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Swim with green sea turtles, snorkel adventures off Oahu beach Hawaii |
Green Sea Turtle cleaning station snorkel video and pics like a National Geographic special oahu Hawaii |
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Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Honu are regarded as ‘aumakua or family guardians by
Native Hawaiians. This is a threatened species |
Available on all Day Cruises Living
amongst the antler- like branches are damselfishes, angelfishs, and
other algae eaters. Taking turns, often sharing, and at times crowding
about, the turtles present themselves to the fish for a picking-over.
As they hover patiently over corals or sit on the bottom, the hungry
fishes, eagerly perform the task. Turtle shells are sensitive and they
can feel the slightest touch. Swimmers should not do anything (splash, make noise, dive after) to change a turtle's behavior. Turtles allow the experience to continue only if they do not feel threatened. Come and check it out! Carefully gliding up to the cleaning station, the turtles delight swimmers with their graceful movements. In an amazing adaptation to conserve energy when inactive, turtles slow their heart rates and reduce the blood flow to their muscle tissues. Gathering minute amounts of oxygen though highly vascularized nasal passages, turtles can extend their bottom time by resting in this non-pulsed mode. Eventually they must surface for air, as an oxygen debt is built up in their tissues. Because elongated stays underwater has a chilling effect on their bodies, they will float on the surface and bask in the sun after an extended dive. If undisturbed, turtles may remain motionless for over an hour.
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