Tiny turtles make a dash for the sea as more than 100 hatch on Dénia beaches

More than 100 baby sea turtles have emerged from the sand on Dénia’s coastline in a remarkable weekend for local wildlife, with dozens beginning their journey into the Mediterranean.

Two nests hatched between Friday and Saturday, bringing volunteers, marine experts and conservation teams into action as the tiny turtles appeared on the beaches.

Some of the hatchlings were released directly into the sea, while others have been transferred to the Oceanogràfic in Valencia, where they will receive specialist care.

First hatchlings emerge

The excitement began on Friday afternoon when the first turtle appeared from a nest being monitored by Dénia’s Campamento Tortugua.

It was soon joined by another 30 hatchlings, signalling that the long-awaited emergence was under way.

Those first 31 turtles were taken to the Oceanogràfic. A further 21 hatchlings were subsequently released into the Mediterranean, followed later by another 17 from the same nest.

The release also offered an unusual opportunity to capture the turtles’ first moments beneath the waves. Divers Alfredo and Micaela joined the operation and recorded underwater footage as some of the youngsters headed out to sea.

Surprise nest discovered

There was another dramatic development on Saturday night when hatchlings suddenly began appearing at Les Deveses.

Unlike the first nest, this one had not previously been located or monitored.

People who spotted the newborn turtles quickly alerted a member of the Campamento Tortugua coordination team. Specialists from the University of Valencia’s Marine Zoology Unit and the Oceanogràfic were then called to the scene.

Their rapid response allowed the hidden nest to be identified and the hatchlings to be safely assisted towards the water.

A total of 80 baby turtles emerged from the nest. Ten were transferred to the Oceanogràfic for care, while the remaining 70 were released directly into the Mediterranean.

The discovery means five sea turtle nests have now been detected in Dénia during the 2026 season.

Conservation effort continues

The weekend’s arrivals involved a coordinated effort between Campamento Tortugua volunteers, the University of Valencia’s Marine Zoology Unit and Oceanogràfic Valencia.

The Oceanogràfic has previously cared for young turtles through its “head-starting” conservation programme, in which selected hatchlings spend their vulnerable early months receiving specialist feeding, veterinary checks and monitoring before eventually being returned to the sea.

Dénia already has a notable recent history of turtle nesting. In 2023, four nests were recorded in the area, with turtles from those nests later cared for at the Oceanogràfic before being released.

This weekend’s scenes have now provided another memorable chapter, as scores of tiny hatchlings made one of the most perilous journeys of their lives: just a few metres across the sand and into the open Mediterranean.