Living Blue
Sea Turtle Conservation
Shell Yeah!
Research, Citizen Science, Education and Diving with Andaman Turtle Watch.
Now at home with Big Blue Diving Khao Lak.
Get Involved
There’s more than one way to get involved with our turtle work. Learn with us, join us at sea, bring sea turtle science into your students’ programme, contribute your sightings or explore the research for yourself.
The project behind our turtle work
ANDAMAN TURTLE WATCH
Andaman Turtle Watch is an independent citizen-science research project using photo-identification to study sea turtles across Thailand’s Andaman Sea and build the region’s first public sea turtle photo-ID database.
Every sea turtle has a unique pattern of scales on the side of its face – much like a human fingerprint. These patterns allow us to identify individuals from photographs and recognise them when they are seen again. Repeat sightings over months and years build long-term individual sighting histories that can help us investigate movement patterns, site fidelity, habitat use, feeding and other behaviours, injuries, threats and changes over time.
- Non-invasive research - using unique facial scale patterns to identify individual turtles.
- Long-term monitoring - building individual sighting histories across months and years.
- Powered by citizen science - sightings from divers, snorkellers, guides, photographers and boat crews put more eyes in the water, extending observations beyond what ATW could achieve alone.
- Filling important knowledge gaps - effective conservation starts with understanding what is here, in an understudied region where five of the world’s seven sea turtle species are recorded.
- Working collaboratively - alongside national parks, government agencies, dive operators, communities and conservation organisations.
- Every sighting matters - each record helps build the long-term dataset, one at a time.
ANDAMAN TURTLE WATCH X LIVING BLUE
Today, Andaman Turtle Watch has a home within Living Blue at Big Blue Diving Khao Lak.
The project remains independently run, while working day-to-day alongside the Big Blue team – connecting research, citizen science, diving and education under one roof.
Having ATW in-house means the project becomes part of everyday life at the dive centre: sightings coming in from staff and customers, turtles being recognised underwater, data being processed between trips, and research finding its way back into the courses, school programmes and diving we deliver.
CITIZEN SCIENCE IN NUMBERS
TURTLE SIGHTINGS SUBMITTED TO THE DATABASE
0
NEW INDIVIDUAL TURTLES ADDED TO DATABASE
0
RECAPTURE SIGHTINGS BUILDING LONG TERM DATA
0
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS INCLUDING STAFF, CUSTOMER AND BOAT CREW
0
Partnership since Andaman Turtle Watch's launch in October 2024
We’re not interested in being the biggest dive centre in Khao Lak. We’re interested in what we can contribute while we’re here.
Across the Big Blue team, customers and trips, citizen scientists have been helping build the Andaman Turtle Watch dataset – submitting new turtles, documenting turtles we’ve seen before and putting more trained eyes in the water.
MEET THE FOUNDER
EVE PILMORE
Marine biologist and founder of Andaman Turtle Watch, Eve now works in-house at Big Blue Diving Khao Lak, bringing ATW’s research, citizen science and education into everyday life at the dive centre.
Around Big Blue, the Thai team know her as J’Tao (เจ๊เต่า) – roughly, “big sister turtle.” A nickname that probably tells you everything you need to know.
Learn with Andaman Turtle Watch
TURTLE ECOLOGY COURSES
From a one-day introduction to a full week of citizen-science diving, our Turtle Ecology courses combine SSI education with local research, real sightings and data from Andaman Turtle Watch.
Not sure which course is right for you? See the full Turtle Ecology overview to compare the options and find the best fit.
ALREADY HAVE YOUR DIVING PLANNED?
Add our 1-Day SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty before or around your existing diving, snorkelling or liveaboard plans – whether you’re diving with Big Blue or elsewhere.
Looking for something more?
Can’t find quite what you’re looking for? We can build a programme around your diving experience, time available and what you’d like to learn. Talk to us.
Diving. Research. Citizen Science.
TURTLE TRIPS
Our Turtle Trips bring Andaman Turtle Watch onboard a Big Blue liveaboard, combining some of the best diving in the Similan and Surin National Parks with sea turtle research, education and citizen science.
Throughout the trip, guests learn how ATW uses photo-ID and repeated sightings to build long-term data on individual turtles, including their movements, site fidelity, behaviour and habitat use. Turtle encounters provide an opportunity to collect photographs and sighting data for the project.
WHAT MAKES A TURTLE TRIP DIFFERENT?
- Andaman Turtle Watch onboard - learn directly from the project and the research behind it.
- Photo-ID & citizen science - learn how to photograph, identify and record individual turtles.
- Real turtles. Real data. - work with sightings and individual histories from the ATW database.
- Turtle Ecology onboard - workshops covering sea turtle biology, ecology, threats and conservation.
- Optional SSI certification - complete your SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty during the trip.
- Great diving still comes first - explore the Similan and Surin National Parks on a proper Big Blue liveaboard, with the research and education built around the diving.
This is a citizen science research trip, not a wildlife tourism experience. No wildlife encounter is ever guaranteed.
But there’s a reason Big Blue has been diving these waters for more than 20 years – and why Andaman Turtle Watch has been able to build a growing dataset from them. Whatever we encounter, the research, citizen science and education continue throughout the trip.
