Hundreds of hatchlings the size of your palm, in shallow pools, waiting to be big enough for the sea. It is a ten-minute stop and it is the one people talk about on the boat home.
What it is
A small local project, run by people from the islands, not a research institute. Eggs laid on the beaches are moved to safety, the hatchlings are raised in pools until their shells have hardened, and they are released when they stand a chance. In the wild, very few hatchlings survive their first weeks; a few extra months of growing changes those odds.
It runs on donations and on visitors, which is worth knowing before you arrive: a small contribution is what keeps the pools going.
What you actually see
Shallow concrete pools, sorted by age. The youngest are a few days old and barely bigger than a coin; the oldest are months old and already fast. Children tend to go very quiet, which on an island holiday is a small miracle.
Some days there is a release, and if the timing falls right you get to carry one down to the water and let it go. It is not promised and nobody can promise it — it depends on what is ready that week.
How to visit
It is a stop on the way back from the snorkeling trip, which is the easiest way: you are already on the boat and already wet. Tell me when you message that you want the hatchery, and I plan the route to end there.
If you would rather take your time, we can build it into a private boat morning and stay as long as the children want.
Two things to know before you go
Handle a turtle only if someone from the hatchery hands you one, and with wet hands. And do not put sunscreen on right before: what is on your skin ends up in their water. Reef-safe, or nothing.
Questions people ask
Does it cost anything? +
There is no fixed ticket, but the project runs on donations. Bring a little cash in rupiah — it goes straight into feeding and maintaining the pools.
Can I release a baby turtle? +
Sometimes. It depends which hatchlings are ready that week, and nobody can promise it in advance. When it happens, it is the photograph of the holiday.
Is it suitable for young children? +
It is the best stop of the day for them. Shallow pools, nothing to be scared of, and turtles the size of their hand.
Message me and we sort out your day
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