Turtle sightings guaranteed in Green Bay? All about the gentle giants of Cyprus

Imagine: You glide through the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of Protaras, past the underwater statues, and suddenly it emerges from the blue – a majestic sea turtle.

Just recently, on May 10, 2026 , divers were lucky enough to observe a beautiful turtle right near the statues in Green Bay . Such moments are at the heart of what we do here at the Cyprus Diving Centre – but sadly, they are no longer a given.

Where is the best place to find turtles in Cyprus?

"When people think of turtles in Cyprus, they often immediately think of Green Bay. But as divers and conservationists, we need to look at the situation more nuancedly today. Yes, the shallow seagrass meadows along our coast are the natural food source for the green sea turtle and the loggerhead turtle – but the natural balance is massively disrupted."

The problem of excursion boats: On many stretches of coastline, we are unfortunately witnessing a development that is causing us great concern as marine conservationists: the deliberate feeding of animals by excursion boats. What looks like a 'guaranteed experience' for tourists is fatal for the turtles.

Feeding the animals causes them to lose their natural wariness and associate boats and people with food. This leads them to actively swim towards boats – drastically increasing the risk of serious injury from propellers. Furthermore, artificial food alters their metabolism and their natural migratory behavior.

More than just diving: The XENIOS project

As a PADI Course Director, I see it as our responsibility not only to showcase the beauty of the ocean,

but to actively preserve them. That's why we launched the XENIOS project .

The XENIOS project is a cause close to our hearts, dedicated to protecting and monitoring local biodiversity. We use scientific methods to assess and protect the turtle population in our waters. By identifying the unique scale patterns on their heads, we can recognize individual turtles and document their movements through Green Bay. The sighting from May 10th has already been recorded as an important data point in our system.

Daniel's expert code: Admire, don't pressure.

To ensure that encounters like these remain possible for future generations, we at the Cyprus Diving Centre rely on a strict code of conduct:

• Keep your distance: We always maintain a distance of at least 3-4 meters. The tortoise decides how close we are, not us.

• Do not chase: An animal swimming away will never be pursued. Stress causes the animals to lose valuable energy or leave the bay altogether.

• Look, but don't touch: It is absolutely forbidden to touch the animals. Touching them can damage the delicate protective layer of their shells.

Your role as a “Citizen Scientist”

You don't need to be a biologist to help! Every diver with us can become a protector. If you see a turtle:

1. Observe carefully: Remember the location, time, and behavior.

2. Photos for research: If you have a camera, try to take a side profile photo of the head – from a safe distance, of course.

3. Become part of XENIOS: Share your sighting with us. Your holiday photos will then become valuable data for our research. Report sea turtle sightings in Cyprus

   
   

Those who float perfectly in the water (remember my blog on buoyancy control !) don't stir up sand and are accepted by the turtles not as a threat, but as silent observers.

Would you like to experience the turtles of Green Bay responsibly? Join us on a guided dive or start your diving training where marine conservation is at home.

👉 [Request an appointment now for a Guided Dive , PADI Mediterranean Sea Turtle Specialty or OWD course ]