The tiny island of Rum Cay, located in the Bahamas, is one of my favorite places in the world. The diversity of fish, sharks and other marine life makes the journey to the south end of the Bahamas a must-see for any sport fishing enthusiast. Bobby Little, the go-to guy of Rum Cay, took me to visit the salt ponds. This area of the island was once a thriving salt mine, but has since become the nursery of Rum Cay. We saw a variety of babies, such as groupers, sharks, lobsters and many more. It’s not often that I get to see these creatures in their infant state. I was in awe!
Green Sea Turtle Salt Pond on Rum CayGreen Sea Turtle Rum Cay
Green sea turtles are abundant in the salt ponds, which provided me with the unique opportunity to get close-up shots of these majestic creatures. Sea turtles breathe air, so they were easy to spot when they popped their heads out of water to take a breath. Although turtles are not known for speed, I had to take the photos quickly. As soon as I saw the turtles, they seemed to disappear. They can swim up to 35 mph. Even in tip-top shape, they would beat me in any race.
Green Sea Turltes of Rum Cay
Researchers estimate that there are fewer than 200,000 nesting female green sea turtles. Sea turtles are hunted for a variety of uses, such as food and their shells, which are used to make jewelry and other ornaments. In the U.S., hunting turtles is illegal, but laws have not yet been put into place in the Bahamas. There are groups who are urging the Bahamian government to act to save the world’s green sea turtle population.
