Green Turtle in Cozumel
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
A blunt, rounded beak with a serrated cutting edge, smooth shell plates that sit side by side without overlapping, and a single pair of scales between the eyes.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Chelonia mydas |
|---|---|
| Group | Turtles |
| Typical size | 90–120 cm shell length |
| Depth range | 1–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round, nesting May–October |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Notes | Protected species |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Green Turtle is tagged on reef profiles right along the west coast, across a depth band of roughly 3 to 82 feet.
On an ordinary beginner boat dive. It is recorded at Punta Dalila. No advanced certification needed.
Where else the habitat suits it. The depth and reef type also line up at Chen Rio, Chun-Chacaab, Colombia Deep, Columbia Shallows, Coral Princess and Devil's Throat, though those are not sites where we have it logged.
Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.
Behaviour
The only sea turtle that is largely herbivorous as an adult, grazing seagrass and algae. The name comes from the colour of its body fat, not its shell.
Commonly Confused With
- Hawksbill turtle — Pointed beak, overlapping plates, serrated rear shell edge.
- Loggerhead turtle — Much larger head, reddish shell.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Protected. Stay below and to the side, never above. Nesting beaches on the east coast are closed and patrolled in season for good reason.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Green Turtle Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a green turtle?
What do green turtles eat?
Where do you see them in Cozumel?
When do turtles nest in Cozumel?
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