Wild Life of the Month: Green Sea Turtle

Adult green sea turtles can grow as big as 5 feet and 200-400 lbs!

If you've ever gone snorkeling in St. Thomas, or anywhere in the United States Virgin Islands, you most likely have seen a green sea turtle. They are popular around St. Thomas and other islands in the Caribbean, but many places can't say the same about the green sea turtle. They enjoy a tropical climate, and a vegetarian diet. The green sea turtle lives a very mobile life, traveling from one place to another, trying to breed and feed, just as their ancestors did for thousands of years. But with great travels, comes great dangers. These noble creatures of the ocean have been poached and have had their habitats destroyed for many years. Don't worry though, in recent years, there have been many groups, organizations and laws protecting our friend, the green sea turtle. 

The green sea turtle body is perfect for swimming! It has paddle-like
arms, flat body and beaked head. 

Many tourist come to the Virgin Islands seeking beautiful beaches, frozen drinks, countless hours of relaxation, and, of course, the fantastic snorkeling. If you're yearning to spot a green sea turtle, there are a few places you need to check out! First off, Turtle Cove! The name says it all, when you're snorkeling here, you're almost guaranteed to see a turtle of some kind. Next, I'd like to mention Buck Island. This island also has some amazing snorkeling. Both Turtle Cove and Buck Island are protected waters and has abundant marine life! Coki beach is also very good for snorkeling. This beach has a very diverse marine population that'll keep you busy for hours! Our sea turtles are used to people, so don't be too alarmed if one swims right by you...they're probably just ready for their close up! 

Buck Island, a popular turtle destination

These large creatures of the sea live quite a life from state to finish! With a life span of 80-100 years in the wild, a turtle can live an adventurous life. It takes a green sea turtle around 20-50 years to reach sexual maturity! Once they are ready, they return to the beach for the first time since they were born and make their nests. Typically, turtles will return to the same beach that they were hatched to lay their eggs! A mother can have up to 8 nests and lay a total of 110 eggs! When she's finished, she leaves the beach and goes on with her life. These little eggs will be on the beach for about 2 months, keeping warm by the heat of the sun. When they are ready to hatch, they will wait until night fall for the sand to cool and waddle out into the big ocean. This is the most dangerous time in a sea turtle life, and they're a perfect size for predators, such as birds, raccoons, and fish. Once they get in the water, they start their "swimming frenzy" and that lasts for a few days. The "swimming frenzy" is when the hatchlings swim as fast as they can into the water to get away from the dangers of the land.

Between nesting and feeding, the green sea turtle can travel up to 1600 miles!

Next, they experience their "lost years". This is when the turtles go on an adventure and this can last up to a decade! Yes, turtles are herbivores, but during this time in their youth, they roam the sea eating invertebrates, like jelly fish, crabs, and sponges.

Once they reach about the size of a dinner plate, they will return to coastal waters and start their vegetarian diets. They will hang out there for awhile until they reach sexual maturity, and then the cycle starts all over again.

The green sea turtle was named after the color of
their fat, rather than their external color.

The green sea turtle has been endangered since 1982, but the United States and many other countries are doing their part to saving this majestic species from extinction. The green sea turtle, along with other endangered species, are protected internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They have been poached for many of years for their meat and shells, but in recent years, they have been cracking down on illegal poaching. But this isn't just their problem, we can all do our part. Remember to clean up after yourself at the beach and don't touch the coral. Also, try to educate yourself before snorkeling or before heading to St. Thomas, where there is a vast population of endangered sea turtles. Do your part! 

Top 5 Things to Know about Tree Limin' Extreme Canopy Tour

1. Nearly All Ages Welcome

We don't care how “mature” you are, as long as you meet the weight requirement. No, you can’t take your infant zipping, but if your child is 5 years old, then give tandem a go! So next time you’re in the island with grandma and the kids, take them to TLE! Plus, you may get a kick out of grandma's inner daredevil!

2. Less is More

Ok, you’re going zip-lining, not backpacking across Europe, so leave all your hiking gear behind. All you really need is water, camera, sunglasses and comfy clothes. Anything more than that is just a nuisance. Think about it, do you really want to zip with a mammoth size backpack? Naww, the gear should be enough.

3.  It’ll Make You a More Interesting Person

When you go home, your coworkers and friends will ask you “How was your vacation?” Instead of the typical response, “Relaxing!” or “Nice!”, which only leads to a smile, then everyone goes on with their day, you can reply “Exhilarating! I went zip lining!”. Now that’s a conversation starter if I’ve ever heard one! Not only will people want to talk to you, they will be talking about you! “Hey you know Jill from accounting? She went zip-lining when she was in St. Thomas! Awesome, right?” 

