Trip BB2622 Turtle Conservation Special

MV Blue Dolphin – Legends Trip

21–25 February 2026

Well… what a trip.

These Legends Trips are very quickly becoming those dates we all block out in the calendar with a big smile and zero hesitation. Epic dives, great banter, a couple of well-earned sunset beers, and those end-of-day cruises that somehow make everything feel just right — it’s safe to say this format is officially a favourite.

 And the best bit? We’re only just getting started. Many more to come, and we’re already excited about every single one of them.

Next season’s dates are now live, and the early bird promo is officially underway:

• 10% off the cabin fee
• 30% deposit
• Balance due by 01.10.26

Easy and very tempting.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on this trip — you legends are exactly what makes these weeks so special.

Underwater highlights (aka: the “wow” moments)

Underwater, this trip absolutely delivered.

Koh Tachai Pinnacle was classic fish soup at its finest — layers upon layers of life from reef to blue. One of those dives where you don’t know where to look first and end up laughing into your regulator because it’s all just too good.

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Ao Pakad, What a lovely way to start the day. Ao Pakad greeted us with a stunning reef, morning sunlight glimers through the shallows and lighting up a reef absolutely teeming with life. One of those calm, easy dives that just feels right from the moment you drop in.

Highlights included a relaxed turtle cruising past, some huge harlequin shrimps doing their thing, and — as always — a few entertaining diver sightings too. Let’s just say there were some buoyancy skills on display that could benefit from a clinic… or ten 😄

Richelieu Rock, we were treated to full-blown Blue Planet energy — swirling clouds of glass fish, predators moving with purpose, and that constant, organised chaos that somehow makes you forget the world above the surface just for a little while, and there is nothing wrong with that.

It was also a real pleasure to revisit some slightly lesser-dived gems, with cracking dives at Shark Fin Reef and Elephant Head Pinnacle — a perfect reminder that stepping just a little off the beaten path can bring some of the biggest rewards.

From nudibranchs to sharks and everything in between, the Similan Islands and Surin Islands showed up in style on this trip.

Turtles, teamwork & exciting times ahead 🐢

This Legends Trip was proudly supported and co-hosted by Eve from Andaman Turtle Watch, a project we’re incredibly proud to support and genuinely excited to see continue to grow.

Off the back of this season and her relentless turtle based energy, we’re also thrilled to share that next season we’ll be welcoming Eve full-time to the Big Blue Team. Turtle expert, working DM, and an all-round force of nature — her list of talents seems to have no end.

While Andaman Turtle Watch will always be Eve’s baby, she’s now got a Big Blue uncle firmly in her corner. Details are still being finalised, but we’re very much looking forward to expanding our conservation outreach and impact in the seasons ahead.

🐢 Turtle stats from this trip

Total turtles recorded: 6

Turtle 1

📍 Shark Fin Reef
📅 22.02.2026
🆕 New turtle — 0103 “Sid”
🐢 Hawksbill
👤 Steve Boot

Previously appeared in the one-side catalogue with four earlier sightings

Turtle 2

📍 Shark Fin Reef (Ric’s Group)
📸 No photo, no ID
🐢 Species not confirmed

Turtle 3

📍 Donald Duck Bay (seen from the boat)
🐢 Hawksbill
📸 No photo, no ID

Turtle 4

📍 Koh Tachai Pinnacle
📅 23.02.2026
👤 Keli Gregory
🆕 New turtle — one side only, added to catalogue
🐢 Hawksbill (feeding)

Turtle 5

📍 Koh Tachai Pinnacle
👥 Steve’s group
🐢 Hawksbill (probably Turtelini)
📸 No photo, no ID

Turtle 6

📍 Ao Pakad
👥 Alex Rhodes’ group
🆕 New ID — 0104 “Tao Tong” (เต่า ทอง – “Golden Turtle”)
🏆 Name chosen by lucky draw winner Pa Noi

A little tech magic (and a slightly reluctant shout-out)

Looking ahead, Eve will also be supported by andamanturtlewatch.com — and honestly, this platform is a bit of a game-changer.

Designed and built by our very own Alex Rhodes. I was going to give him a shout-out on board, but he’d have absolutely hated it — he’s famously bad at taking credit. Still, something this good deserves proper recognition. Sorry, Al… it’s epic, and it needs shouting about.

As the platform continues to grow, we’re confident it’ll become a hugely important part of the Andaman Turtle Watch program.

Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who joined us for this Legends Trip. Incredible diving, brilliant people, meaningful conservation, and sunsets that hit just right.

We can’t wait to do it all again — and very soon.