do not have to worry about them disturbing them in their natural habitat. They can also enjoy the Finding Nemo ride here and learn more about sea turtles at Turtle Talk with Crush.  

5. Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach

Further down to the Palm Beaches, you can occasionally see sea turtles at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center . This Juno Beach facility rehabilitates injured sea turtles and hatchlings at their turtle hospital. You can even “adopt” one of the patients, visit them and get updates on their progress!

When visiting, you can see any turtle patients they have and learn about how the veterinarians are treating them. Tours of the facility are offered daily, as well as lectures, labs, and marine feedings. Kids can especially learn a lot here with the Jr. Vet Lab, Storytime, and art classes.

6. Scuba Diving in Jupiter

Though nesting turtles are amazing, there is nothing like seeing a sea turtle swim in the ocean! I saw many turtles right off the beach in Maui. However, in Florida, I have managed to see some too, and though you have to be scuba certified, it is worth it!

Diving in Palm Beach is by far one of the best spots in Florida to see sea turtles while scuba diving. If you are going between May through August, you have an excellent chance of seeing them here. Though many reside off the coast in Melbourne, I recommend coming down here to see them swim through the coral reefs with the better water clarity. You can go on your own, but I prefer to take a charter with Jupiter Scuba Diving .

On my first scuba dive, I actually saw one right when I descended! This was at the Corridor Wreck Trek which is a reef ledge home to many sea creatures. We proceeded to see so many more on this dive.

7. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton

To see and learn about sea turtles, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a beloved place to go in Boca Raton. This center is home to a turtle rehabilitation facility, as well as an exhibit hall, an aquarium, nature trails, and a butterfly garden. Admission is free (although a $5 donation per person is appreciated) and you can see the turtle patients up close!

This facility treats between 50-100 sea turtles per year and 200-300 hatchlings, so there are usually sea turtles to see and learn about the health issues they are having. There is also a mile of coastal trails to peruse with all sorts of flowers, trees, and turtle statues. The outdoor aquarium even has a variety of tropical fish to see. It’s an educational and fun place for visitors of all ages.

8. Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale

One of the best South Florida places for sea turtles is the Museum of Discovery and Science. This museum is located in Fort Lauderdale and often has rehabilitated turtles in its aquarium. I have seen hatchlings that were found stuck on the beach and it was so cute to see them swim!

This is another place that offers turtle walks. For $19 you get briefed on some interesting facts about sea turtles and then head to the beach to look for turtle tracks. Though Melbourne and Vero Beach are better known for turtle sightings, this is an awesome opportunity if you are in South Florida.

9. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Over on the gulf coast, chances of seeing a nesting sea turtle are much slimmer. Last year, only 12% of total sea turtle nests were on the gulf coast and panhandle. If are on that side, by far one of the best places to see sea turtles on the Florida gulf coast is Sarasota County.

Not only were 6% of total sea turtle nests in the state found in Sarasota and Siesta Key (the most of any gulf county), but you can also visit the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium . Here, there is an aquarium that currently houses four sea turtles, as well as any rescued baby turtles. The four sea turtles here are unable to live in the wild, but are happily swimming around for people to observe and learn about!

This aquarium has a turtle hospital where any turtles found in the area are treated and all sorts of exhibits to learn more about sea turtles. While you are here, be sure to see the manatees, sharks, otters, birds, jellyfish, fish, and more at this engaging aquarium. And if you want to see animals in the wild, there is a boat cruise where you can see dolphins and manatees!

10. Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West

The one place I have not visited on this list is Dry Tortugas National Park because it is a bit of a challenge to get to. It is located off the coast of Key West and you have to take a ferry or seaplane to get there. However, the secluded nature of this national park makes it a spectacular place for seeing sea life, including turtles!

Snorkeling is one of the most popular things to do here and it is not uncommon to see sea turtles swimming right near you. You can also see them from the seaplane on the ride to the island. There are only slots for ten campsites per night, but if you get to be one of them, it is a very cool experience to stay the night on this island. You may even see sea turtles nesting on the beach here! Considering Tortugas is literally turtle in Spanish, it is no surprise that this is a must-visit for sea turtle enthusiasts!

11. Sea Turtle Hospital in Marathon Key

I saved the best for last with one of the most surefire places for getting up close to Florida sea turtles. If you are taking a trip to the Florida Keys, I highly recommend a visit to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon . This is similar to the other rehabilitation sites mentioned above, but they have an amazing, informative tour that really makes the visit worth it.  

This is a ninety-minute tour that goes in-depth into the threats to turtles, and how they are treated for different injuries or ailments. Then at the end, you get to see the sea turtle patients. There is often a huge variety of species of sea turtles here including Kemp’s Ridley and Hawksbill Turtles. This includes permanent residents who are unable to return to the wild, often because of shell damage that results in the inability to dive.

Though it can be a little sad to hear about injured turtles, the staff here is so passionate and the research they are doing will help get sea turtles off the endangered species list and figure out the best way to treat them!

We came away with so much knowledge and loved getting to see all the different types of turtles in their large pools. There are always sea turtles here, so it is a wonderful place to see them and learn about them too!

Know Before You Go

The majority of sea turtle nesting in the United States occurs on Florida’s beaches and you can see it happen for yourself! If you are visiting in the summer or a local, I highly recommend taking a sea turtle walk and experiencing this amazing sight.

