The Turtle Experience

When we arrived in Maui, I perused the "things to do" fliers that were stationed at the airport...and I picked up one that said "KIDS" at the top. I didn't think anything of it until I got to the hotel and really looked at it. The Ocean Project as it is called is run by two naturalists by the names of Mel and CT. They meet small groups of people and take them out to different areas to teach them about the ocean in a non-touresty, private, and fun way. After talking with my family, I booked a "Turtle Experience" with them. What a treat!

They met us at a designated beach, and brought things for us to touch and learn about before going in the water. This is a shark egg.

This is CT, showing us how the spines from an urchin.

This is the jaw bone of a parrot fish (I think!). It is bigger than Hailey's jaw bone. Who knew pretty tropical reef fishies got that big!

Oops, forgot to rotate this picture. This is Hailey looking at a piece of coral.

Hannah, holding models of baby turtles in the process of hatching.

A crab that Michael stalked and took a picture of.

Hannah all suited up and ready to go see what she could see.

We tried to get her to put on a mask and snorkel, but she didn't want anything to do with it. Then CT brought out their water viewer, and Hannah LOVED it.

Daddy, ready to explore.

"Huncle Charlie" ready to go.

Great smile Mommy - ya well it is hard to smile with the mask on!

More shots of Hannah and CT looking at the reef below.

This is how far out they took Hannah! I was so proud of her.

Some sea urchins

Mommy w/ the video camera

Daddy & Mel on the left, Hannah and CT on the right.

Back on shore, playing in the sand.

I love playing in the sand.

CT, making a sand turtle. :)

Beautiful picture of a turtle coming up for air.

A shot of live coral.

Hannah spotted this sea biscuit through the viewer...

And she gets to take it home!

After Hannah had her time in the water, the rest of the adults got to go out into deeper water to see if we could find some turtles. And sure enough, we did.

A shot of us looking back toward shore.


Mommy, swimming next to a turtle

What an AMAZING ocean adventure! I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone going to Maui.