Jueng

Jueng was another of the special hawksbills identified by Big Blue during the mini Koh Tachai rush of turtle sightings at the end of the first Andaman Turtle Watch season. Koh Tachai is not particularly known for its turtle sightings, which made this cluster of encounters especially interesting. Over the first season, there were 8 turtle sightings at Koh Tachai – remarkably, 5 of these came within the final two weeks of the season with Big Blue divers. These late-season encounters led to the identification of 4 new individuals for the database, including Jueng. While the numbers may seem small, they are mighty, and they firmly keep Koh Tachai on our watchlist for seasons to come.

Sam and Pitt were diving together at Koh Tachai Reef during the Big Blue Diving Khao Lak × Andaman Turtle Watch special turtle-focused liveaboard when they came across Jueng nestled between the rocks. This sub-adult hawksbill may have been foraging or perhaps sheltering from the strong current that was pushing divers around that day.

The name Jueng was chosen after a cat that adopted Sam and Pitt during the season in Khao Lak – fitting neatly into our theme of naming turtles after beloved land-based pets (similar to Sea Bailey, named after Ciara’s doggo back on land).

It’s worth noting that the “mini rush” of sightings could reflect a real pattern in turtle presence or simply the effect of increased diver effort at the site toward the end of the season. Either way, Koh Tachai clearly still has stories to tell. With each encounter, we learn a little more about how sea turtles use this reef, and we’re eager to continue uncovering its mysteries while supporting stronger conservation measures for the region.