A Conservation Dream Team
What do you get when you mix a bunch of passionate dive pros, a whole lot of sea turtles, and an ambitious new citizen science initiative? A shell of a season!🐢💙
To celebrate the launch of Big Blue’s brand-new Turtle Conservation and Database pages – plus the release (and almost immediate sell-out!) of our 25/26 Turtle Trip dates – we’re marking the moment with something special.
We’ve invited Eve from Andaman Turtle Watch to take over the blog and share the story of our first season working together. As the number one contributor to Andaman Turtle Watch, Big Blue’s efforts have helped kick-start the region’s first public long-term sea turtle photo ID project. It’s been an incredible beginning to what we know will be a lasting conservation partnership.
Now, over to Eve to tell you about the launch of Andaman Turtle Watch and her vision for the future of sea turtle conservation in the region…
What is Andaman Turtle Watch?
Andaman Turtle Watch is a grassroots citizen science initiative dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats across the Andaman Sea. By engaging dive professionals, tourists, local communities, and marine stakeholders, we collect and analyse sea turtle sightings using photo identification (yep, turtles have unique faces just like a ‘fingerprint!’)
ATW aims to fill critical knowledge gaps about turtle populations, migration, behaviour, and habitat use – especially in a region as biodiverse and understudied as the Andaman Sea. Our ultimate goal? Inspire collective action to protect sea turtles and their ecosystems, not just for now, but for generations to come.
And it all started in October 2024 – the beginning of the North Andaman dive season and the soft launch of ATW. With no guarantees, no budget, and a big dream, I reached out to dive centres to help support the project and launch it off the ground. Big Blue didn’t just jump onboard – they dove in headfirst.
Big Blue’s Season in Numbers: Turtle Heroes in Action
Big Blue’s contribution to our first research season was nothing short of incredible. Here’s what that looked like:
- 79 turtle submissions – more than any other dive centre in the region.
- 32 of 75 unique turtles in the database were first identified by Big Blue (that’s 43% of all new individuals!).
- 4 of the top 10 observers (ranked by most sea turtle sightings) in the region were Big Blue team members.
- 49% of all sea turtle sightings from the Surin Islands National Park and 32% from the Similan Islands National Park came from Big Blue trips.
- 13 turtles have only ever been sighted and reported by Big Blue. That’s unique and highly valuable data. Some of these exclusive turtle sightings include: Barney, Pitchaya, Christie, Leah, Aurora, Andy, Nelly Noo, Cobia, Lydia, Hedwig, Jueng, General Grievous, Won’t, and Jess. Without Big Blue, these individuals – and the habitats they use – might still be flying under the radar.
More Than Just Numbers
What sets Big Blue apart isn’t just the volume of data, but their commitment to conservation at every level. The team fully embraced ATW’s mission, incorporating turtle briefings into their dive practices, displaying ATW materials onboard, and inspiring guests to become turtle spotters and ocean stewards.
Their contributions helped ATW move from a passion project to a credible, collaborative conservation platform. They’ve not only collected data – they’ve created a ripple effect of environmental awareness and responsible diving.
And it’s this spirit that led to the launch of Big Blue’s new Living Blue Initiative – a fresh commitment to sustainability, education, and conservation action. More on that soon!
A Few Firsts (and Some Fascinating Finds)
Big Blue’s team has a knack for spotting the rare, the new, and the downright intriguing.
Social Sea Turtles?
Big Blue reported 13 sightings involving social interactions between turtles – more than any other team. These interactions remain one of the least understood aspects of turtle behaviour, but sightings like these help fill critical gaps in global research.
The most fascinating? Three turtles (Leah, Andy, and Nelly Noo) were seen foraging together at Ao Pakad, Koh Surin Tai – the first time ATW recorded multiple turtles feeding in one spot. Could this be a key foraging site? We’re keen to find out.
Feeding Frenzy
Big Blue also reported 38 feeding observations, including turtles munching on coral, algae, and sponges! One turtle reported by Big Blue, General Grievous, was the first ever ATW-recorded hawksbill seen eating feather stars in the region. These behaviours give us insight into critical habitats and can inform future protection measures.
