Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
A Sea Turtle’s shell is shaped like a hydrofoil. The top of the shell (the carapace) is steeply curved then tapering off, and the bottom of the shell (the plastron) is flat, therefore forcing water flowing over the top to move at a greater speed than the bottom, generating lift. The turtle’s fins are also hydrofoil shaped.
Because of this, sea turtles use less energy to travel in a straight, level line, rather than constantly sinking, even if they are negatively buoyant.
#photo taken at hanauma bay (by original poster)
I wish this was me right now.
