On Monday, 10/30/2017, I had the privilege of photographing a Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling as it entered the Gulf of Mexico for the first time and begin its incredible journey to the sea. I followed him from the shoreline and into the water (a short way) to capture these photos.

After hatching from its beach nest, this baby loggerhead sea turtle crawled clumsily into the Gulf of Mexico. These photos illustrate the challenges that a hatchling must undergo the moment they take their first steps into the water. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand; they have already survived the risky march from their underground nest to the water’s edge as new hatchlings are often preyed upon by ghost crabs and sea birds.

Once in the water they have a very long and treacherous journey ahead of them; but first, they must navigate past the rough waters and breaking waves. Not an easy task when you start life out so tiny and it takes all their effort just to swim past the turbulent shoreline. Imagine, a 1’ wave to them is like a 20’ wave to us!

Still, they are not home free once they get past the breaking waves as their journey is now just beginning. 


After swimming through the turbulent water and crashing waves, it was obvious he was exhausted as he paused to take a few breaths of air. 


Ever wonder where these baby sea turtles go and what they do once they leave the nest? It is believed they swim for many miles until they reach the safety of the Sargassum seaweed beds. If they’re lucky, they will reach this Sargassum nursery where they’ll spend their time floating and feeding around the seagrass and traversing long distances until they reach maturity.

 Approximately 1 in 1,000 survives to adulthood; I’d like to think this little fellow will be one of them.

* All footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-033. Footage was taken under conditions not harmful to this or any marine turtle. *