If you cannot make it to the Central East Coast, I hope this post introduced you to some of the other best places to see sea turtles that were rescued or rehabilitated. Before you go on a turtle walk, please keep the following tips in mind to help protect the sea turtles:

• You can find sea turtles nesting all along the east coast of Florida. If you go out by yourself at night, you have a good chance of seeing them, but a professional turtle walk is a better bet.
• Make sure to never shine lights or take flash photography around the turtles because it scares as and disorientates them.
• If you see a sea turtle in the wild, never touch it, even if it is a baby hatchling. For injured turtles, look up the local sea turtle protection center and they will rescue it if needed.
• If you want to bring light to walk on the beach, make sure to use a red light. Many beachfront buildings use these to prevent the hatchlings from becoming disorientated when they hatch. You can get a red light flashlight here.
• Sea Turtles nest between April to October. However, the best time to see nesting sea turtles is June and July.

Have you ever seen sea turtles in the wild? Let me know when and where! For more ways to experience the beauty of Florida nature, check out my guide to The Everglades and my post about the best Fresh Water Springs.

• Camping & Lodging

Sea Turtles at Sebastian Inlet

There are five species of sea turtles that swim in Florida's waters, with three typically nesting on our beach. The loggerhead is the most common with tens of thousands of nests recorded in Florida annually and is the most abundant at Sebastian Inlet State Park with nearly 700 nests in 2018. 

Green turtles, named for the greenish color of their body fat, are the only sea turtles that eat plants. The leatherback is the largest of the sea turtles and is the only species that lacks scales and a hard shell. Leatherback sea turtles nest at Sebastian Inlet, but with fewer nests compared to loggerheads and green sea turtles.

The other two species of sea turtles are Kemp’s ridley and hawksbill. On a rare occasion, Sebastian Inlet has a returning Kemp's ridley nest on the beach. It last nested in 2018.

Nesting season runs from May through October.

Sebastian Inlet State Park  is involved in the statewide marine turtle-monitoring program and the Index Nesting Beach Surveys that began March 1 and end on October 31, 2020. 

During the nesting season, trained park staff conduct daily morning surveys of the beach, recording the previous night’s activities. The morning surveys follow the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines and collect data on marine turtle species, crawls, nests, predations and nest productivity. 

Crawls are the flipper tracks that indicate a sea turtle has arrived and nested on the beach the previous night. False crawl indicates the sea turtle was unsuccessful in nesting. With the exception of the Kemp’s ridley, most sea turtles lay their nests at night. Sometimes you can catch a glimpse of a sea turtle first thing in the morning, finishing up and crawling back to sea.

Each nest is marked with stakes and flagging tape. After the hatchlings emerge and enter the ocean, only the females and sick turtles ever return to shore. Females tend to return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their eggs.

Sebastian Inlet State Park conducts park ranger-guided educational sea turtle walks. The turtle walks offer you a possibility to witness a loggerhead sea turtle lay her eggs, cover and disguise her nest, crawl down the beach and swim away into the Atlantic Ocean. 

• Turtle walks are five nights a week, Friday through Tuesday, during the months of June and July. The program starts at 9 p.m. and may last until 1 a.m. 
• Unlike any other permitted sea turtle walk offered in Florida, you might walk up to three miles while searching for a sea turtle.
• Reservations are required .

The major threats to nesting marine turtles, their nests and turtle hatchlings are predation from natural and introduced predators. At Sebastian Inlet State Park , loss of nests and/or hatchlings has occurred due to erosion from storms and predation from raccoons, domestic dogs, ghost crabs and fire ants.

What you can do to help our nesting sea turtles:

• Do not disturb a nesting or hatchling sea turtle - no lights or camera flashes.
• Leave the beach as natural as possible.
• Knock down sand castles and make sure to fill in any holes you dig while visiting the beach, so nesting and hatchling turtles don’t become trapped.
• Remove any beach chairs, beach umbrellas, boats or other beach furniture each evening. They can be obstacles to the nesting and hatchling sea turtles.
• Avoid disturbing marked sea turtle nests.
• Don’t litter, and take your trash with you when you leave the beach.
• Volunteer at local beach cleanup events.
• Don’t release balloons into the air. They travel far and end up in our oceans, being consumed by sea turtles that mistake them for food.
• Don’t allow your pets to disturb or dig up nests.  

Plan Your Visit

• Hours & Directions

Daily Schedule

• Book Your Event
• Tortuga Café
• Tours & Experiences

Eco Experiences

• Go Blue Awards
• Run 4 The Sea
• Weddings & Private Events
• Birthday Parties

Juno Beach Pier

Rehabilitation, conservation.

• Beach Cleanups

Animal Care

• Field Trips & School Outreach

Community Outreach

Exclusive programs.

• Kid?s Fun Zone
• Learn At Home
• Educator Login

Ways To Give

Become a member, blue friends society.

• Gordon Gray Circle Of 100

Community Partners

Event space, tortuga café, by the sea lecture series.

Join us after hours for a lecture series featuring local scientists, conservationists, and photographers with brews!

Tours & Experiences

Special events, kid’s fishing program.

Participants will learn basic techniques for fishing including knot tying, casting, fish handling, and proper catch-and-release techniques.

Adopt A Sea Turtle

You can support Loggerhead Marinelife Center by “adopting” a sea turtle patient starting at just $40. Your adoption directly benefits the continued care and treatment of our sick and injured sea turtles.

Make A Donation

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of our supporters. You can support our mission financially, by volunteering, or by spreading awareness.

Field Trips & School Outreach

Kids' fun zone, educator resources, unwrap the waves.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Unwrap the Wave Initiative allows for students and community members to get into the "spirit" of conservation by collecting their candy wrappers from Halloween and recycling them.

Gordon Gray Circle of 100

We offer four membership levels, as well as the Gordon Gray Circle of 100 and the Blue Friends Society. Explore all your options.

