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Kuredu occupies an enviable location, not just in the Lhaviyani Atoll but in the whole of the Maldives – the nations largest population of green sea turtles lives on the reefs around the island. It’s fitting, therefore, that an expert is on hand to research and educate about everything turtle related in the area.

Since November 2017 Kuredu has hosted a sea turtle biologist. The marine biologist works for the ‘Olive Ridley Project (ORP)’, a sea turtle conservation organisation. The mission of ORP is to protect sea turtles and their habitats through rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education and outreach. The work carried out on Kuredu is a big part of this conservation effort.

Emily, the resident marine biologist, monitors the turtle population around Kuredu and in the rest of the Lhaviyani Atoll using photo identification. By recording sightings of turtles and the behaviour around humans, she provides a data set which can help in understanding more about the turtles’ biology in the Maldives. Since Kuredu is also a nesting site for green turtles, the marine biologist also monitors the turtle nests and assists the hatchlings if necessary. The data recorded by Emily is crucial to implementing laws protecting these endangered marine reptiles in the Maldives.

If your interest has been sparked and you want to learn more about what Emily and the Olive Ridley Project do please visit Olive Ridley Project

The best locations to spot the turtles:
The sea grass meadows are the turtles feeding grounds while the caves and overhangs of the outer reef are their resting places so whether snorkelling or diving they’ll be turtle encounters in abundance at Kuredu.