The herbivore of the two common turtles; a rounded beak and one pair of scales between the eyes.
Shell to about 120 cm, olive-brown to dark grey, oval and smooth-edged with the rear marginal scutes lying flat rather than overlapping. Two features separate it from the hawksbill: a single pair of scales between the eyes rather than two pairs, and a short rounded beak rather than a hooked one. Size alone is not reliable, since a young green turtle and an adult hawksbill overlap.
Adults are largely herbivorous, grazing seagrass and algae, which is why they are most often found over seagrass beds and shallow reef flats rather than on coral. They surface to breathe every few minutes when active and can rest under a ledge for an hour or more. A resting turtle will usually stay for an approach from behind and to the side; approaching head-on or from directly above ends it. The species is listed as endangered and is protected throughout the region. Recorded from the surface to about 40 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.