Join Our Team

Loggerhead Marinelife Center offers exciting and rewarding career opportunities and internships. 

Experiences

LMC offers an array of Tours and Experiences that provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the world of marine life and conservation.

Camps provide a unique blend of education, adventure, and fun, allowing campers to explore the fascinating world of sea turtles and marine conservation.

Eco Experiences at Loggerhead Marinelife Center offer an insightful and hands-on approach to understanding the importance of preserving our oceans and the magnificent creatures that call it home.

This iconic pier offers a slice of paradise and a captivating experience for those looking to connect with the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean.

TURTLE TREK Education Walks

What is a Turtle Trek?

Before the trek, during the trek, unpredictable turtles, age requirement, cancellation policy.

Following a presentation about sea turtles, their habitats, and threats they face, participants walk the beach with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection staff.  During the walk, staff will explain how & why nests are protected, about their incubation cycle and what commonly happens to the hatchlings on a densely urbanized beach like Fort Lauderdale.  We’ll discuss hatchling disorientation due to artificial lights, why this occurs and what S.T.O.P is doing to make a difference.    

Please note, there is no promise or guarantee that you will see hatchings.  Based on our 2023 permit conditions, the group is not allowed to visit or sit near nests that may hatch.  Our goal is to educate and inspire you during your time with us and ensure a fulfilling experience. If you are fortunate enough to witness these amazing animals, it will be something that you will never forget​. 

100% of the Turtle Trek proceeds help us fund our rescue operations. Turtle Treks take place in the evenings in August & September. 

Before your Turtle Trek, we’ll meet up for an educational presentation at our Headquarters, where you’ll learn about the coastal habitat, the species of turtles that nest on our beaches, their life cycle and the natural and human-caused dangers that affect them. Following this presentation, you will accompany your Trek guide on the beach habitat to begin the Educational Walk .  

During the Trek, we’ll continue sharing important facts about the coastal habitat, the importance of sea turtles to the ocean ecosystem and more about challenges these animals face the moment they emerge from their sandy nests.  You’ll see the beach through the eyes of a newborn sea turtle.    

The Turtle Trek participant agrees to assume liability of injury from any and all perceivable and unperceivable risks of injury and as to which by using his or her own best judgment for personal safety. 

Expect the Unexpected! As with all wild animals, sea turtle movements and behaviors are unpredictable.  They are on their own “turtle time”. Given this fact, there is no guarantee you will see sea turtles on our Treks. 

Our goal is to educate and inspire you during your time with us and ensure a fulfilling experience. But if you are fortunate enough to witness these amazing animals, it will be something that you will never forget​. 

Due to the late hour and nature of the program, it is not recommended for children under 6 years of age. 

Pricing is the same, regardless of the age of the participant.  Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent​ or guardian. 

Your registration fee is non-refundable, however should you be unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, you may use your receipt as a tax-deductible contribution to the organization. 

Sea Turtle Oversight Protection is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As such, your receipt may be used as a tax-deductible contribution to our organization. 100% of your registration fee will help to fund our rescue efforts. 

Turtle Treks are held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights beginning at 8:30 pm. Space is limited to 20 people, so book early! 

CHECK AVAILABILITY & REGISTER

How you can help

There are many ways you can help us keep feet on the sand, buckets in hand, and flippers in the sea.

Become a SeaTurtleOP member to help us all year long

It's fast, it's easy and helps us keep the lights on!

• Turtle Treks

Hatchling rescue walk eco-tour A special adventure of a lifetime

Primary contact & emergency numbers:

STOP 24/7 Hatchling Emergency (954) 404-0025 Broward County (954) 519-1255 FWC (888) 404-3922 (FWCC)

Join our mailing list to receive newsletters, alerts, video updates and to learn more about volunteering opportunities.

• Name a Hatchling
• S.T.O.P. Shop

Beach Conditions

Beach Flag Updates

Enjoy the beach and stay safe! Sign up for Destin-Fort Walton Beach water conditions by texting BEACH to 44144 to receive beach flag updates. Please follow all beach safety and flag warnings when near the water.

Sea Turtles in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Destin-Fort Walton Beach is home to four of our seven types of sea turtles! You can see Loggerhead, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and even Leatherback sea turtles in our Gulf of Mexico waters!

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Sea turtle nesting season is May 1st through October 31st in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Sea turtles live in our waters year-round but during this time of the year, they are coming up onto our beaches to lay their eggs! They typically do this in the middle of the night when there is less of a chance of interference or disturbance. So it’s important to keep our beaches and waters safe for our nesting sea turtles!

How can I help protect sea turtles?

• Remove all of your belongings from the beach. This includes umbrellas, tents, chairs, towels, toys, and most importantly trash. These items act as obstacles for our sea turtles and may deter them from nesting.
• Fill in your holes and flatten your sandcastles! Sea turtles crawl onto the beach in the dark and could easily fall into a large hole. This would prevent them from nesting and possibly keep them from getting back to the water.
• Look out for turtles while boating. If you are renting a boat, make sure you drive slow and look out for swimming sea turtles. Obey no wake zones!
• Refrain from using white flashlights. This includes your phone flashlight, flash photography and videography! Bright white lights can scare nesting females and prevent them from coming onto the beach to lay their eggs. Hatchling sea turtles need a dark environment when hatching from the nest so they can make it safely to the water. When staying in a beach-front condo, make sure you turn off all outdoor lights and close your curtains at night. Artificial white lights on land will cause the hatchlings to disorient and head inland instead of to the water. If you must use a light on the beach at night, make sure that it is a red light and not a white flashlight.

