Every morning this month I count turtles at Salt Pier without meaning to.
Three greens on Monday, resting under the pilings. Four on Wednesday, two of them feeding on the algae that grows on the south side of the concrete columns. Friday, five. One hawksbill mixed in, smaller, faster, uninterested in us.
This is not normal. Salt Pier usually holds one or two greens on a good day. But the water has been 28 degrees for three weeks straight, the algae is thick, and the pier offers shade at depth. The turtles figured it out before we did.
When guests ask where to go, and we have seen turtles at Salt Pier that week, that is where we send them.
What changed this season
Two things, I think. The marine park fee went up to $40 this year, and STINAPA is putting that money into patrol boats and mooring maintenance. Fewer anchored boats near the pilings means less disruption. The turtles stay longer.
The second thing is the algae. The growth on the pilings and surrounding reef is thick right now, and that is what greens feed on. More food, longer stays. The turtles follow the food. Always have.
What this means for your dive
Salt Pier is a shore dive. You park, gear up, and walk in. Depth under the pier is 5 to 18 meters. The pilings are covered in purple and orange sponges. The turtles hang between 2 and 5 meters, on both the north and south side of the pier.
Best time: morning, before 10:00. The water is calm, the light comes through the pilings in columns, and the turtles have not been spooked by a day of divers.
If you want a guided dive at Salt Pier, we go when conditions are right. Not on a schedule.
The reef decides. We just show up and count.