With more than 410,000 acres of living coral reef, the Hawaiian islands are a snorkeling lover’s paradise. In addition to swimming through schools of colorful fish and finding incredibly complex plant life, you'll probably spot the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, known locally as Honu. Here are three interesting facts about Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, so that you can enjoy them while keeping them safe.

Green Sea Turtles Have A Long Lifespan 

Turtles are known for having incredibly long lifespans, and the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle is no different. On average, these gentle giants don’t reach sexual maturity for 20-50 years and can live a hundred years or more. To put those numbers into perspective, the sea turtles your grandparents watched on vacation 20 years ago might not even be old enough to have hatchlings yet.

They Grow Very Large

Honu Are Protected By Law

As a natural protection against viruses, algae grows on the shells of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Unfortunately, touching the turtles can remove some of this algae, leaving them susceptible to potentially fatal diseases. For this reason and many others, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles are protected by law. In fact, the division of wildlife requires that you stay at least 6 feet away from the turtles while snorkeling or swimming to avoid harming them in any way.

Although swimmers should use caution when snorkeling around Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, they are truly majestic creatures that are fun to watch. Enjoy a snorkeling adventure by booking a trip with Dolphin Excursions Hawaii. Serving people from all over Oahu, this team of marine biologists hosts excursions around the west coast of the island, helping people to enjoy and appreciate nature. For more information about their tours, visit their website or call (808) 239-5579.