Green turtle hides near scuba diver to avoid hungry hammerhead sharks

Pacific green turtles are magnificent animals. They are among the largest of the sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands. They are protected by armour, a massive and heavy shell that covers their back and their underside, but unlike some turtles, they are unable to pull their head completely into their shell. This leaves them vulnerable to large predators such as orcas, hammerhead sharks, and Galapagos sharks.
This brave sea turtle was cruising along in the waters off Wolf Island in the Galapagos. It was searching for vegetation such as algae or sea grass to eat but apparently, it realized that it was surrounded by large hammerhead and Galapagos sharks. Wisely, it decided to seek shelter from the predators but what was unusual is that it chose to do so near a scuba diver. This diver was hunkered down in the rocks to observe the schooling hammerheads that occasionally swim around this island in great numbers. The sharks are occasionally curious about the divers, often oblivious, or even wary. The diver was in no serious danger as long as they kept a respectful distance from the school. Venturing out into open water is generally safe as well, as long as the diver does not act aggressively. The sea turtle decided it had better odds near the diver and it zeroed in on them, almost colliding with the camera that was recording the sharks and the turtle's approach. It banked to the left and found a crevice to crawl under. The turtle can hold its breath for more than 30 minutes which is ample time for the sharks to leave the area if they don't sense food hiding in the rocks. The turtle has likely lived as long as it has because it is smart enough to know that a passing school of hammerheads means take cover.
Animals in the Galapagos Islands have not learned to fear humans. Strict rules are adhered to in this place to ensure that the animals and humans coexist with as little effect on the animals as possible. This creates the opportunity for close interactions like this one, on the animals' terms. Seeing a beautiful creature like this one in its own habitat is an unforgettable experience.