Laganas, Kakynthos.   9^th August, 2012.

We set off to find the bus stop or station to spend the day in Laganas where the Mediterranean green Loggerhead Turtles have been migrating from Africa for thousands of years. These giant sea creatures can weigh up to 400 lbs.  Due to the growth of tourism it is estimated that the visiting turtle numbers have fallen to 800 each year.  They lay their eggs in the sand at night which is supposed to be the softest in Greece. Each turtle may possibly visit the beach three times during the season.  They lay the eggs and return to the sea.  It take 8 weeks to hatch and then the baby turtles should make for the water but due to the disco’s lights many get disorientated and go the wrong way.  The environmentalists have made moves to give some protection for the turtle eggs by restricting people on to the beach area where the turtles nest as the umbrella’s poles caused damage to the eggs. An area appears to have been sealed off.

In our charts of the waters off of Laganas it shows restricted areas for yachts and boats but when we were there today the ribs, glass bottom boats and many giving trips seem to chase the turtles across the bay.  Lots appear to gather once one is spotted.  There does not seem to be any policing on the water.  Turtle spotting is big money to the local boats.

The water is very warm and it feels like a warm bath rather than the sea and it is definitely very sandy. 

As we walked along way for the bus stop and the bus was nowhere to be seen we went by taxi and came back by bus after a lovely lunch looking out to sea.