Scientific name: Chelonia mydas
Taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia → Phylum Chordata → Subphylum Vertebrata → Infraphylum Gnathostomata → Megaclass Tetrapoda → Superclass Reptilia → Order Testudines → Suborder Cryptodira → Superfamily Chelonioidea → Family Cheloniidae → Genus Chelonia
Locations: Caribbean, Hawaii, Indo-Pacific
Group: Marine Life → Reptiles → Turtles
It's hard to dive or snorkel Maui or Kauai without seeing turtles. If you're snorkeling, look for rocks with seaweed; the turtles come close to shore to munch on it. But don't touch the turtles; you can spook them when they're on the way to the surface and they'll drown. (And it's a huge fine if you get caught...)
Turtles breathe air.
Turtles like to nap underwater; they can hold their breath a long time.
Some fish, like the goldring surgeonfish and brown surgeonfish, will eat algae off a turtle's back at cleaning stations.
