There is a reef area I first discovered probably 15 years ago that is off a private residential community and there is no beach or real beach access there. I used to swim up the coast to visit this area and I took to referring to it as Turtle Canyon. I visited there today and will be going back again when conditions seem favorable. There are always turtles there and some are senior citizens of the Honu community. Some of these are quite skittish around snorkelers while others are seemingly indifferent. Today a number of times I found myself being circled by a half dozen or more of them.

I took a short video with a point and shoot Olympus Stylus of one of the times I was being circled, HERE. While I had the Olympus in hand, a large male swam in some circles down below and it would not get close enough for a decent shot but it had a very obvious distinguishing feature:

I assume this was a shark bite of some time ago as the shell looked well healed. This is one turtle I will look for again and feel confident if I do see him again that I have not mistaken him for another. I have seen some flipper damage and some shell damage before but this is quite blatant!

I came back today (the next day) and took more photos. I am probably adding too many here but I guess I have a soft spot for turtle images. I will visit more and probably leave the camera home thus insuring missing "the shot".

The gal below, in three shots, had sand all over her and I wondered what that was about. Later on and shown in an image towards the end is a shot of her back in the sand. I missed geting to watch how she got herself covered but marks on the sandy floor show she has been busy down there.