Sea turtle returns to thank diver after rescue

Sea turtle is untangled by a free diver off Baja. Photo is a screen grab from the video

Cameron Dietrich and Colin Sutton were freediving off Baja California when they encountered a sea turtle tangled in rope from a buoy. Dietrich, a lifelong waterman who is considered the worldwide ambassador for kitesurfing, began untangling the snared sea turtle as fellow kitesurfer Sutton shot video of the rescue.

What is extraordinary is what the sea turtle does once its left fin is freed. At around the 45-second mark, you see the sea turtle start to make a 180-degree turn and swim toward its hero, as if returning to thank him for the rescue. Watch:

//www.youtube.com/embed/QSCbpcpjJl4

The video, first posted on Facebook in the spring, was made public by GoPro on Thursday.

Sea turtles, of which six species roam our oceans, are threatened or endangered in the U.S., so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers numerous ways to protect the largest living reptiles. Among them:

* When boating, stay alert and avoid sea turtles. Propeller and collision impacts from boats and ships can result in injury and death of sea turtles. Also, stay in channels and avoid running in sea grass beds to protect this important habitat from prop scarring and damage.

Sea turtle returned to thank the diver who rescued it. Photo is a screen grab from the video

* Avoid anchoring boats in sea grass beds and coral reefs, which serve as important feeding and resting habitats for sea turtles.

* Properly dispose of your garbage. Turtles may mistake plastic bags, Styrofoam, and trash floating in the water as food and die when this trash blocks their intestines.

* Celebrate events without the use of helium balloon releases. Like plastic trash, balloons end up in the ocean, especially when released near the coast. Sea turtles mistakenly eat the balloons and die.

There are several other guidelines for those living near or visiting beaches, where sea turtles lay their eggs.

Everyone ought to do their part in this effort to protect these precious creatures, as Dietrich did off Baja.

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Written by: editor - Thursday, July 3, 2014