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BIG ANIMALS (SEA)
 Hawksbill Sea Turtle(Eretmochelys imbricata) The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle. It is ILLEGAL to harass/touch, harvest or kill. The hawksbill's appearance is similar to green sea turtles but can be distinguished by its sharp, curving beak with prominent top "beak", and the saw-like appearance of its shell towards the tail. Typically un-phased by divers and snorkelers. |  Green Sea Turtle(Chelonia mydas) Listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES and is protected from exploitation in most countries. It is ILLEGAL to collect, harass/touch, harm or kill these turtles. In addition, many countries have laws and ordinances to protect nesting areas. However, turtles are still in danger due to human activity. In some countries, turtles and their eggs are hunted for food. Pollution indirectly harms turtles at both population and individual scales. Many turtles die in fishing nets. |  Leatherback Sea Turtle(Dermochelys coriacea) The United States listed it as an endangered species on 2 June 1970. It is ILLEGAL to collect, harass/touch, harm or kill these turtles. Leatherbacks can weigh up to 1,540 lb and 7ft in length. They have a large, teardrop-shaped body. A large pair of front flippers power the turtles through the water. They are known to nest in the USVIs and especially in St. Croix. For baby hatch watches - visit SEA: http://www.stxenvironmental.org |
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 Bottlenose Dolphin(Tursiops truncatus) Harmless unless provoked. Who doesn't love these beautiful creatures? Bottlenose are found throughout the Caribbean and are considered one of the smartest mammals. These cetaceans range from 6.6 and 13.1 ft long and can weigh from 300 – 1400 lbs. We are lucky here to be able to swim with and enjoy these creatures in their natural habitat. |  Humpback Whale(Megaptera novaeangliae) Often spotted on the North side of St. Thomas November-January these whales typically migrate up to 16,000 mi. each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. They reach 52 feet long and 79,00o lbs. Whale watching tours are available during the winter months. |  West Indian / Caribbean Manatee(Trichechus manatus) Rare in USVI. Sparsely distributed throughout the Caribbean and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, from Mexico, east to the Greater Antilles, and south to Brazil. They are found in French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad (but with a lack of recent sightings), Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Trinidad, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Historically, Antillean manatees were hunted by locals. |
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