You can pick up a free turtle-friendly flashlight at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome Center!

How many different types of sea turtles are there?

There are seven species of sea turtles in the world. In Destin-Fort Walton Beach, you can expect to see four of those seven species. We have Loggerhead sea turtles, Green sea turtles, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, and Leatherback sea turtles. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are the rarest species, so we are very lucky we have them.

Where can I see sea turtles?

Our sea turtles are very active and can be seen in the crystal-clear waters of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Check out our blog post on Where to See Sea Turtles for information.

What do I do if I see a sea turtle on the beach?

Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Hotline at 1-888-404-3922. If she is nesting, stay behind her at a distance and keep quiet. Refrain from using any lights, including flashlights and flash photography. Do not touch the sea turtle or get too close to her.

Want to learn more about sea turtles?

For more information on sea turtle conservation efforts, e-mail [email protected]

FEATURED STORY

Three Ways to Participate in International Dark Sky Week in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration to bring awareness to the harmful effects of light pollution. What is light pollution? Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Why reduce the impact of light pollution? For one, do…

While beachgoers can lay out on the sand, shoppers can stroll down the HarborWalk Village and savor plates of Gulf-to-Table seafood. What will you do in Destin-Fort Walton Beach?

Where to See Sea Turtles in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Where to See Sea Turtles in Destin-Fort Walton Beach Destin-Fort Walton Beach is home to some amazing wildlife, including our four species of sea turtles! You can see Loggerhead, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and Leatherback sea turtles in our crystal-clear Gulf waters. Our flippered friends are active and…

Destin-Fort Walton Coastal Team Deploys Nearly 40 Artificial Reefs

Destin-Fort Walton Coastal Team Deploys Nearly 40 Artificial Reefs Okaloosa County’s Coastal Resource Team is gearing up to deploy 38 prefabricated artificial reef modules off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, an exciting initiative that highlights the community’s dedication to marine conservation. The project, made possible through funding provided by…

May 17, 2024

2024 Emerald Coast Open

The Emerald Coast Open (ECO) is the largest lionfish tournament in the world! In 2023,…

ENEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Get a little sand in your inbox.

Complete the form here to receive emails highlighting special events and opportunities in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Your information will not be sold or distributed. Privacy policy .

Artificial Reef Snorkeling & Shore Diving

Navarre beach marine sanctuary.

This project created near shore artificial reefs in Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf of Mexico off Navarre Beach. Our volunteers continue to inform the public about the economic, environmental, and educational benefits of reef programs and making Navarre Snorkelicious. Near-shore reefs allow people of all skill levels to easily view marine life and ecosystems inhabiting the reefs by traveling only a few hundred feet off-shore. These reef sites offer an easy and inexpensive option to increase your snorkeling and diving abilities or check out a new piece of equipment.

Nature Tours & Sandbar Shelling

Guided nature tour.

We are blessed with many Mangrove Islands 

that hold a vast assortment of Wild Seabirds,

Local Manatees and playful Dolphin. Dolphin Tours 

Cruise the local waters,

lay back and enjoy

the natural sounds and sights.

Beverages & Healthy Snacks Provided

Low Stress and Minimal Activity Required 

Shelling & Nature Tours

Sit back and relax as you witness an array of intriguing and curious species including  Dolphin, Manatee, Sea Turtles, Various Sea Birds and Birds of Prey. The surrounding waters and sandbars provide us with an assortment of shells, starfish, sand dollars, sea urchins, sea horses and many many more. 

Treasure Hunt

We go on an adventure,

"A 3 Hour Tour", looking for wildlife, then we find a bottle with a note in it and then the hunt ensues. Lots of fun and prizes for kids and adults alike.

Pirate Hats, Eye Patches, CANDY,

Check out this cool video

Cooler with Assorted

Drinks and  Healthy Snacks Provided

Nature Tour Adventures & Sandbar Shelling

We offer Dolphin Tours, Sandbar Shelling and Lil Pirate Treasure Hunt experiences. As a full-service Nature Tour and Sandbar Shelling Excursion based in Siesta Key & Sarasota, Florida, we cater to families, especially those with kids! Embark on an adventure exploring Siesta Key’s backwaters teeming with wildlife and natural wonders. Relax on our comfortable, stylish boats as you cruise the stunning inshore waters of Sarasota Bay. Keep an eye out for playful Dolphins, Sleepy Manatees, Elusive Sea Turtles, and a variety of Birds of Prey including Osprey and Bald Eagles. You'll also spot seabirds like Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and many more. Our captain ensures you have everything you need for a relaxing and educational day on the water, complete with healthy snacks and a cooler stocked with assorted beverages. Join us for an unforgettable natural experience! Check out our reviews on TripAdvisor for testimonials from satisfied customers.

Call Cap'n Doug Today to reserve your family memory!

We're ADA  Friendly 

RESERVATIONS

(941)587-6150

Pick Up Location

The Siesta Key Sea Turtle

Sarasota Florida 34234

941-587-615 0

[email protected]

Success! Message received.

Search Results

We are sorry, no results were found for your search .

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION TOUR

Sea Turtle Conservation Tour

10:15 am | 12:45 pm | 3:15 pm

The Key West Aquarium is home to several sea turtles that would not be able to survive in the wild. These sea turtles now act as ambassadors for their species, educating people about the threats sea turtles face and what can be done to help. We hope that by sharing the stories of our sea turtles, our guests will be inspired to act toward conserving the wild sea turtle population.

 The Sea Turtles in our Care at the Key West Aquarium

Spike , the loggerhead sea turtle.