CHECK OUT OUR 2026–2027 TURTLE TRIPS
TRIP:
BB2603 Turtle Conservation Special
ROUTE:
Similans – Surin – Richelieu Rock
DIVES:
14
DEPARTS:
27 October 2026
RETURNS:
31 October 2026
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2603 Turtle Conservation Special
DEPARTS:
27 October 2026
RETURNS:
31 October 2026
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2608 Turtle Conservation Special
ROUTE:
Similans – Surin – Richelieu Rock
DIVES:
14
DEPARTS:
26 November 2026
RETURNS:
30 November 2026
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2608 Turtle Conservation Special
DEPARTS:
26 November 2026
RETURNS:
30 November 2026
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2729 Turtle Conservation Special
ROUTE:
Similans – Surin – Richelieu Rock
DIVES:
14
DEPARTS:
29 March 2027
RETURNS:
2 April 2027
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2729 Turtle Conservation Special
DEPARTS:
29 March 2027
RETURNS:
2 April 2027
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2708 Turtle Conservation Special
ROUTE:
Similans – Surin – Richelieu Rock
DIVES:
14
DEPARTS:
26 November 2027
RETURNS:
30 November 2027
BOOK THIS TRIP
TRIP:
BB2708 Turtle Conservation Special
DEPARTS:
26 November 2027
RETURNS:
30 November 2027
BOOK THIS TRIP
Turn your turtle photos into data
SEEN A TURTLE?
Anyone can contribute to Andaman Turtle Watch. Photos of the left and right sides of the turtle’s face are particularly useful for photo-ID, along with the date, location and any details you have about the encounter.
- WEBSITE FORM Submit your sighting directly through Andaman Turtle Watch.
- WHATSAPP Send your photos and sighting details directly to us. +66807526695
- FACEBOOK Send your sighting through the Andaman Turtle Watch Facebook page.
- INSTAGRAM Send us your turtle photos and sighting details by DM.
- EMAIL / FILE TRANSFER Got lots of large files? Send them by email, WeTransfer or Dropbox andamanturtlewatch@gmail.com
- Every submission is reviewed, photo-ID checked and matched against the existing database before the individual record is added or updated.
BUILT FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE
Behind the sightings is a growing system for managing the data. Alex at Big Blue developed ATW’s online submission form and backend, making it easier to collect, store and analyse citizen-science records as the project grows.
Respectful Data Collection
Resposible Encounters
Seeing a sea turtle underwater is a privilege. Give them space, let them choose the interaction and never alter their natural behaviour for a photograph or closer look.
No touching. No chasing. No feeding. Observe, photograph and enjoy the encounter on the turtle’s terms.
Our Andaman Turtle Watch Code of Conduct provides practical guidance for divers, snorkellers, guides and boat operators sharing the water with sea turtles.
SUBMIT A SIGHTING
A quick guide to Andaman Turtle Watch, what information to collect and how to submit your turtle sightings.
TURTLE CODE OF CONDUCT
Follow Andaman Turtle Watch’s Code of Conduct for safe, respectful sea turtle encounters. Perfect for dive briefings.
species id guide
Learn to recognise the five sea turtle species recorded in the Andaman Sea and what to look for underwater.
From research to education
TURTLES IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE FIELD
Andaman Turtle Watch research is built directly into Living Blue’s school and university programmes, giving students the chance to learn from real local turtles, data and current case studies.
ATW brings the research and citizen science; Big Blue brings the diving expertise and in-water teaching.
It’s one of the reasons the two projects work so naturally together.
Depending on the programme, students can explore Turtle Ecology, photo-ID and citizen science alongside snorkelling, scuba diving and learning directly from local conservation projects.
More than 200 students took part in 2025–26. For 2026–27, we’re already expecting 400+ students – with bookings still coming in.
Planning a school or university programme? Get in touch early to start building yours.
The story behind the project
WATCH TURTLE GIRL
During Andaman Turtle Watch’s first year, the filmmakers behind Connecting Worlds joined Eve in Khao Lak to document the early days of the project and the people helping bring it to life.
Meet the turtles behind the data
Big Blue's Turtle Database
A turtle becomes more than a sighting when you know who you’re looking at. Give them a name, follow their story, and suddenly there’s a personal connection.
This database showcases turtles documented through Big Blue sightings, alongside repeat records from the wider Andaman Turtle Watch network. Follow individuals across sites and years, explore their sighting histories and meet the turtles behind the data.
Because when people know their stories, they have a reason to care about what happens next.
This is only part of the wider ATW database – more turtles and records are coming soon.
An important region for sea turtle diversity and research
SEA TURTLES OF THE ANDAMAN SEA
There are just seven species of sea turtle in the world – and five are recorded in the Andaman Sea.
Andaman Turtle Watch now holds records of all five.
Green
Chelonia mydas
A large sea turtle, with adults feeding primarily on seagrasses and algae.
Second most frequently species reported to ATW.
Hawksbill
Eretmochelys imbricata
A reef-associated species recognised by its narrow, hawk-like beak.
The most frequently submitted species to ATW.
Olive Ridley
Lepidochelys olivacea
One of the world’s smallest sea turtles and a historically important nesting species along Thailand’s Andaman coast.
Leatherback
Dermochelys coriacea
The world’s largest sea turtle and the only species without a hard shell. Still nests along Thailand’s Andaman coast, including Phang Nga.
Loggerhead
Caretta caretta
Exceptionally rare in Thai waters – reported as extinct here in 1992. ATW received a rare sighting from Phuket in 2023.
Learn. Dive. Contribute.
SHELL YEAH.
Whether you want to learn more about sea turtles, join us in the water or contribute your own sightings, there’s a way to take part.
Got a question, an idea or something else in mind? Get in touch with the Living Blue team.