It’s turtle mating season!
We love our turtles here at Derwent Hunter, we seem them every day, and quite frequently get to swim with them too!
It’s currently turtle mating season and love is in the air! Turtles are now often travelling in pairs when we see them. It’ll be a couple of months before they start laying eggs and then another couple again before they hatch.
The turtle life cycle is fascinating, find out more below!
How old are turtles when they first lay eggs?
Between 20 – 50 years old
How many eggs do turtles lay?
Around 120 eggs per nest, each around the size of a golf ball
How long does it take a turtle to finish the nest and lay her eggs?
About 1 – 2 hours, and she is thoroughly exhausted afterwards
How many times will a female turtle nest?
A female turtle will lay several nests in a laying season, around a fortnight apart. Then she might not nest again for 2 – 8 years!
When will the turtle eggs hatch?
In summer, 7 – 12 weeks after nesting, they will hatch. The temperature of the nest determines the sex of the babies – warmer nests produce more females and cooler nests produce more males. Hatchlings can take 2 or more days to dig their way to the surface, and they usually emerge at night, following the moon to the ocean.
What happens next?
The next few years are referred to by scientists as ‘the lost years’. We rarely see the baby turtles again until their shell length reaches 20 – 40 cm, which makes them about 5 – 10 years old.
Spring Special – Adults just $175
We are just loving this amazing spring weather, aren’t you? We’ve decided to extend our winter special into spring, and adults can travel for just $175 on Derwent Hunter. Kids still $99.
Come for a sail with us until the end of October at this discounted rate!
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“We are over from Manchester, England on a holiday and went on Derwent Hunter yesterday. We had an amazing day, the weather was perfect for sailing and the snorkelling was great! When Josh, our skipper told us the history of the ship, I felt quite emotional, the old lady has been through quite a lot and she has a lot of history, some good, some bad. At the end of the day, I felt quite sad to be leaving, but I know she’s now in good hands, Josh and the girls were fantastic, very professional and fun. Thanks you all for making our day so special!
P.S. The food was amazing too, and lots of it!”
– Lynn N., UK, Facebook
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“Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell.”
-Bill Copeland
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