Spike was found stranded in a Key Largo marina in 1999 when she was just a juvenile. She was only about 4.5 inches long and had damage from an unknown predator to three of her flippers and a break in her beak. She was treated at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon for three months but was deemed non-releasable due to the extent of her injuries and came to live with us at the Key West Aquarium. Loggerhead sea turtles inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They are federally listed as threatened in the United States and as endangered in other parts of their range. Adults typically weigh more than 300 pounds and measure 2.5-3.5 feet long. The largest loggerhead ever recorded was 1,200 pounds and 7 feet long. Their life span is unknown but estimated to be greater than 70 years.

Lola , the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Lola was first found as a hatchling on a beach in Texas, having suffered predatory bites on her front right flipper. She was rehabilitated for 11 months at the Animal Rehabilitation Keep in Port Aransas, Texas, and released back to the wild. Unfortunately, Lola became entangled in fishing line and wound up back on the beach the next day. The line was so tight on her right front flipper that it had to be amputated. Lola now has a prosthetic flipper that she can swim with during the day. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is listed as critically endangered. This species inhabits the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They nest on only a small number of beaches, with only three beaches in Tamaulipas, Mexico, hosting 95% of Kemp’s ridley nests. They are the smallest of the sea turtles, averaging 30 inches in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. Their average life span is unknown but thought to exceed 30 years. The greatest threats to this species are entanglement in fishing gear or marine debris and direct harvest of the turtles and their eggs.

Rocky , the Green Sea Turtle

Rocky was struck by a boat early in his life. This caused the loss of his front right flipper and damage to his shell. Rocky was rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, but his injuries left him with air permanently trapped in his shell, a condition called floater syndrome. Rocky has a float and a weight attached to his shell to even out his buoyancy, allowing him to swim and lie flat when he chooses. Green sea turtles are an endangered species that inhabit the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans. Adults typically weigh 250-400 pounds, measure 3-4 feet and can live for more than 70 years.

Hector , the Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill sea turtles were prized for their beautiful shells and harvested to near extinction. Hector narrowly escaped this fate with the advent of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, coming to live at the Key West Aquarium when the turtle kraals in Downtown Key West were closed. He is one of the oldest residents of the aquarium and could live to be 100 years old. Hawksbill sea turtles are named for the distinctive shape of their beaks, which allows them to forage in crevices on the reef. Adults typically weigh 100-200 pounds and measure 2-3.5 feet long.

LET´S KEEP IN TOUCH

Receive special offers & latest events.

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Find Your Favorite Beach

Atlantic Coast

Beach Camping

Family-Friendly

Places to stay.

Campgrounds

Travel Ideas

Accessible Travel

Eco-Friendly Travel

African American Heritage Travel

More Travel Ideas

Popular links.

Florida Webcams

Toll Roads Info

Travel Guides

Sebastian inlet guided sea turtle walk.

By Gary McKechnie

There are a lot of privileges that come with living in Florida , and one of those is being able to see a nesting sea turtle walk on the beach.

Watch a nature channel for any length of time and chances are you’ll see a special or documentary that shows a sea turtle building a nest, laying her eggs, or watching those eggs hatch and dozens of tiny sea turtle walks instinctively making their way from the sands into the sea.

Here’s one way to make it happen for you: Take a guided walk with one of the Sebastian Inlet State Park rangers. From Fridays-Tuesdays between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., rangers host evening walks along the waterfront that can stretch up to three miles round-trip. There’s no guarantee, but there’s a chance you’ll see a nesting loggerhead sea turtle, which may be one of the most amazing sights you’ll ever see.

But unless you have a ranger on your speed dial, here’s an inside tip: They start taking reservations for July walks beginning on June 15 at 10 a.m. And to get your name on the reserved list, all you have to do is call (772) 388-2750 for reservations and information.

And don’t forget that in addition to the evening turtle treks, Sebastian Inlet State Park (15 miles south of Melbourne Beach) is known across the nation for canoeing and kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon, surfing, camping, boating, and fishing for snook, redfish, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel from its jetties.

Add to this two on-site museums that fill in blanks on the history here: the McLarty Treasure Museum in Vero Beach that highlights the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum about the local fishing industry.

Have a great time!

RELATED CONTENT

The Natural Florida Attractions at Sebastian Inlet State Park

• 4 minute read

By Gary McKechnie Florida isn’t a state where people stay indoors. It’s a place where everyone longs to enjoy outdoor activities like...

Gloria Estefan's Costa d'Este Beach Resort & Hotel in Vero Beach

• 6 minute read

By Kara Franker The international singer and her husband opened Costa d'Este hotel in Vero Beach in 2008 and transformed it into a world-class...

6 Best Beaches In & Around Sebastian, FL

By VISIT FLORIDA staff The Sebastian River Area is one of Florida's authentic Treasure Coast communities on the Indian River Lagoon and is home...

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS

Sea Turtle Beach

• Copy Link copied

One of the prettiest beaches in Jensen Beach is “Sea Turtle Beach” so named because of the large number of huge sea turtles that return each year to lay their eggs. Nesting season runs from March 1st to November 15th. There are sea turtle watching tours available during the season usually at night with guides. Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center: (772) 225-0505 It is against the law to touch the nests, or to bother the turtles when they are laying their eggs. These beaches are visited by green turtles, loggerheads, and leatherbacks, and others. Sea Turtle beach has lifeguards for swimmers and surfers. The beach is wide and has just been replenished after storms. There is a concession stand known as The Sea Turtle Cafe which serves breakfast and lunch. One great way to start the day is to stop at the cafe for your morning Joe and just sit in the quiet before the crowds and look out at the sea on this very pretty beach.

