Best of Mike #234

He's a Hawksbill turtle.

Well I guess I don't know that.... it could be a she.

I don't know how to tell the difference.

If I go that route.... I will have to use "it" in the rest of my story.

And that, just seems wrong.... for a creature so majestic.

He's been to the surface.... and gotten the breath he needed.

And now he's headed back down to the deep.

That breath is going to last him a long time.... but how long, does depend on what he is doing while underwater.

It could be 20 minutes to 2 hours when he is active.... or 4-7 hours if he is resting or asleep.

There was a time when divers and swimmers thought it was great fun to grab onto a shell.... and hitch a ride.

That practice is very much frowned upon now.... and that's a good thing.

Just like us, a turtle that is trapped or panicked can lose their breath very quickly and drown.