Introduction - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 16

Reefs are sculpted by currents and waves.
Coral reefs are found world-wide in shallow tropical waters no
more than 30 in latitude from the equator.

Barrier reefs surround lagoons with a central island.

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Fringing reefs are connected to shorelines and are often ex-
posed during low tides.

Atoll reefs surround lagoons, but have no central island.

Most sand is actually tiny fragments of broken-down coral that
has washed ashore.
Reefs protect landmasses from erosion and provide shelter and
food for sea creatures.
Coasts that are not protected by reefs are usually rocky and
craggy.
Reefs are easily altered, killed, or shattered by diseases, storms,
pollution, and human negligence.

Curaçao has several interesting dive sites, including the coral-encrusted
wreck of the 100-foot freighter, Superior Producer ; the Wata Mula
Cave (only for the experienced and adventurous), where giant moray eels
and manta rays live; and uninhabited Klein Curaçao , a tiny volcanic
island about two hours away by boat, where huge turtles, yellow stingrays,
frogfish, and scorpion fish hang out.

Sea Turtles
Following a turtle underwater or spotting its large head pok-
ing up out of the surf is always a thrill. These huge air-
breathing reptiles differ in size, shape, and color, and some
adults weigh up to 1,300 pounds.
Sea turtles do not have teeth, but use beak-like snouts to
grasp and maneuver their food. Their sense of smell is excellent and,
although they don't have visible ears, they can hear low frequencies with
eardrums hidden just beneath their skin. Underwater, their vision is
sharp, but they become nearsighted on land.
Females come ashore to dig nests and lay eggs in the sand, but males
rarely return to land after they crawl into the sea as hatchlings. Typically,
females lay eggs twice during a mating season, usually on the beach where
they were born. Some females nest up to 10 times in a single season, but all
skip at least a year between mating seasons, and some skip two or more
years. Depending on the species, turtles may be 15 to 50 years old before
they reach reproductive maturity, and some live over 100 years.
All sea turtles, except the leatherback, have hard scales covering their
upper shell. Over the past 100 years, entire species of sea turtles have
become extinct, and more are now endangered from destruction of habi-
tats, pollution, and demand for turtle meat, eggs, skin, and shells.