Sea Turtles & Melbourne Beach

While in New York, scrolling through my phone and waiting for the MoMA galleries to open, I noticed a Florida Aquarium raffle for a trip to interact and learn more about sea turtles, so I jumped on it. It also had the added bonus of a weekend staying at Melbourne Beach. Double score.

The morning leaving was an absolute mess. Non-stop rain and what should have been a three-hour drive was five hours stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-4. There was a moment when I considered turning around and coming home, but then some John Mulaney stand-up shuffled in and my mood was saved.

I was at the hotel no more than two minutes before I was completely soaked from running out into the waves with my camera. The hotel (Sea View Inn) is on the Archie Carr Sanctuary, so it was a huge, clean, beautiful, and secluded beach behind it.

The trip was part of a group experience for donors and other raffle winners, so we went to a nice dinner, headed to UCF Marine Turtle Research Group’s headquarters to learn about what they do, and once it was dark enough and they found their first turtle, we were off to the beach.

**Photos taken while conducting permitted research with the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group. **

Right away there were multiple turtles on the beach laying eggs. The UCF Marine Turtle Research Group collects data and watches the nests to track sea turtle populations. They were amazing about explaining to use what was happening and letting us see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. And if it wasn’t already amazing enough, the entire beach was lit up by the most magical full moon. Many times over the weekend, I wondered if anyone would mind if I just slept on the beach. So dreamy.

Even though it had been a late night out on the beach, I set an alarm to be out on the beach at sunrise. I was not disappointed. What a way to start the day.

Later in the morning, the researchers had found a nest that had hatched a few days before. Once the nest is cleared, they go back in and do an inventory of the eggs. We were super lucky that it was a leatherback turtle nest and that one little straggler was found. We actually got to see him released into the ocean.

Later in the afternoon, some of us went kayaking from Uncle John’s Fish Camp. It was warm, but it was a beautiful afternoon to be out on the water. We also got to see a pig swim, which was super adorable.

That evening, there was a party with all of the researchers, but with me being who I am, I went wandering down the beach to take photos. I am all about my camera over small talk. I was fascinated with the crabs along the shoreline and shocked to see they eat other crabs. What. the. what.

The final morning, I got up early to see the sunrise again and had to luck to be there when they received a call to help a male green sea turtle that had gotten stuck on the shore. (They sometimes do that when they’re being… ahem, intimate) Before they released him, they were putting a research transmitter on him. He was gorgeous. And I felt so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to see all of the hard work that @Ucfturtlelab puts in. Thanks for looking out for the turtles… and answering all of our crazy questions.

It was such a fun, informative trip. I absolutely loved Melbourne Beach, and the turtles just have my heart.