New Smyrna Beach is a beautiful place to visit and, from May through October, our beloved sea turtles concur…choosing the pristine beaches of New Smyrna as the place they lay their eggs when they emerge from the sea to nest. It takes approximately two months for the tiny sea turtle hatchlings to break free of their shells and begin making their way to their new ocean home. In fact, New Smyrna Beach is the nesting destination of choice for three species of sea turtles, including the loggerhead, the green turtle and the leatherback.

New Smyrna is not only a healthy nesting ground for sea turtles, it is actually critical to their survival. Believe it or not, the temperature of the sand on the beach determines the sex of sea turtle hatchlings, with warmer nest temperatures producing female sea turtles and cooler nests yielding male sea turtles. Since fewer beaches provide the cooler temperatures that male sea turtles require and Volusia County’s beaches are uniquely qualified, the New Smyrna Beach area is vital to maintaining a thriving sea turtle population.

Residents and visitors of New Smyrna Beach also try to do our part to improve the survival chances of these cherished creatures. We respect the beach by leaving it as clean as we found it. We are careful not to shine lights from our condos or homes, our cars, flashlights, phones or anything else during sea turtle nesting season. We are also cautious around dunes and sea plants, since any damage or disturbance could disrupt sea turtle nesting.