More Recommendations

Jensen beach's "sea turtle beach".

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

Tampa Free Press

Share The Florida Shore With Sea Turtles And Shorebirds

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing the reminder that as we enjoy our beaches this Memorial Day weekend and beyond, nesting season is underway for our state’s imperiled sea turtles and shorebirds along our coasts.

Beachgoers can help ensure nesting success for both sea turtles and beach-nesting birds by giving them space, removing beach furniture and trash before leaving for the day, keeping beaches clean and dark, and never disturbing their nests.

Because Florida’s shorelines are critical for sea turtle and shorebird nesting, anyone spending time along our beaches and coasts can greatly impact the success of this year’s nesting season.

Read: FWC To Close Recreational Harvest Of Gag Grouper In Florida Atlantic Starting June 15

Florida’s sandy beaches provide an important spring and summer nesting habitat for several species of federally threatened and endangered sea turtles, including loggerhead, leatherback, and green sea turtles, with occasional nesting by federally endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Our beaches in Florida are also an important habitat for imperiled beach-nesting birds, including black skimmers, least terns, snowy plovers, and American oystercatchers.

“Getting too close (50 feet or less) to nesting sea turtles can cause them to leave the beach before they complete the nesting process,” said Dr. Robbin Trindell, lead of the FWC’s Sea Turtle Management Program. “By always giving nesting turtles space, you can help marine turtles have another successful nesting season in Florida this year.”

All species of sea turtles and their nests are protected and should not be disturbed — it is illegal to harm, harass or take nesting sea turtles, their eggs and hatchlings.

Read: Safeguarding Nature’s Treasures: Florida’s Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins

“People can help with nesting success of waterbirds by keeping at least 300 feet from nesting shorebirds, seabirds and wading birds,” said Florencia Morales, the FWC coordinator for the Florida Shorebird Alliance. “By giving nesting waterbirds plenty of space, you can help avoid causing them to flush from their nesting sites, which would leave vulnerable eggs and chicks exposed to the elements and predators.”

In addition to giving space to sea turtles and shorebirds, beachgoers can help with nesting success every time they visit the shore:

• Clear the way at the end of the day! Properly dispose of all trash, fill in human-made holes in the sand, and remove all beach toys and furniture from the beach before sunset. Obstacles on the beach can prevent sea turtles from nesting. Trash and other obstacles can also prevent sea turtle hatchlings from reaching the water once they emerge from their nests, as well as entangle shorebirds, turtles and other wildlife. Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, that can prey on sea turtle hatchlings, as well as shorebird eggs and chicks.
• Do the flock walk! Steer clear of flocks of birds on the beach and keep an eye out for shorebird eggs and chicks to avoid stepping on them. Shorebirds and seabirds also nest in shallow scrapes in the sand and their eggs and chicks are well-camouflaged, making them vulnerable to being stepped on.
• Never enter posted areas. Be on the lookout for posted nesting sites and signs designating Critical Wildlife Areas on the beach or coastal islands – these areas are closed to public access to protect wading birds and shorebirds while they nest and raise their chicks. Help protect sea turtle nests by keeping out of marked nests and keeping pets leashed and away from any posted areas.
• Lights out! Turn off lights or close curtains after dark to ensure nesting turtles are not disturbed or disoriented as they come ashore and hatchlings do not become disoriented when they emerge from their nests. Make sure exterior lighting adjacent to nesting beaches is long, low and shielded . Avoid using flashlights or cell phone lights and taking flash photos after dark on the beach.
• Leave fireworks to the professionals. Keep personal fireworks off the beach and at home; attend an official event instead. The loud sounds and bright lights of personal fireworks on Florida’s beaches and waterways can have catastrophic effects on nesting birds and their chicks, as well as nesting sea turtles.
• Pet owners can also help by keeping dogs at home or on a short leash and far away from wildlife when bringing dogs to pet-friendly beaches. Even friendly dogs can be seen as predators by shorebirds, which can cause them to flush and leave their eggs and chicks.

Help  support  the   Tampa Free Press  by making  any small donation by clicking here .

Android Users, Click To  Download The Tampa Free Press App  And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On  Facebook  and  Twitter .   Sign up for our  free newsletter .

Things To Do | A summer thrill: Register now to see sea…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• Restaurants

Things To Do

Subscriber only, things to do | a summer thrill: register now to see sea turtles laying their eggs on our beaches.

Although some sea turtles remain on endangered species lists, preservation efforts appear to be working: The University of Florida reported record-breaking numbers of loggerhead and green sea turtle nests last year on our state beaches. This summer, observers are hoping the trend continues. Sea turtles are an essential element of the oceans as they maintain coral reefs and transfer nutrients between the waters, beaches and dunes.

There are several ways to behold the turtles’ arrival during beach walks sponsored by municipalities and nonprofit groups. Pick the most convenient from the list below and sign up soon, as these treks often sell out quickly. They’re one of the privileges and delights of living in South Florida.

BROWARD COUNTY

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park 6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach; floridastateparks.org/events

DATES: Tuesdays and Fridays from May 21 to July 26

HOURS: 9 to 11:30 p.m.

