15 Most Breathtaking Destinations To Swim With Turtles, According To Travelers

Before swimming, diving, or snorkeling with turtles, you should know a few things, including rules to follow to keep these extraordinary creatures safe. First, remember that you are in their home, so you should treat the area with care and respect. Just as you wouldn't want a house guest to trash your place and steal your belongings, don't treat the ocean this way. Leave no trace of your visit (i.e., don't litter), do not touch anything (coral reefs are alive, which means you can damage or kill them), and don't take anything (shells and coral are essential parts of the natural marine habitat).

When swimming near a turtle, be quiet so you don't scare them. Also, stay between 10 and 20 feet away and do not approach the reptiles from the side. Turtles will feel safer if they can see you head-on and devise a way around you if they feel threatened or simply want to swim in a different direction. Do not snorkel or dive above a turtle, as it will need to surface at times — you shouldn't block its way. When you take a photo, turn off your camera's flash first. Finally, do not feed, touch, or chase a turtle. Instead, observe these beauties quietly and calmly so as not to cause stress. They'll stick around for longer if they feel comfortable, which is a win for everyone.

G'day mate! Welcome to Australia. Also known as the Land Down Under, this expansive country (and continent) is home to some of the world's deadliest creatures (steer clear of the funnel-web spider), most breathtaking landscapes (hello, Outback), and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef. This last natural attraction hosts six species of turtles and an array of colorful fish, bottlenose dolphins, and humpback whales.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, Ningaloo Coast, spans 1,493,752 acres of Australia's remote western coast. This is where you'll find Ningaloo Reef, the world's longest near-shore reef, home to a vast population of sea turtles, including Hawksbill Turtles, Green Turtles, and Loggerhead Turtles. Keep your eyes peeled while swimming; you may also spot manta rays and whale sharks. While tourists can swim with turtles year-round at Ningaloo Reef, the best time to see them is during their nesting season, between November and March.

Turtle nesting season lasts a long time in Egypt, spanning all the way from the end of April through October. That means you'll have plenty of chances to get up close to one of these underwater beauties as they'll be on their way to and from the beach, burying their eggs. One of the most breathtaking destinations to swim with turtles is Abu Dabbab, a nature reserve highlighted by a lovely white beach in northern Marsa Alam.

Known as Turtles Beach, this Red Sea wonder is a haven for turtles and the remarkable Dugong (a sea cow that resembles a manatee). If you're lucky, you might even spot a whale shark or dolphins while discovering the two house reefs in this stunning spot. Reviewers on Tripadvisor recommend taking a guided tour to make the most of the experience, with one traveler writing that she saw over 15 turtles on her organized snorkeling trip.

If scuba diving with turtles is more your thing, you'll love visiting the Marine Protected Area around Sipadan Island in Malaysia. In addition to a healthy population of green sea turtles gliding past colorful reefs, they also hang out in caves worth exploring. According to Scuba Junkie, "It's not uncommon to see more than 20 turtles in just one dive" in Sipadan. We like those odds.

While you can see turtles all year long in the waters surrounding Sipadan Island, their nesting season lasts from July through August, so you're bound to spot more of these pretty reptiles heading to and from the beach at that time of year. You can up your chances of seeing turtles by swimming at low tide. This is when they tend to return to the reefs after munching on seagrass deeper in the sea. 

On a somewhat creepier yet fascinating note, Sipadan is also home to Turtle Tomb. This system of caves is just past Turtle Cavern, which is littered with skeletons of turtles who became trapped in the area. To visit this unique spot, you'll need to use your scuba diving skills and head down with an experienced local diver who knows their way around.

There are many things to do in Maui -– explore the lush rain forest, lounge on the white sand of Kaanapali Beach, and hike along volcanic craters in Haleakalā National Park. The translucent waters around Hawaii's Elysian island also make this an excellent destination for swimming with turtles. Turtle Town is the best place to visit if you're determined to see a Hawaiian green sea turtle up close. Sandwiched between Black Sand Beach and Nahuna Point on its southern coast, this is one of Maui's best places to snorkel. According to Hawaii Magazine, the "true Turtle Town" is located at Maluaka Beach, a secluded spot that can be hard to find due to its lack of signage. Its elusive nature makes this a less popular and much quieter beach.

