A MAGICAL GIFT FROM MOTHER OCEAN
THE TURTLE HATCH UNDER THE STARS GIGI MERLUSCA, KSC COORDINATOR
By Gigi Merlusca On our first night in St Lucia, Nature gave us a magical experience—sea turtles. As the KSC coordinator, I, Gigi, was thrilled to lead the kids through this special adventure. Our days were packed with learning and fun, but this particular night held something truly magical—a chance to witness sea turtles hatching and making their way to the ocean. During dinner, the hotel staff excitedly announced, “Good news! The turtles are hatching!” A SPECIAL NIGHT I gathered the kids and parents and spoke with enthusiasm. “Welcome to what promises to be a night of wonder, everyone! Tonight, we have a special treat. We’ll head to the turtle nesting area to see if we can witness the baby turtles hatching and going to the ocean. It’s an incredible journey, and I’m thrilled to share it with you.” The kids and their parents were on the
do the turtles know where to go?” “Great question,” I said, “They are guided by the reflection of the moonlight on the water. The natural light helps them find their way to the ocean, away from predators and toward safety.” THE HATCHLINGS We settled in, eyes scanning the sand for any signs of movement. The beach was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of the waves and the occasional call of a night bird. Suddenly, a soft mound of sand began to shift. The kids held their breath as tiny heads poked through the sand. It was a nest of baby sea turtles beginning their incredible journey. I saw the excitement on their faces and whispered, “Look, there they are!” The hatchlings, no bigger than a child’s hand, began to wriggle and make their way across the sand. Their tiny flippers flapped and moved in unison as they instinctively followed the moonlight reflecting on the water. Ava
edge of their seats. “What’s the most exciting part?” asked Noah. “The most exciting part,” I replied, “is seeing how these tiny hatchlings find their way to the ocean. They face many challenges, but their determination is truly inspiring. We’ll learn about their journey Tonight and see it unfold before our eyes.” As dusk turned to night, we walked to the nesting area, where gentle red lights lit the beach to avoid disturbing the turtles. We set up a small camp on the sand and waited. I explained to the kids, “Sea turtles usually hatch at night. The little ones will emerge from their nests and head toward the water, guided by the moon’s natural light.” With her notebook ready, Ella asked, “How As they slept, I knew this experience would inspire them to become lifelong advocates for the ocean and its incredible creatures.
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
17
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator