The rules
Watching turtles responsibly on a Zakynthos boat
The distances, speeds and manners that protect loggerheads in the marine park, and how to tell whether your trip respects them.
Pick your date on the water ↗Quick answer
A responsible turtle watch keeps 15 metres from the animal, goes slowly, approaches from the side, lets no more than two boats watch one turtle and lasts no more than ten minutes in silence. Nobody touches or feeds a turtle. These are ARCHELON's published observation rules for Laganas Bay.
Where the rules come from
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, says the Management Body of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos and ARCHELON issued guidelines for observing turtles, because watching can cause significant disturbance, mainly through boats. ARCHELON says the guidelines are required to be implemented by all boat operators. Its list is the clearest public statement of what a good watch looks like.
The numbers
ARCHELON lists a 6-knot speed limit where boats are allowed, with speed under 2 knots during observation. Observation vessels keep 15 metres from the animal at all times and other vessels stay at least 45 metres away. A maximum of two vessels may watch one turtle at a time. A turtle at sea must always be approached from the side, and the watch should be silent and last no more than 10 minutes. Skippers are asked to respect the no-go areas in the bay.
The zones
A local island guide describes the park's marine zones: Zone A has no boats, Zone B allows slow boats with anchoring banned, and Zone C allows slow boats and permits anchoring. Wikipedia says fishing is strictly prohibited inside each of the marine zones. The zones are why a captain heads for particular waters and keeps out of others.
A note on the speed figure
Sources give the speed limit in different units. ARCHELON's page on watching turtles at sea states it as 6 knots where boats are allowed, while a local island guide describes the zones in miles per hour. A knot is a nautical mile per hour, so the two figures are close, and both mean slow. The number matters less than the behaviour: a boat that is planing across the bay is not following the code, and a captain who has throttled right back near a turtle is.
Touching and feeding
ARCHELON says sea turtles live in the wild, so please avoid feeding and touching animals. Its article on feeding says it interferes with the natural diet and teaches people a misconception about wildlife, and that contact with humans affects natural behaviour. A swim stop is for swimming at a beach or in a cave, not for approaching an animal.
How to tell a good trip
You can judge a trip by its behaviour. The captain should slow down when a turtle appears, keep the boat at a distance, switch to a side approach and hand the animal back to the sea after a short look. ARCHELON has published news items about collisions between boats and turtles in the park, so the standard is worth knowing. The booking page for this trip says the speedboats approach the turtles in a safe way and that the captains are experienced.
Beyond the boat
The same rules cover the land. ARCHELON lists visits to the nesting beaches in daylight only, activity within five metres of the sea and no night presence, and Wikipedia says fishing is prohibited in each of the park's marine zones. A local island guide adds that sunshades beyond five metres from the sea are forbidden and that digging in the dry sand is banned where there are nests.
What you can do
Stay seated and quiet when a turtle is near. Never lean over the side to reach one. Keep cameras to the side of the boat the captain indicates, and ask the captain to move off if a turtle seems stressed. After the trip, leave no litter, and respect the rules on the beaches if you visit them separately.
Read next: The loggerhead in Laganas Bay: nesting and what the park protects
Frequently asked questions
How close can a boat go to a turtle?
ARCHELON says observation vessels must keep 15 metres from the animal at all times.
What speed is allowed near turtles?
ARCHELON lists 6 knots where boats are allowed and under 2 knots during observation.
How many boats may watch one turtle?
No more than two at a time, says ARCHELON.
Can I swim with a turtle?
ARCHELON asks people to avoid touching and feeding animals. The booking page offers swim stops at beaches and caves, not with turtles.
Who set the guidelines?
ARCHELON says the park's Management Body and ARCHELON issued them.
Sources