Wildlife· Mahé (northwest coast)· Seychelles
Baie Ternay Turtle Nesting Beach
4° 38.5′ S · 55° 22.8′ E
Hawksbill turtles haul out on Baie Ternay's secluded beach to lay their eggs, and with patience crews anchored in the bay sometimes watch a female come ashore or a nest hatch.
Practical
Nesting is mainly September to March for hawksbills on Mahé (see the turtle-season entry). Keep lights low on deck and ashore, never shine a torch at a nesting turtle, stay well back from hatchlings and do not land on the beach at night. The bay's seagrass beds are turtle feeding grounds, so watch for heads surfacing when motoring in. Coordinate is the OSM beach.
Best for
A chance of watching turtles nest or hatch
Season
Hawksbill nesting about Sep–Mar