4.  Very Entertaining Staff *wink wink*

Not to toot our own horn or anything, but we are fun people. Don’t believe me? Go to tripadvisor to see for yourself. As individuals, we are unique people and all together, we are a recipe for fun!

Ready for your close up?

5. You’ll Leave Happy

I’ve never met a person who said they didn’t have fun at TLE. I’ve had guests tell me this is the best vacation they’ve ever had. We zip almost every day, but when guests tell us how this was a once in a lifetime experience for them, we take a step back and realize how great of a job this really is. 

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Beach Secrets

So, you had an awesome time zip lining, but you have the rest of the day ahead of you to explore. Now you’re asking yourself, what do I do? Well, St. Thomas is an island, therefore, we are surrounded by beaches! Great, you decide you want to go to a tranquil beach. Wait a minute, a new problem has just arose… there are so many beaches, which one do you go to?! I might be able to help. Although the beaches here have many similarities, they also have their differences, which can be a helpful deciding factor for choosing a beach for the afternoon. 

St. Thomas has many great beaches, and a few stand out to me particularly. These three beaches are all very different, but unique. 

St. Thomas:

Magens Bay
If you read any St. Thomas travel magazines or googled St. Thomas in general, you’ve most likely heard of Magens Bay. Magens Bay is very close to the zipline… only a few minutes away. It is the most popular beach on St. Thomas, and it’s that way for a reason. For one, it’s beautiful; there’s no denying that! White sand beaches, crystal blue water, and palm trees lining the beach so perfectly it feels like you walked right into a postcard. But, as we all know, beauty comes with a price, and that price is $4 per person and $2 per car. Okay, not bad, but still, make sure you don't leave your wallet at home or in the hotel. It also can get pretty crowded, depending when you go. If you choose a weekend or a busy cruise ship day, the beach can get pretty packed. In order to avoid congestion, try going on a week day, or later in the afternoon. It can make a big difference. Magens Bay also has a little nature trail. It is a 3 mile hike up and back, and I gotta say, it’s a fun little hike. It can get pretty steep at some points, so be prepared! To top it all off, it also has some nice amenities, like water sports rentals, restrooms, and a mini beach shack that serves some food and drinks. 

Magens Bay

Magens Bay Trail

Hull Bay
Hull Bay is a bit more hidden from the tourist world, unlike Magens Bay. It also is only a few minutes away from the zipline as well. When visiting, you’ll notice there are more locals than tourists here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stop by. You may enjoy this beach if you like surfing. This is one of the few good places to surf around the island, so don’t forget your board. If you’re looking for a place to just hang out and swim, this might not be the best place for you. It doesn’t exactly have the soft white sand. It does have coral that begins closer to shore, but that isn’t a bad thing if you like to snorkel. People have spotted some pretty neat things around this area. One thing that you might really like about this beach is that it's free, and has two bars close by, and a place to get something to eat. That can make for a good day at the beach if you ask me!

Hull Bay

Lindquist Beach

I’d like to say Lindquist is one of the hidden treasures of St. Thomas. It isn’t very close to the zipline, but I’d say the drive is totally worth it. It is on the east end of the island, near Red Hook, in an area called Smith Bay. Sometimes you have to pay an entrance fee of $2, but that isn’t bad for what you’re getting. This beach is rarely crowded, and is family friendly. And talk about beautiful Caribbean beaches. The water is so clear and has some of the whitest sand I’ve ever seen. You can also do some snorkeling here too. I’ve seen a sting rays and there are always friendly colorful fish who will swim right up to you. There aren’t any water toys or places to eat, but it’s so beautiful, it doesn’t really need anything else. 

Lindquist Beach

You don’t have to go very far to visit one of our amazing beaches, but you might want to take some extra time to ride the ferry and go over to St. John. The ferry is located in Red Hook and comes once an hour, on the hour and is a quick 15 minute ride. While you’re on the ferry, take some pictures! It is a gorgeous ride over and you get to see some islands from a unique view. 

St. John:

Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay is arguably the most beautiful beach in the world. Yes, I said the world. It has been visited by thousands of people each year, including many celebrities and other important figures in society. Once you visit, you will understand why they are so crazy about this beach. The water is so clear and the sand so soft and white that it will leave you breathless. The beach is also lined with giant coconut trees that can shade you on a hot summers day. This outstanding beach also has many great amenities like showers/changing area, a gift shop, snack bar and a place to rent water toys. To get in, the fee for 17 years and older is $4, but anyone 16 and younger is free… so bring the kids! Since this beach is so popular though, you want to try to go early in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid the big crowds. 

