Meet the Turtles at the Daymaniat Islands – Our New Turtle ID Project

Every turtle has a story. We want to help discover it.

If you have ever been snorkeling at the Daymaniat Islands, you know how special it is to encounter a sea turtle in its natural habitat. Watching a turtle glide peacefully over the coral reef or swim to the surface for a breath is an experience that stays with you.

At Daymaniat Shells, we are lucky enough to see turtles every day. They are part of what makes these islands so extraordinary, and we want to do our part to help protect them.

That is why we have started the Daymaniat Shells Turtle ID Project, a citizen-science initiative dedicated to identifying and documenting individual sea turtles around the Daymaniat Islands.

Every Turtle Is Unique

Did you know that every sea turtle has its own unique pattern of scales on its face?

Just like a human fingerprint, these patterns can be used to distinguish one turtle from another.

The Daymaniat Islands are home to both green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Although we regularly encounter these beautiful animals, there is still much to learn about the individuals living in and visiting these waters.

Are we seeing the same turtles again and again? Do they stay around particular reefs? Could we recognize a turtle photographed months or even years earlier?

These are some of the questions we hope to explore through our Turtle ID Project.

How Does Turtle Photo-Identification Work?

The project uses a simple, non-invasive method called photo-identification. Instead of touching, tagging or disturbing the turtles, we use underwater photographs to document their unique features.

Whenever we encounter a turtle, our team tries to collect:

• Left and right facial photographs to document the unique scale patterns.

• A photograph of the whole turtle to record its appearance, shell and visible markings.

• An estimated size to help document the individual.

• The date and location of the sighting.

These photographs and observations can then be uploaded to the Internet of Turtles (IoT) Wildbook platform, where individual turtles can be identified and sightings recorded.

Once an identification has been reviewed and confirmed, a turtle can be assigned a unique identification number, allowing future sightings to be linked to the same individual.

Over time, these records may help us understand where individual turtles are encountered, how frequently they return and whether they move between different areas.

Small Observations, Valuable Information

One photograph might seem like a small contribution, but when observations are collected over months and years, they can become valuable.

By building a record of individual turtles around the Daymaniat Islands, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the local turtle population.

Our project is carried out in cooperation with the Olive Ridley Project, and we use the Internet of Turtles platform to contribute our sightings to a wider photo-identification database.

We are not scientists, but as a snorkeling operator visiting these islands every day, we have a wonderful opportunity to observe marine life regularly and contribute useful information.

It is our way of turning everyday encounters into something meaningful for marine conservation.

Responsible Snorkeling Comes First

For us, collecting turtle photographs should never come at the expense of the animals well-being.

We always make sure our guests observe turtles respectfully, maintain a safe distance, and allow them to move and surface freely.

There is no need to chase, touch or surround a turtle to enjoy an unforgettable encounter.

A beautiful photograph is never more important than a turtle's safety.

A Long-Term Commitment to the Ocean

The Turtle ID Project is another step in our ongoing commitment to protecting the marine environment of the Daymaniat Islands.

Alongside our responsible snorkeling practices, environmental briefings, efforts to reduce plastic waste and whale shark photo-identification activities, we want to make a positive contribution to the waters we visit every day.

We are just at the beginning of this project, and identifying individual turtles takes time, patience and careful documentation.

But we are excited to see what we can learn as our collection of turtle photographs grows.

Perhaps one day, a turtle we photograph today will be recognized again years from now.

And that is what makes this project so exciting.

Come Discover the Daymaniat Islands With Us

When you join Daymaniat Shells for a snorkeling adventure, you are exploring one of Oman's most beautiful marine environments with a team that genuinely cares about the ocean.

We look forward to sharing our love for the turtles, reefs and incredible marine life at the Daymaniat Islands with you.

Daymaniat Shells LLC
📍 Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman
📲 WhatsApp: +968 9170 3117
📧 info@daymaniat-shells.com
🌐 www.daymaniat-shells.com

Explore • Protect • Fall in Love with the Ocean.