Dive-In Joins forces with WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri

On 8 July 2004 Course Director Naomi Walton, her successful IDC Graduates and Dive-In staff joined forces with WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri.

Matt Cascarina, President of WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri, came to Dive-In and gave the staff and newly qualified PADI Instructors a presentation on what his organization does on the Island of Cyprus to combat the alarming decline of Green and Loggerhead turtles that use the Akrotiri peninsular to breed and nest.

WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri is run by a friendly group of volunteers who gladly give up their free time to do whatever it takes to help these amazing creatures survive. The group is made up of service personnel, their families and civilians both expatriate and Cypriot and now also Dive-In members of staff.

WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri was formed in 1991. Members dedicate their time to monitoring nesting females and their incubating nests. Once the female has returned to the sea, volunteers remove their tracks and then cover the nests with mesh to protect it by preventing excavation by dogs and foxes. The hatching date is estimated and the nest is routinely monitored during incubation. At the first signs of movement a cage is placed over the nest to protect the young until they can be released in controlled numbers into the sea. After the second night of hatching, the Turtle Watch team excavate the nest so that valuable information may be detailed about its content, such as numbers of live, infertile eggs and sadly dead hatchlings too. Without the help of the Turtle Watch team there could be up to twenty hatchlings that would not otherwise make it out of the nest. Removing contents of the nests is important as it stops dogs and foxes who could use the scent to find other nests.

The hatchlings have to make their own way to the sea as it is widely believed that during the short journey from the nest to the sea they pick use chemical senses to map the nesting site for its return maybe twenty to thirty years later. Turtle Watch members may only assist by raking the sand to give them a smooth path to the sea as beach litter and ruts left by vehicles can trap hatchlings on their way down the beach.

All the members of Turtle Watch gladly give up their free time to do whatever it takes to help these amazing creatures survive.

Because Naomi’s work with WSBA Turtle Watch Akrotiri and because the interest shown by candidates and staff during the presentation given by the Turtle Watch team Naomi has written her own Distinctive Specialty – AWARE - Turtle Conservation which hopefully will be approved by PADI offices soon.

Naomi, the newly qualified PADI Instructors and Dive-In staff collected £210.00 which was donated to Matt Cascarina and the voluntary Turtle Watch Akrotiri organization and all participants signed up as members.

Naomi Walton CD