Turtle Town itself can be reached by swimming to the southern point of the beach or snorkeling from Makena Landing. Filled with unique marine life, Turtle Town is made up of a group of coral reefs and extraordinary structures created by lava that erupted from underwater volcanoes many years ago. Hit the ocean in the morning for your best chance at ogling the sea's dazzling creatures, which are present year-round but nest between May and the end of September. The water tends to be calmer at this time, and the sun helps brighten the area for better viewing. Booking a snorkel tour is an easy way to explore Turtle Town.

You'll find the five small islands that make up the Tobago Cays in a mesmerizing slice of the Caribbean Sea. Part of the Grenadines, this archipelago lies in a protected Marine Park, which means it's ripe for marine life. A snorkeler's paradise, this pretty place is easily reached by boat (either a water taxi or organized tour) from Saint Vincent and Grenadine islands like Union, Canouan, and Bequia. According to Snorkeling Report, the best place to slip into the water for turtle viewing is on a soft sandy beach at the southern end of Baradal Island. 

The turtles' nesting season is January to September, but you'll see the most action between March and June. One reviewer wrote on Tripadvisor, "You are all but guaranteed to get wonderfully close to these magnificent creatures in Tobago Cays." Speaking of getting close to turtles, the Mandarin Oriental hotel on nearby Canouan Island offers its guests private snorkeling tours via catamaran or power boat. It claims its visitors are bound to spy large numbers of turtles during the trip.

Tortuguero translates to "region of turtles," which is a fitting name considering this northeastern Costa Rican National Park is a known nesting site for green turtles. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Tortuguero National Park's beach "is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere." You'll also find Giant Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill turtles in this majestic area, protected by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation and the Costa Rican government. Between July and October is the best time to see turtles here as they nest during this period. Swimming off the beach in Tortuguero is dangerous due to large waves, currents, and sharks, so you'll have to book a snorkel or dive tour or stay at a dive resort for your best (and safest) chance to swim with turtles.

Join an organized walking tour during nesting season to see turtles on land. Local guides take tourists near nests on the beach at night. You'll be advised to wear dark clothes and leave lights and cameras at the hotel to protect the turtles. You won't be alone when you visit this park — more than 111 species of reptiles, 57 types of amphibians, and 60 breeds of animals call this area home, plus over 300 species of birds.

Apo Island is a breathtaking destination in the Philippines, with more than 615 species of fish living in the waters off its shore. Considered one of the world's best places to scuba dive, a marine sanctuary spans about 0.3 miles of Apo's southeast coast, protecting the area's coral, fish, and turtles. For your best chance to swim with turtles, visit Apo Island during its dry season between December and May. September, in particular, offers divers calmer conditions and greater visibility, making it a more ideal period for turtle spotting, claim PADI experts. 

That said, tourists can swim with turtles all year in this beautiful destination. According to ZuBlu Diving, green and hawksbill turtles "can be seen on every dive." Turtles can be found in the waters near Apo Island in the dozens, snacking, swimming, or just chillaxing. A fabulous place to scuba dive and snorkel, this tiny volcanic island boasts a vast array of marine life and stunning coral, even in the areas that aren't protected. Its clear water, steep walls, and canyons make this an exciting diving spot.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of breathtaking destinations to swim with turtles, which makes creating a list of the best a daunting task. To ensure we chose the most beautiful spots, we scoured the internet for reviews and advice from seasoned snorkelers, scuba divers, and travelers who love swimming with turtles. We scanned blogs, articles, and reviews to ensure the destinations we highlighted were seen by many as epic places to swim with turtles. To be considered for this list, the destinations had to boast a healthy population of turtles and easy (and safe) ways to swim with them. Bonus points were given for places where people can swim with turtles year-round.

While not all places on this list are easy to get to (many require a boat trip from another nearby island), they all feature beautiful geography, crystalline waters, and plentiful marine life. Many of our chosen destinations exist within protected areas or sanctuaries, and they feature eco-friendly ways to enjoy a turtle encounter. So you can rest assured that you aren't going to cause harm to a turtle or its habitat by swimming in these spots, as long as you follow the "Dos and Don'ts of swimming with turtles," that is.