In a remarkable act of compassion and marine conservation, a group of divers rescued a sea turtle that had been completely covered in barnacles, leaving it nearly immobile and at risk of death.
The rescue took place near the coast of Phu Quoc, a Vietnamese island known for its coral reefs and diverse marine life. Local divers from a marine conservation group were conducting a routine reef inspection when they spotted something unusual on the sandy seabed. At first glance, it looked like a piece of coral or driftwood, but upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a large, elderly green sea turtle — barely alive, and almost unrecognizable under the weight of hundreds of barnacles.
The turtle’s head, shell, flippers, and even the areas around its eyes and mouth were encrusted with thick, white barnacles. Some barnacles were small, but many had grown large, forming heavy clusters that distorted the turtle’s shape and made movement nearly impossible. According to marine biologist and rescue diver Tran Duy Anh, “It was heartbreaking. The turtle was suffocating under the weight. It couldn’t swim, couldn’t eat properly, and could barely lift its head.”
Without immediate action, the turtle may not have survived. The divers quickly radioed for support and brought down special equipment — including soft brushes, marine-safe scrapers, and containers to collect the barnacle debris. Over the next hour and a half, three divers worked slowly and carefully to remove the barnacles piece by piece. The process had to be extremely delicate, as the turtle’s skin and shell were sensitive, and in some places, slightly infected due to long-term exposure.
Throughout the cleaning, the turtle remained mostly still, showing occasional signs of discomfort but not resisting. “It was like it knew we were helping,” said one diver. “When we finally cleared its eyes, it blinked and looked right at us. It was a powerful moment.”
The entire rescue was recorded on underwater cameras and later shared by the nonprofit group Ocean Life Vietnam. The footage quickly went viral, drawing praise and admiration from viewers around the world. In the video, viewers can see the dramatic transformation as the turtle gradually regains its shape, strength, and spirit.
Experts say that while barnacles naturally attach to turtles in the wild, this level of infestation is abnormal and dangerous. “Barnacles are not parasites,” explained Dr. Sarah Lin, a marine veterinarian who consulted on the case. “But when a turtle becomes sick, injured, or old and stops moving actively, barnacles take advantage of the reduced motion and start to cover the body. It’s usually a sign that the animal is already in distress.”
After the barnacle removal was completed, the divers monitored the turtle for several more hours to ensure it could swim and breathe without difficulty. Encouragingly, the turtle slowly began to paddle its flippers, lift its head, and eventually glide through the water on its own. The team decided to release it back into the ocean, in hopes that it could recover fully in its natural environment.
“This was one of the most emotional rescues we’ve done,” said Tran. “You could see the change — from a creature that had almost given up, to one that was swimming again.”
The incident has sparked broader discussions about sea turtle welfare, climate impacts, and the importance of marine patrols. Conservation groups are urging more frequent monitoring of reef zones and better reporting systems for distressed marine life.
As for the rescued turtle, it now swims freely again in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand — a living reminder of how a few caring humans can make a difference for even the most forgotten creatures beneath the waves.