COST: $6 for a vehicle with up to eight people; $4 for one person in a car; $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists

DETAILS: Children must be at least age 7. Program begins with a 20-minute film. Participants must be able to walk up to 2 miles along the beach in soft sand. Sign up by calling 954-924-3859 on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton; 561-544-8605;  myboca.us/2133/Turtle-Walks-Hatchling-Releases

DATES: Tuesdays through Thursdays from May 28 to July 3

HOURS: 8:45 p.m. to midnight

COST: $15 for City of Boca Raton/Beach and Park District residents; $20 for all others

DETAILS: The program begins with a presentation in a Gumbo Limbo classroom while staffers scout for turtles. The scouts radio the classroom when a nest is discovered, then everyone heads to the beach. No refunds are offered if a turtle is not seen. Gumbo Limbo also offers hatchling release viewings, in which staff lets tiny, newly hatched turtles out of buckets to swim into the ocean on Monday through Thursday evenings, from July 15 to Aug. 29. Walk participants must create an account at flbocaratonweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web .

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach; 561-624-6950; macarthurbeach.org/sea-turtles

DATES: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from June 3 to July 12

HOURS: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

DETAILS: Park by 8:15 p.m. You must commit to the full program as the park gates are locked after walk participants enter the beach. Participants must be able to walk at least 2 miles in sand and must be at least 10 years old.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach; 561-627-8280; marinelife.org/eco-experiences

DATES: Tuesdays through Saturdays, from June 1 to July 31

HOURS: Arrive by 8:40 p.m. for three-hour program

DETAILS: Children must be age 10 or older to attend; all participants must be able to walk up to a half-mile on the beach. If no turtle has been spotted by midnight, the program concludes.

More in Things To Do

Things To Do | The finalists are in for South Florida’s best burger spot — now it’s time to vote!

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Chimney House owners bring beachy vibe to Latin fusion cuisine with new Casa Playa

Restaurants, Food and Drink | At Burlock Coast in Fort Lauderdale, eat like Emeril Lagasse is in the kitchen

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Thanks, Garfield: How to get free Chewy ‘lasagna’ for your cat (or dog)

Massive sea turtles coming to nest at a SW Florida beach near you. What to know

They're coming: a mass of female sea turtles aiming to lay eggs on Southwest Florida beaches this summer.

Turtles nest on local beaches here every year, just as they have since this part of the state emerged from the ocean thousands of years ago.

Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31, and hundreds of females will lumber onto local beaches, dig giant holes and deposit thousands of eggs into the sandy shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico.

Compared to their land cousins, sea turtles are enormous, some (like the leatherback) reaching the size of a small car.

Female sea turtles will nest an average of four times this summer

Females return every two to three years to nest on the beach where they hatched, and an average female will nest four times in the course of the summer and early fall.

They first emerged around 110 million years ago, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, the state agency charged with protected sea turtles and other wildlife.

Bonita Beach is a stronghold for the Lee County area as 151 nests were laid along a two-mile stretch there last year, according to Turtle Time Inc. data.

By comparison, Fort Myers Beach has 7 miles of monitored sea turtle habitat and produced 71 nests last year.

Loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta ) are the most common nesting turtle here, although green, Kemp's ridley and leatherbacks have nested on Lee County beaches over the past 15 years, according to FWC records.

Dozens of volunteers and scientists will spend most summer mornings walking local beaches and looking for turtle tracks, which are several feet wide and go from the Gulf of Mexico, up the beach and then back down to the water.

Nests are marked with stakes and yellow line and are protected by state and federal laws.

State and local laws prohibit lighting on homes and signage that can be seen from the beach as the lights can attract hatchlings, which crawl toward light once they hatch.

Hatchlings crawl toward the moon and its reflection on the water, which steers them to the ocean. Onshore lighting that reaches the beach can disrupt this behavior and draw the hatchlings to a home, business or road.

Adult loggerheads sea turtles grow to 350 pounds

"(Loggerheads) have a reddish-brown shell and (they are) named for (their) large head," an FWC website reads.

Adult loggerheads grow to 3 feet in length and weigh up to 250 pounds.

Overall, Collier has about 37 miles of monitored beaches to Lee County's 51 miles, according to FWC records.

Last year Lee County beaches produced 2,910 loggerhead nests and 79 green sea turtle nests, while Collier County posted 2,137 loggerhead nests and 25 green sea turtle nests.

More: Botana: Bill to change Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve boundaries will be back in 2025

More: Legendary Sanibel fly fisherman Norm Zeigler passes at 75

In 2023, there were more than 134,000 loggerhead nests laid across the Sunshine State, with another 204,000 false crawls, according to FWC records.

Just over 77,000 green sea turtle nests were counted last summer, with 1,648 leatherback nests also being tallied.

Connect with this reporter: Chad Gillis on Facebook.

Caught on fishing hooks, five rescued sea turtles are returned to Gulf of Mexico

They were just looking for a bite to eat when they accidentally got hooked. Now five endangered sea turtles , inadvertently caught by fishermen off local fishing piers, have been rehabilitated and are back in the Gulf of Mexico looking for their next meal.

The animals, a mix of green and loggerhead sea turtles ranging in age from juveniles to adults, had a large crowd cheering them on as they were returned to the Gulf Wednesday morning on Perdido Key.

After spending the last two weeks at the Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center in Fort Walton Beach , rescuers felt they were ready to return to the sea. They cleared a path to the shoreline and dozens of onlookers lined up along the ropes protecting their path to watch them crawl or be carried to the sea.

Jolyne Grant brought three of her young sons to watch the release. Now that school testing is over, she wanted her 7-year-old son, who especially loves turtles, to enjoy a unique learning experience at the beach instead of in class.

“It's amazing,” Grant said. “You see the turtles at aquariums but seeing it in real life is just amazing.”

As each animal was released, a mic’d member of the C.A.R.E. team explained to the crowd what kind of sea turtle it was, what happened to it, and why conservation is important.  