Trunk Bay

Donkeys at Honeymoon

Honeymoon
If you’re like me, you’d like Honeymoon for a number of reasons. Don’t get me wrong, Trunk Bay is awesome, but I’m much more of a quiet, secluded beach lover, and that’s exactly what this beach is. I also like when you have to work to get there. You can walk to this beach from the ferry docks, but you also have to take a little hike once you get to the path. It is a nice little walk and one of the most popular activities over in St. John is hiking. It is a free beach, and you can rent some fun water toys and hang out with donkeys! They aren’t always there, but it adds to the experience. Like most of the Virgin Islands' beaches also, it is beautiful. It seems to be the theme of these beaches, but it’s the truth. 

Honeymoon

I hope you have a better understanding of what’s out there when it comes to our beaches! There are a lot to choose from and can get frustrating when trying to make a decision, and finding a beach should be fun! 

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Zip Ready, Zip Away! The introduction

Hello friends, I invite you to join us at TLE (Tree Limin' Extreme Canopy Tours) from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're from a small Midwestern town and zipped with us a year ago or you live right down the street and do a tour once a week, you're welcome to join us on our world wide web adventure. 

I've been living on the island for a year and working at TLE for seven months now. When first moving down here, I worked a sales job (which is the majority of jobs they have available here) and I didn't feel "one with the island". Coming from Michigan, the biggest reason I moved down here, like most of us "main landers", was for adventure and a different pace of living. Here, we live on island time, unlike most places in the world. 

Island Time noun \ˈī-lənd ˈtīm\

The measurable period of time, particularly in the Caribbean, that noticeably moves at a slower pace. 

 

While on vacation island time is appealing and means more time to relax, in every day life it's a hard adjustment to make. Restaurants, traffic, shopping, and even just walking all seem a little bit slower, but with time, anyone can get adjusted with the flow. Within a few months, I got with the program and then soon after, the opportunity to work at TLE fell into my lap. My fiancée had been working there for almost six months, and I have already met nearly ever employee and the owners, Mark and Julie. The atmosphere was like no other company I've ever worked for. It wasn't like a machine, but more like a family. Everyone was a piece of the puzzle that formed a bigger picture, beyond what the owners ever dreamed of.

Soon after, I found myself fitting in with everyone else. Finally, a job that got me closer to the island and was filled with adventure. I was done with standing inside all day trying to sell people things they could get anywhere else in the world and now I was literally standing on top of the world making peoples dreams come true. 

You see, Tree Limin' Extreme has only been around since July of 2012, and has already made a name for itself. It is the only zipline in the United States Virgin Islands and is the highest rated land activity in St. Thomas. It wasn't just luck that we got where we are though, it's everyone at TLE that got us there. We aren't guides, we are entertainers. Not only that, but we also love our jobs. Everyday we get people complimenting our "office space".

Your office space

Our office space

Just to let you know, it is perfectly fine to be jealous, but you're invited to join us any time you'd like. "Step into my office" if you will. 

St. Thomas runs on tourism, that's just how it is. Without you, this island wouldn't be the same. That being said, TLE really brings something new that this part of the Caribbean hasn't seen before. Yes, there is parasailing, charter boats, golfing, and jet skiing, but ziplining is something truly unique. We mixed the fear of heights with speed and topped it off with a jaw dropping view and friendly staff. I know, you're already asking yourself, "Where do I sign up?".

Tree Limin' Extreme and St. Thomas go together like the well balanced ingredients in a perfectly blended Caribbean rum cocktail. Don't just gulp it all down in a rush... remember the phrase island time? Sit back and enjoy all it has to offer. On tour, you will have the chance to have fun and take away some knowledge about Caribbean that you might have never known otherwise. Our duty as being tour guides isn't just about our excellent safety precautions, (even though that is our number one concern) it is also about making sure you had the most fun possible and you took away something that you didn't know about the islands the day before. That's not just limited to tourist either! Even when locals come down, they have told us that they learned something new about the islands. When we hear that or "this is the most fun I've had in my whole life", that's when we know we did our job right.  

So please feel free to join TLE and me as we grow and expand. In this blog you will hear stories about our guests and guides, learn more about the Caribbean culture, and maybe even submit some of your own experiences that you would like to share! 

Well, it's about that time for me to zip away for this week! See you again soon.