Bali’s beaches and ocean are home to some of the world’s most interesting marine life and there’s a great opportunity for visitors to the island to interact with the amazing sea turtles that live here.
If you like to spend some time with a sea turtle or two, or guide will explain when they hatch, where you can find conservation programs and where you can swim with these incredible creatures.
About Turtles In Bali – Sea Turtle Hatching Season
If you want to get involved in releasing baby sea turtles into the wild, you should know that sea turtle eggs only hatch in the hatching season which is from April to October.
Interestingly, baby turtles are born underground and have to dig their way to the surface to reach the sea.
A baby turtle in a baby turtle release program will have had its nest carefully dug up and transplanted in a sea turtle conservation program to better shelter the baby turtles and nests from predators and from humans involved in the turtle trade.
The Survival Rate Of Released Baby Sea Turtles
The baby turtle release programs don’t mean that each baby turtle will live happily ever after.
In fact, when you release baby sea turtles into the wild, the baby turtles have a very low chance of survival.
Of every thousand sea turtles that are released, only one is expected to make it to adulthood.
Threats from other marine life are constant and, of course, so are the threats of being trapped in a plastic container or choking on plastic waste.
Thus, the turtle population requires a huge number of these wild animals to hatch and then be released in order to escape its fate as an endangered species.
The 6 Main Sea Turtle Species In Bali
6 of the world’s sea turtle species are represented in Balinese waters. Given that only 7 species exist on the planet, this makes Indonesia one of the best places to enjoy sea turtles in the wild on Earth.
Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
Green turtles are an endangered species. They are the only herbivorous species of sea turtle. The creature itself is not green – the name comes from the colour of its fat and cartilage.
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
These turtles derive their name from their narrow, pointed beaks. The scales on their shells overlap in a striking pattern that makes them appear to have serrated edges. Unfortunately, it is their beautiful shell that makes them so attractive to poachers.
Olive Ridley (Leipodchelys olivacea)
These are the most abundant species of turtle and yet, they are still considered to be vulnerable to extinction. They are named after their olive-coloured shells. The biggest danger to the Olive Ridley is a lack of diversity in nesting grounds, one minor event could have a huge impact on the species.
Leatherback (Dermochelys corcea)
The shell of this turtle feels like leather, hence their name, as opposed to the hard material of other turtle shells. They’re the largest species of turtle and sadly, they’re critically endangered.
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
This turtle has a large head and powerful jaw that allows them to eat hard-shelled prey. They’re not usually hunted for their meat but are at risk of extinction due to tourism encroaching on their natural habitat.
Flatback (Natator depressus)
The shell on this turtle appears flat rather than domed and thus, “Flatback”. Its conservation status is unknown due to a shortage of data but it is likely to be vulnerable if not endangered. Adult flatbacks can weigh as much as 100 Kg!
8 Conservation Project Centres For Sea Turtles In Bali
FINNS is not an expert organization on turtle conservation. The inclusion of any program in our list is simply an acknowledgement of its existence and does not represent an endorsement by our organization.
Bali Sea Turtle Society
Bali Sea Turtle Society is the best known of Bali’s conservation centres and it’s an education centre as well as a conservation project.
For a small donation at the Bali Sea Turtle Society, you can release turtles when they hatch into the water.
However, they don’t always have enough turtles to satisfy demand, so we’d recommend getting there slightly early for the release times.
Bali Sea Turtle Society also has a pretty good reputation for being ethical in its approach to sea turtle care.
Online: Bali Sea Turtle Society
DELUANG SARI Penangkaran Penyu Bali Tanjung Benoa
This is a small island off the coast of Tanjung Benoa (near Nusa Dua on the Bukit Peninsular) and you take a boat out to see the turtles in the wild.
You will find that the team here maintain a small onshore conservation centre that acts as a hatchery and release centre.
Where Is It? Tanjung Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Turtle Conservation And Education Center
This centre on Serangan Island outside of Denpasar is not as busy as the centres near the tourist towns.
They will also supply boat trips to see the turtles out in the wild and it’s a very pleasant place that seems to promote animal welfare.
Where Is It? Jl. Tukad Punggawa, Serangan, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80229, Indonesia
Online: TCEC
Bali Lecceria Turtle Farm
This “farm” has a good and reputable breeding and release program and works in cooperation with some of the big brand-name hotels on the island.
This is one of the cheapest release programs on the island and they even throw in a free drink when you take part.
Where Is It? Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Online: Instagram
Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center
This program on Kuta Beach has a good reputation but it can be in very high demand during the high season.
Releasing a turtle into the waves here is a real pleasure and it feels like you’re giving something back to the world.