“I loved it,” Grant’s son Jude added. “I love that I got to see a real-life sea turtle for my first time. It looked really cool. It had barnacles on it. One of them did.”

The one with barnacles has been down this sandy path before. The older sea turtle is familiar to Gulfarium rescuers who say it has been accidentally hooked by fishermen twice and even lost a flipper to injury.

“Most of the turtles that we get into the care center are hooked off fishing piers,” said Gulfarium Marketing Manager Megan Trainor. “Pensacola Beach fishing pier, Navarre Beach fishing pier, Okaloosa Island Beach fishing pier, so the biggest thing is just being mindful of what's in the water below you. If you see turtles, pull your lure up out of the water, and wait for the turtle to pass. If you do hook a turtle, don't cut your line, and immediately call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center stranding line, and we will respond immediately.”

This year, the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center is launching its own stranding team to respond to calls on Okaloosa Island. They already have teams that respond to sea turtle emergencies on Pensacola and Navarre beaches.

Sea turtles are an endangered species, some critically, and rescuers say the more people help them the better their chances for survival. That includes taking precautions while fishing and not cutting lines if you do hook one, as well as being mindful of turtle nesting season.

Related: Escambia County staff, volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to protecting sea turtles

Trainor said it’s important to keep beaches clean, dark and flat at night, as well as filling in holes and using only red lights. Both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach have ordinances that require special lighting and other precautions to protect sea turtles.

The C.A.R.E Center team said they’re taking in more turtles each year and even broke a record last year, treating and releasing more than 130 sea turtles.

Jessica and Ryan Pervis came from Foley, Alabama, to relax and enjoy the beach at Perdido Key when they happened on the release and were delighted to see the turtles return to the Gulf.

“This was spontaneous. They're one of my favorite animals, and I've never seen one before either,” Jessica Pervis said. “I can't believe God gave us this opportunity. That was just really special.”

Like others who watched the turtles disappear into the waves, they are thankful the nonprofit organization is helping the endangered animals.   

“I'm just happy that they're doing this,” Ryan Pervis said. “The C.A.R.E. Center seems like a great thing. We're going to look more into it when we get home. Possibly volunteer and get involved.”

You can visit the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center’s website if you’d like to learn more about sea turtles and their work with coastal conservation.  

Sea turtle released in Inlet Beach, nesting season has begun in the Panhandle

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Sea turtles who once were rehabbing at Gulfarium in Okaloosa County are now swimming freely.

“So today we released 4 sea turtles that were in our facility at the Gulfarium Care Center,” said Tabitha Siegfried, Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator, at Gulfarium. “We had 3 loggerheads Octavia, Ruben, and fish and then we had Deluna our adult green sea turtle.”

Sea turtles are released into the Gulf just in time for nesting season. Gulfarium officials say 95% of the turtles they rehab have been hooked by fishermen or caught in an entanglement like Deluna the green sea turtle.

We are told back in August 2023 Deluna was entangled in a buoy line in Seagrove.

“The flipper unfortunately didn’t survive the severe entanglement that she had, and we had to make the call to amputate it,” said Siegfried.

Deluna spent 9 months in rehab and now with nesting season underway they must get her back in the water.

“We were so excited to get her out today so she can hopefully nest on our beaches this season,” said Siegfried.

Especially with her being the only sea turtle of the group able to nest.

“Our sea turtle skip nesters so they aren’t nesting every year, and we don’t know if a rehab stay affects her hormonal balance and whether she wants to nest this year or not she has all the capability to do so,” said Siegfried

Gulfarium officials say they have already seen turtles nesting in Okaloosa County.

“We just started our nesting season,” said Siegfried. “We have had two confirmed Kemp’s ridley nests, which are our most endangered turtles, and we just had a loggerhead sea turtle nest and a few other nests up our way.”

Soon baby sea turtles will be hatching on our beaches. Gulfarium officials say as we are in nesting season to turn your beach lights off at night as artificial light could steer hatching turtles away from the water.

Copyright 2024 WJHG. All rights reserved.

PCBPD: One person killed, one injured after being hit by car

Details released in Saturday night shooting that left one injured

Authorities warn of life-threatening surf hazards in south Walton County after multiple water rescues

Escapee from Indiana caught in DeFuniak Springs

New flight school opens up in Bay County

Latest news.

Walton County beach safety

BBIA scholarship presentations in Bay County

Search for Kemberly Ramer: 27 years later in Walton County

Agencies stressing education during National Boater Safety Week in Destin

Plane makes emergency landing in Walton County

Sergeant the sea turtle returns home after recovery at the Florida Aquarium

A fter a five-month journey of care at the Florida Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, a young Kemp's ridley sea turtle named Sergeant is poised to return to the ocean. 

The turtle's remarkable recovery follows a challenging period after it was discovered stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, amidst harsh cold weather and frigid water temperatures in November 2023, the Florida Aquarium stated in a news release. 

Sergeant's harrowing situation prompted swift action, with the turtle being taken to Florida for urgent and specialized treatment at The Florida Aquarium's dedicated facility.

See also : Over 9-foot alligator bites farm worker's leg at Palm City pepper farm

Upon its arrival at the Aquarium in early December, alongside seven other Kemp's ridley sea turtles, Sergeant was diagnosed with cold stunning, a condition resulting from prolonged exposure to cold waters. The effects were severe, with Sergeant enduring debilitation and grappling with a serious bone infection in one of its front flippers.

Now, after months of care, Sergeant stands ready to embark on the next stage of recovery. The Florida Aquarium, in collaboration with conservation partners, is set to release Sergeant back into the wild.