American marine biologist Barbara Whitman and Crush, a hawksbill turtle, whom she rescued at the time of birth and is helping adjust to the open ocean. Photo by Seeta T. Shaw Roath

American marine biologist Barbara Whitman has fallen in love with Nevis, its underwater life, and the sea creatures she has befriended. Whitman established Under the Sea, a sea life education center, to provide underwater tours and educational experiences of the wonder world of the marine life of Nevis. The center attracts children and adults and offers a special program for children, including a summer camp and daily classroom instruction.

As part of her work, Whitman has spent the last seven years acclimatizing stranded sea turtles, which would not have survived without her intervention, to ocean life before setting them free.

Whitman rescued, raised, and is about to release Crush, a hawksbill turtle that was born on the island. She came to know and love Crush since she found him struggling to emerge out of the sand behind his many brothers and sisters who were crushing him to get to the surface of the sand on Oualie beach.

“It seems that no one has ever done this before,” Whitman said. “This was my first experience with sea turtles and I am learning all the time. I made up the procedures as I faced each challenge.”

Visitors to the center are invited to take Crush for a swim with them. While swimming in the ocean he is held by a retractable leash to build up his flipper muscles after spending his life in the aquarium at the center. Whitman is raising money to buy a satellite tracking devise for Crush and a glass bottom boat. The boat will be used at the education center for the children of Nevis to learn and appreciate the underwater wonders and their importance to the island’s ecosystem.