Where Is It? Kuta Beach, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Sea Turtle Village
This project in Sanur is right on the beach and it’s run by the Hyatt Regency in the area – so you know that ethics are a priority.
It’s an amazing place for both release and education programs.
Where Is It? 77X7+WMH, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Turtle Hatchery Project
This place in Pemuteran Village is a nice small local project run to return turtles to the wild in the local environment.
The staff are super knowledgeable and the entry fee and release programs here are very good value.
Where Is It? VM44+C8C, Pemuteran, Gerokgak, Buleleng Regency, Bali 81155, Indonesia
Online: N/A
Saba Asri Sea Turtle Conservation
If you want to see a lot of turtles released at one time then Saba Asri is a good choice of program.
This is a small locally run project, however, and there are some real limitations on the conditions here.
Where Is It? Saba, Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Online: Saba Asri
Ethical Concerns Around Turtle Conservation Work In Bali
World Animal Protection a charity that inspects wild animal programs around the world has issued several warnings regarding baby turtles and release programs in Bali.
They feel that the environmental protection of these programs (from marine pollution, predators, and the turtle trade) is not sufficient to counter the psychological distress that they inflict on the turtles in many cases.
They note that in the wild, turtles are solitary animals and rarely interact after their eggs hatch apart from when breeding.
In hatcheries, they are forced to group together with other turtles and are forced to exist in shallow water often in a concrete pen, where they cannot avoid humans or each other.
The charity says that these welfare conditions can lead to high hatching rates but result in hatchlings that don’t exhibit proper anti-predator behaviour which may result in their deaths following their release.
We should note, however, that swimming with turtles here in Bali is not considered to be unethical or harmful to the animals. As long as you don’t interfere with the creatures while you swim and just enjoy their presence.
Where To Swim With Sea Turtles In Bali
Menjangan Island
This beautiful island in West Bali National Park is one of the best places for diving in Bali.
The reefs here are home to many turtles and there aren’t many tourists here, so you should find that you get the creatures all to yourself.
Kuta Beach
Kuta Beach, on the other hand, is a very busy beach but Kuta Beach is also home to many green turtles.
There’s no guarantee that you will spot one on any given swim, but if you jump in the water here, the odds are pretty good of an encounter at Kuta Beach.
Pemuteran
This small village in West Bali has a huge artificial reef offshore and it’s home to a huge number of interesting creatures.
The waters here are crystal clear and turtle encounters are pretty much guaranteed.
Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are between Bali and Lombok and you can find plenty of turtles in the water around the Gilis.
This is probably the best place in Bali to guarantee a face-to-face meeting with a turtle.
Nusa Penida
This beautiful island a short boat ride from Bali is also home to some lovely turtles.
Nusa Penida is an excellent spot to get far away from the crowds of places like Kuta Beach and enjoy nature as it’s meant to be.
FAQs
Where Can You See Turtles In Bali?
You can see turtles on the beach or in the ocean in many parts of Bali but Menjangan Island, Kuta Beach, Pemuteran, the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida are probably the best spots.
What Time Of Year Do Turtles Hatch In Bali?
Sea turtle hatching season is from April to October (the “dry season”) and once they’ve hatched many conservation centres like the Bali Sea Turtle Society help to release baby sea turtles back into the ocean.
Where In Bali Can You Release Turtles?
There are many conservation centres in Bali where you can release turtles but the one with the best reputation is Bali Sea Turtle Society.
Can You Swim With Sea Turtles In Bali?
Yes! You are free to swim with sea turtles in Bali anywhere that there are turtles in the water.
How Much Does It Cost To Swim With Turtles In Bali?
It’s free! Well, apart from the cost of getting to an area with turtles and the appropriate snorkelling and diving gear.
What Time Of Year Can You Release Baby Turtles In Bali?
April to October is the sea turtle hatching season. Turtles don’t tend to spend too much time in a conservation centre before being released.
Is The Turtle Release In Bali Ethical?
Some centres appear to have a high degree of ethics when it comes to their treatment of the turtles in their control, others not so much. World Animal Protection, a charity dedicated to animal welfare, says that the majority of hatcheries have some ethical issues.
You need to make a donation to the hatchery where you opt to release a turtle. At the Bali Sea Turtle Society this would be around 250,000 IDR (That’s about USD 15 or AUD 25) but might be more depending on where you are.
What Kind Of Turtles Are In Bali?
There are 6 species of turtle found in Balinese waters and they are the Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Leatherback Turtle and Flatback Turtle.
Final Thoughts On Turtles, Bali
Sea turtles are amazing creatures and Bali is a great place to swim with these animals and potentially, to get involved with their conservation too.
It’s an obvious choice to take a day trip in Bali to gain some personal experience of these amazing creatures and to help protect them for future generations to enjoy.