Emergency Response
One sobering moment came with the report of an entangled adult female green turtle in the Similan Islands. Although the report came in too late for a successful rescue, Big Blue immediately responded – mobilising a dive team to search the area and coordinating with national park rangers. Their quick action underscores their deep commitment to protecting marine life.
Cleaning the Sea, Protecting the Home
Because turtles don’t just need safety from tourism and unsustainable fishing – they need clean, healthy habitats. Big Blue hosted an underwater clean-up with the DMCR, mobilising over 100 participants and removing 636 kg of marine debris from the ocean. Their boat, guides, and equipment supported the event, showing that marine protection goes way beyond charismatic megafauna.
Code of Conduct Champions
Big Blue staff model and promote safe and respectful sea turtle interactions, maintaining proper distance, never chasing or touching turtles, and protecting natural behaviours. They’ve also trained their team in best practices – from diver briefings to responsible boat operations – and educated hundreds of guests on how to be responsible citizen scientists.
Download the Code of Conduct here.
🌐 Website Launch: Big Blue’s Sea Turtle Pages Go Live
We’re thrilled to share the launch of the Andaman Sea’s first public sea turtle database, created through the collaboration between Big Blue Khao Lak and Andaman Turtle Watch.
On the new Turtle Conservation Page, you’ll find an overview of Big Blue’s partnership with ATW, the mission behind our work, and insights into the species of sea turtles found in the Andaman Sea. It serves as an excellent educational resource and a clear sign of Big Blue’s commitment to raising awareness, supporting conservation projects, and inspiring divers and ocean lovers to start truly ‘Living Blue‘.
The second section is the Turtle Database – a living record of all turtle encounters from our first research season. Each individual has its own profile page where you can explore:
- Species, age class, and gender
- When and where it was sighted
- Behaviour notes and ID photographs
- A short narrative of what we’ve learned about that turtle so far
Together, these pages bring sea turtle science to life. They show the power of citizen science and photo identification to make conservation engaging, personal, and accessible for everyone. The more we know about these incredible animals, the better we can protect them.
Introducing: Turtle Trips 🐢🛥️
At the tail end of last season, ATW and Big Blue co-hosted a trial run of something completely new in the Andaman region: a turtle-focused liveaboard expedition. See how the first trip went here!
This isn’t just another dive trip – it’s a deep dive into marine conservation. These trips are designed for divers who want to learn, contribute to science, and connect more meaningfully with the ocean.
What to Expect
- Top-quality diving with Big Blue’s experienced crew.
- Daily sea turtle workshops, conservation talks, and research activities.
- Opportunities to contribute to ATW’s photo ID database.
- A collaborative, educational atmosphere where you become part of the solution.
These are not “turtle guaranteed” trips – but that’s the point. This is real wildlife, real science, and real impact. If you’re looking to level up your dive experience while helping to protect the Andaman Sea – this is your chance.
🌊 Book Your Spot
The 25/26 season turtle conservation trips are live on the Big Blue site now – but they’ve almost sold out already! Just 1–2 spaces remain on these dates:
Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve already launched dates for the 26/27 season:
- 27 – 31 Oct 2026
- 26 – 30 Nov 2026
- 28 Jan – 1 Feb 2027
- 29 Mar – 2 Apr 2027
📍 Get in touch with the Big Blue team to reserve your place – spaces won’t last long!
Thank You, Big Blue!
We honestly couldn’t have done it without you. Your passion, consistency, and belief in the ATW mission helped bring this project to life – and gave it a future. You’ve earned your spot as Khao Lak’s #1 sea turtle heroes.
If you’re reading this and want to be part of the turtle conservation story – whether as a diver, partner, or supporter – we’d love to hear from you.
Let’s protect this ocean paradise, together.
🐢 Get Involved
📱 WhatsApp/LINE: +66 80752 6695
📧 andamanturtlewatch@gmail.com
💬 Facebook: Andaman Turtle Watch
📸 Submit your sightings: [Andaman Turtle Watch]
Whether you’ve got blurry GoPro footage or the perfect profile shot, send it through. Every sighting counts.
