RAINE ISLAND TURTLES
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| Type of dive: |
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Animal interaction |
| Snorkelling: |
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Yes, but not encouraged! |
| Scuba: |
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Open Water |
| Access: |
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Boat only (Live aboard) |
| Depth: |
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5 – 20 metres (15-65’) |
| Visibility: |
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20 – 40 metres (65-130’) |
| Water temperature: |
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26 – 29°C (79-84°F) |
| Seasonal: |
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Yes, November & December |
Raine Island is the world’s largest nesting rookery of endangered green sea turtles.
The island is a small coral atoll just over 600 kilometres (370 mi) north west of Cairns and is only accessible by live aboard vessels.
The only structure on the island is a navigation tower built by convicts in 1844, it is the oldest colonial stone building in Queensland. The tower was constructed as a result of numerous ship wrecks, including the HMS Pandora in 1791 which was carrying the Bounty mutineers.
There are two breeding groups of green sea turtle in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: the northern Raine Island/Moulter Cay group with an estimated 30,000 breeding females; and the southern Capricorn/Bunker Islands group with approximately 8,000 nesting females.
Raine Island has been used by green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) for over 1,000 years.
During the main nesting season, which runs from October to February, tens of thousands of green sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, some migrating over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi).
Female green sea turtles reach breeding age at around 45 years and lay eggs every two to four years. Eggs are laid in about six clutches of 60-150 eggs every 12 days and incubation takes 100-150 days.
Over 12 million eggs are laid on Raine Island each year resulting in approximately 10 million hatchlings of which one in a thousand reach maturity.
The temperature of incubation determines the sex of the offspring.
Green sea turtles are the natural prey of tiger sharks and consequently, divers are likely to encounter many of these magnificent sharks.
Raine Island is also a nesting site for 16 species of seabird including the endangered Herald petrels and the vulnerable red-tailed tropic bird. Some seabird species found on Raine Island are not found anywhere else in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
A visit to this faraway remote island will not disappoint.
Special thanks to the Spirit of Freedom Team.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great animal dives:
Ningaloo Whale Sharks, Exmouth Humpback Whales, Australian Giant Cuttlefish, Great White Sharks, Burrunan Dolphins, Montague Island Seals, Tollgate Shark Gutter, Mantra Bommie, Dwarf Minke Whales, Cod Hole and North Horn Shark Feed.
Local dive services:
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ADRENALIN SNORKEL & DIVE |
Other services:
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Need somewhere to eat, drink or stay? |
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BLAST EXPERIENCES |
FURTHER INFORMATION
LOCATION
State or Territory:
Queensland
Nearest City:
Cairns
Nearest Regional City:
Not applicable
Nearest Town:
Not applicable
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Cairns
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Cairns
Road:
Brisbane to Cairns:
19 hours (1,700 km/1,060 mi) via National Highway A1
Bus:
From Brisbane
Train:
From Brisbane
Ferry:
Not relevant
THINGS TO DO
White Water Rafting
Sky Diving
Hot Air Ballooning
Mountain Bike Tours
Deep Sea Fishing
Daintree Rainforest
Cape Tribulation
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns Tropical Zoo
Sky Rail Rainforest Cableway
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Barren Gorge National Park