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2024 was an amazing year for sea turtle sightings in the Gulf of Thailand! We’re incredibly grateful to our dedicated network—local communities, divers, snorkelers, ocean lovers, and the DMCR—for making it possible. In 2024 alone, the Tao Talay Aow Thai project recorded a record-breaking 1,180 observations—our highest ever! From these sightings, we identified 176 individual turtles, including 58 new faces, expanding our database and deepening our understanding of this vital population.

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In 2024, we sadly said goodbye to Draco. That same year, in September, we discovered a boat-propeller injury on Mr. Papi’s carapace and despite his injury, Mr. Papi survived, his wound is healing and he is back to his regular activities in Shark Bay, Koh Tao.

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We were also thrilled to have Moriarty, Mr Muscle, and Pau return after a long absence! Most heartwarming was Pau: a former Koh Tao resident, spotted again after six years at Hin Moo off Koh Chan, Sattahip—nearly 300 km from his/her old stomping grounds!

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Some Highlights by Region:

Chonburi

We observed 50 hawksbills (up 3 from 2023) and celebrated our first ever free-swimming green turtle sighting there. We also recorded Chonburi & Rayong’s first green turtle since 2022.Chumphon: Hawksbill counts dipped by one.

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Surat Thani

A landmark moment—102 green turtles (+13 from 2023), marking the first time we’ve seen over 100 individuals of any species in one province. Unexpectedly, hawksbill numbers in Surat Thani hit their lowest since 2016, and shockingly, none were recorded at Koh Tao’s dive sites (Hin Pee Wee, White Rock, Sattakut), which has never happened before.

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Trat

The number of Green and hawksbills observed in Trat over 2024 remained the same from 2023 but interestingly we also received our first ever sighting from around Koh Kood/Kut. The first of many we hope.

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Here’s to another year of growth, resilience, and community-powered conservation. Thank you to our incredible citizen scientists to the DMCR for their continued hard work with rescuing and rehabilitating  injured, sick and stranded sea turtles —your efforts are making a real difference!

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(To check out progress updates for recent years as well as more details of our project, click here!)

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