Hawksbill turtle swimming off Agatti Island in the Lakdashweeps,in the Arabian Sea off the coast of India……

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Lakshadweep consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks, with a total of 32 islands which belong to India It is the smallest union territory of India. The group is located 200 to 300 km off of the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. The first westerner on the islands was Vasco da Gama, but the British were the first to explore the islands. Only eleven islands are inhabited (including the Bangaram island which is newly inhabited) The Airport lies on Agatti Island and that together with a mainland ferry offers the only transport available to and from the islandsfrom India . Foreigners are strictly regulated in visiting the islands (only Agatti and Bangaram) and require special permits. There are simple resorts on both of these islands which offer a variety of watersports including diving on the reefs which have abundant sealife. Agatti has numerous large hawksbill sea turtles The hawksbill is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is also listed as endangered throughout its range by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The best diving is from November to May, with large numbers of Manta Rays from October to December. Manta, and Eagle Rays, Moray Eels and Green, and Hawksbill Turtles are common

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Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Lakdashweep Islands,Arabian Sea,India
Photo credit: © MONPIX / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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