There is still more to come from turtle season at Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa in Dominica.

After an active leatherback season earlier this year, attention on Rosalie Beach has now shifted to several hawksbill and green turtle nests that remain under observation. If nature follows its course, turtle activity could continue into October and even early November.

But there is an important distinction to make: these are wild turtles, not scheduled attractions.

A projected date is exactly that — a projection. Nests cannot be opened or disturbed simply because a date on the calendar has arrived. The conservation team must allow each nest to progress naturally and continue monitoring the beach responsibly.

That uncertainty is part of what makes experiencing sea turtle season in Dominica so remarkable.

The 2026 Leatherback Season So Far

The first part of the 2026 turtle season brought plenty of leatherback activity to Rosalie Bay.

This year, the Nature Enhancement Team cared for seven leatherback nests, which together produced 331 hatchlings.

Five of those nests came from Rosalie Beach, where 290 leatherback hatchlings were recorded. Two additional nests from La Plaine Beach were also cared for through the NET hatchery at Rosalie and produced 41 hatchlings.

Among the turtles returning to nest this season was Elsa, who was responsible for five of the seven nests in the hatchery records. Lulu also returned and contributed another nest to the season.

For us, these numbers represent much more than a yearly total. Every nest gives the conservation team another opportunity to protect these remarkable animals and learn more about the sea turtles that continue to return to Dominica’s shores.

A Look Back at 2025

Every turtle season is different, and that is part of what makes following the nesting season so special.

In 2025, the Nature Enhancement Team recorded 591 leatherback hatchlings across the nests included in its season report. In 2026, the current hatchery records show 331 leatherback hatchlings from seven protected nests.

The two seasons cannot be compared quite as simply as those numbers might suggest. The way the nests were recorded and managed differed between the two years, and the 2026 figures also include nests originally laid at both Rosalie and La Plaine.

Rather than looking at one season as better than another, we see each year as its own story. Weather, beach conditions, nesting locations and many other natural factors can influence how a season unfolds.

One thing the records do show is just how much patience turtle conservation requires. Leatherback nests monitored during the past two seasons generally remained in the sand for around two months or a little longer before the conservation team was able to complete its post-hatching assessments.

And now, the story of the 2026 season is continuing with hawksbill and green turtle nests still being carefully monitored.

Their timing will be their own. The dates we share are simply estimates, and we will continue to let nature decide when the next chapter begins.

What Is Still Happening on Rosalie Beach?

Turtle season is still unfolding at Rosalie Bay, and there may be a few more special moments ahead.

At present, our conservation team is continuing to monitor five nests of interest on the beach: two suspected hawksbill turtle nests and three confirmed green turtle nests.

The two suspected hawksbill nests were recorded on July 27 and August 10. Based on current monitoring estimates, activity from these nests may occur around October 3 and October 5.

The three confirmed green turtle nests were recorded on August 12, August 24 and September 2, with current projections suggesting possible activity around October 17, October 29 and November 7.

These dates are best viewed as gentle estimates rather than a schedule. Sea turtle nests develop according to natural conditions, and emergence may happen earlier or later than expected. For that reason, the nests will continue to be carefully monitored and will not be disturbed simply because a projected date has arrived.

Our role is to protect the nesting process, observe patiently and allow nature to take its course.

For guests visiting Rosalie Bay during this period, there may still be an opportunity to witness part of the turtle season — but, as with all wildlife experiences, hatchings can never be guaranteed. That unpredictability is part of what makes each encounter so meaningful.

Why the Projected Dates Are Not a Schedule

For anyone hoping to experience turtle hatching in Dominica, this is perhaps the most important part of the update.

We will not disturb a nest simply because its projected date arrives.

There is no alarm clock beneath the sand.

Temperature, weather, beach conditions and the natural development of each nest can affect timing. The role of the conservation team is to monitor and protect the process — not to force it.

If a nest reaches a projected date without natural activity, the appropriate response is continued observation. Any subsequent nest excavation or post-emergence assessment can only take place when appropriate under the conservation procedures being followed.

Nature determines the timetable.

That also means Rosalie Bay cannot guarantee that a guest arriving on October 3, October 17 or any other projected date will see hatchlings.

A sea turtle encounter here is a wildlife experience, not a performance.

From Leatherbacks to Hawksbills and Green Turtles

One of the extraordinary features of Rosalie Beach is that its turtle season is not limited to one species.

Rosalie Bay's conservation information identifies leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles as the three sea turtle species that nest and hatch along the resort's protected black-sand beach.

The season can therefore evolve as the months pass.

Leatherbacks were responsible for much of the activity documented earlier in 2026. Now, the current nest records put the focus on hawksbill and green turtles.

It is a reminder that turtle season is not one single event. It is a months-long natural cycle of nesting, monitoring, emergence and conservation.

Experiencing Turtle Season Responsibly

Guests visiting Rosalie Bay during turtle season may have the opportunity to learn about the conservation work taking place on the beach and, when nature allows, witness one of the most memorable moments in the Caribbean.

Sightings and hatchings can never be promised.

That is precisely why they matter.

Rosalie Bay works alongside the Nature Enhancement Team (NET) in monitoring and protecting nesting activity. The resort's turtle program also supports education and conservation on the beach. Learn more about Rosalie Bay's turtle conservation

For visitors, the best approach is simple: come ready to learn, respect the beach and allow the turtles to set the schedule.

The 2026 Season Is Not Finished Yet

The leatherbacks have already given us an important chapter in Rosalie Bay's 2026 turtle story.

Now we wait.

Two suspected hawksbill nests and three confirmed green turtle nests remain part of the current monitoring picture, with field projections extending from early October into early November.

Perhaps they will follow those projected windows.

Perhaps nature will have other plans.

Either way, we will continue to watch carefully, protect the nests and — most importantly — allow nature to run its course.

For travelers searching for an authentic sea turtle conservation experience in Dominica, that is what turtle season at Rosalie Bay is really about: not controlling nature, but having the privilege of witnessing it.

Explore Rosalie Bay's Turtle Sanctuary →Visit the Turtle Sanctuary

FAQ

When is turtle season in Dominica?

At Rosalie Bay, the principal sea turtle season runs from March through October, although monitoring may continue beyond October if active nests remain on the beach.

What sea turtles nest at Rosalie Bay?

Rosalie Beach receives leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles.

When could the remaining 2026 turtle nests hatch?

Current field projections range from October 3 through November 7, 2026, depending on the nest. These are estimates only. Natural emergence may occur earlier or later.

Can Rosalie Bay excavate a turtle nest on its projected date?

No. A projected date is not authorization to disturb a nest. The nests must be allowed to progress naturally. Any post-emergence excavation or assessment occurs only when appropriate under the conservation procedures being followed.

Can guests book a guaranteed turtle hatching experience?

No. Turtle nesting and hatching are natural wildlife events and cannot be guaranteed for a particular night or date.