An accomplished sales and marketing professional, Shawn Seckerson spent more than four years as the CEO of Attitudes4U, a successful clothing boutique in Jamestown, North Dakota. Outside of her professional life, Shawn Seckerson pursues a diverse range of hobbies that includes working out, spending time with her kids, and traveling to locations such as Hawaii, where she enjoys swimming with sea turtles.
One of Earth’s most ancient creatures, the sea turtle is also one of its most gentle. Unfortunately, the sea turtle population is at risk due to careless fishing practices, illegal poaching, and a disease called fibropapilloma. Because of their calm nature and their beautiful habitats, an eco-tourism industry has developed around swimming with sea turtles. Here are three of the world’s best places to swim with these friendly beings.
1) Maui, Hawaii. Green sea turtles are so abundant off the coast of this island that the area has earned the nickname “Turtle Town.” Snorkelers at this destination can swim with the turtles through the unique volcanic formations found underwater.
2) Cook Island Marine Reserve, Australia. Located near the Gold Coast of Queensland, this reserve is home to beautiful coral reefs that provide homes to manta rays, angelfish, and green sea turtles.
3) Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman stands out for its turtle farm which has bred and released more than 30,000 hawksbill sea turtles over the years. The turtles in this area are even friendlier than usual due to the lack of natural predators in the region.
