Trip BB2628 Turtle Conservation Special

Our latest Similan liveaboard aboard MV Blue Dolphin delivered everything you could hope for and more. With beautiful conditions throughout, the diving was nothing short of exceptional.

We were proud to host another dedicated turtle trip in support of Andaman Turtle Watch. Eve Pilmore continues to do incredible work alongside us, helping to build a growing database of turtle sightings and engaging divers directly in conservation efforts.

Standout dives included Elephant Head Rock, Koh Tachai Pinnacle, Torinla Reef, and a truly unforgettable Richelieu Rock, which was absolutely on form. 
Massive schools of hunting fish kept us mesmerised, and a rare encounter with five bumphead parrotfish at Torinla made for a very special start to what turned out to be a truly epic day.

Turtle sightings were abundant, with new IDs recorded—always a highlight for the team and several updates to some of our more known individuals.

7 turtle sightings, 2 species, social and feeding behaviours documented, and one exciting new addition to the database- our latest SSI Turtle Trip captured exactly why citizen science matters.

Three encounters at West of Eden set the tone on the first dive: a distant hawksbill (was that ‘Gracie’?), followed by two adult male green turtles, ‘Anakin’ and ‘Colita’.

At Elephant Head Rock, we added a brand new individual – ‘Denshell Washington’ – to the catalogue (possibly our best name yet).

Koh Tachai is fast emerging as a hawksbill hotspot, with multiple sightings including a sighting from the boat, likely a re-sighting from a previous trip, identified by distinctive carapace markings and now awaiting full confirmation. Another in-water hawksbill encounter proved unidentifiable as the turtle powered effortlessly into the current – reminding us we are just visitors in this underwater world.

We closed the trip at Koh Bon with an unforgettable moment: ‘Joel’ the hawksbill feeding on anemone – our second record of this behaviour here, and a pattern worth watching.

Joining us onboard was Neil Francis, SSI West Coast Manager, whose enthusiasm for supporting and expanding this project is clear. 
Over the next year, together with SSI Blue Oceans—SSI’s global conservation initiative focused on marine protection, education, and citizen science—we aim to grow this program and inspire even more divers to get involved.

 SSI’s Ecology Specialty Certifications are a great place to start. These courses go beyond just diving—they teach you how marine ecosystems function, how different species interact, and how we as divers can help protect them.

One of the highlights is the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty. It’s perfect for anyone who loves encountering turtles underwater… who doesn’t want that. 

This certs in particular will allow you to learn more about their behaviour, life cycles, and the challenges they face in the wild. You’ll come away with a much richer appreciation for every turtle sighting—and the knowledge to be a more responsible, eco-aware diver.
These certs will be added to our future turtle trips as part of the trip package.

As the season draws to a close, we’ll be compiling all collected data and sharing insights through low-season blogs and updates—highlighting what we’ve learned and how it shapes our future efforts to monitor and protect our turtle population.

A huge thank you to all our guests for your participation, from submitting photos to engaging in extra briefings. Your curiosity and support are what make projects like this possible. The group truly gelled, and as always on trips like these, new friendships—and lifelong dive buddies—were made. Same time next year, guys?

Big love from Boots and Team Big Blue 💙

These trips don’t just create incredible experiences – they generate valuable data, strengthen understanding, and connect people directly to the conservation of these remarkable animals.