Robin and I took a trip to Maui a few years ago, and one of the experiences at the top of our list was kayaking out to a turtle cleaning station to snorkel with the turtles.

A turtle “cleaning station” is just nature doing what nature does. This coral reef was full of fish, and the turtles instinctively know to come here because the fish clean algae, parasites, and other buildup from their shells. Think of it as a giant turtle spa. There must have been seven or eight turtles there when we arrived, and spending time in the water with them was incredible.

Here’s the crazy part.

Hawaii law says you’re supposed to stay at least 10 feet away from the turtles.

The problem? Nobody bothered to explain that to the turtles.

They have absolutely no concept of personal space.

I have video of one casually biting another snorkeler’s flipper. At one point I was filming a turtle, noticed something out of the corner of my eye, and turned to find another turtle nose-to-nose with me. You can actually hear me through my snorkel saying, “C’mon, dude!”

They’re unbelievably curious.

As hard as we tried to keep our distance and respect them, they just weren’t having it.

That experience perfectly sums up how I approach wildlife photography. My first priority is always respecting the animal, its environment, and making sure it never feels stressed. If an animal decides it’s comfortable enough to close the distance on its own, I’ll happily enjoy every second of it.

Behind the Camera

Here’s a fun fact: I don’t own an underwater housing for my Nikon. When I’m in the water, I usually shoot video with a GoPro.

To this day, this is the only photograph I’ve ever taken with a GoPro that I’ve been genuinely happy with.

About This Photograph

Location: Maui, Hawaii

Subject: Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Local Name: Honu

Category: Wildlife Photography

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