The Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Sea Turtle Nursery

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 16:30

 

The Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Sea Turtle Nursery, officially known in tourism sources as the Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Phang Nga Naval Base, Royal Thai Navy Region 3, is one of the important sea turtle conservation and learning centers on Thailand’s Andaman coast. It is located inside Phang Nga Naval Base in Lam Kaen Subdistrict, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, close to the Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center and Thap Lamu Pier. The center allows visitors to observe sea turtles in nursery tanks, including small juveniles, growing turtles, turtles being prepared for release, and turtles under conservation care.

 

This is not an entertainment-style animal attraction. It is a marine conservation learning site where visitors can understand sea turtle life cycles, hatching, early-stage care, rehabilitation, and the threats that affect marine animals. These threats include marine waste, fishing gear, disturbance at nesting beaches, and coastal environmental changes. A visit here should therefore be treated as an educational conservation experience rather than simple sightseeing.

 

The center is important because Phang Nga and the Andaman coast are closely connected with sea turtle nesting. Areas such as the Similan Islands, Ko Huyong, Thai Mueang Beach, Ko Phra Thong, Ko Kho Khao, and other Phang Nga coastal habitats have long been associated with sea turtle nesting records. Having a turtle conservation center at Phang Nga Naval Base supports turtle care, nesting-site awareness, public education, and cooperation between official agencies, local communities, and marine-resource stakeholders.

 

Species connected with the conservation work and public learning here include green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and olive ridley turtles. These species are part of Thailand’s sea turtle diversity and are important to the Andaman marine ecosystem. Green turtles are closely linked with seagrass and coastal habitats, hawksbill turtles are associated with coral reefs and shallow tropical waters, and olive ridley turtles are especially significant on the Andaman side. Learning the differences between turtle species helps visitors understand that sea turtle conservation is not a single-species issue.

 

The nursery tanks are organized to support turtles at different life stages and conditions. Newly hatched turtles are extremely vulnerable in nature, facing predators and environmental risks from the moment they leave the nest. Early nursery care can improve their survival chances before release. Older juvenile turtles are stronger and closer to the stage at which they can return to the sea. Seeing several life stages in one place helps visitors understand the long and difficult journey of sea turtles.

 

The work behind the tanks is continuous. Staff must manage water quality, food, hygiene, turtle health, tank conditions, and release readiness. The center’s mission is also connected with nesting-site monitoring, egg protection, community awareness, and the release of young turtles back into the sea at appropriate times. The turtles visible to visitors represent only one part of a wider conservation operation.

 

Because the center is inside Phang Nga Naval Base, access differs from a normal tourist site. Visitors should carry an ID card or identification document and follow instructions at the military checkpoint. Some parts of the base are operational or restricted areas, so visitors should stay on approved routes, avoid restricted zones, and follow photography rules set by staff.

 

The nearby Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center adds wider context to the visit. The Royal Thai Navy established the Chulabhorn Underwater Park project to support conservation and restoration of Andaman marine resources, especially coral reefs and marine environments around areas such as the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Ko Bon, and Ko Tachai. Visiting both sites helps travelers understand marine conservation from the perspective of sea turtles, coral reefs, coastal habitats, and responsible sea tourism.

 

Getting There is convenient from Khao Lak, Thap Lamu, Thai Mueang, and Phang Nga town. Travelers use Phet Kasem Road toward Lam Kaen Subdistrict, Thai Mueang District, then enter Phang Nga Naval Base. Signs to the naval base and Thap Lamu area are usually clear. From Khao Lak, the drive is short and can be combined with the Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center, Thap Lamu Pier, Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, and nearby beaches.

 

Public transport travelers can take buses or vans on the Phuket–Takua Pa route and get off near the entrance to Phang Nga Naval Base or Lam Kaen area, then continue by local transport. However, a private car, rental car, hotel transfer, or arranged taxi is more convenient, especially for families, older travelers, or visitors planning to combine several nearby attractions in the same day.

 

The center is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. Admission is free, and visitors may support conservation through voluntary donations. Morning and late afternoon are practical times to visit because the heat is lower and there is enough time to walk, read information, and explain the exhibits to children or travel companions. School groups and study groups should contact the relevant office in advance for better visit management.

 

Visitors should walk quietly, read the information displays, observe the size and behavior of turtles at different stages, and use the visit to discuss marine waste reduction. Plastic bags, fishing debris, and other marine litter can harm sea turtles and other marine animals. The visit becomes more meaningful when it encourages simple daily actions such as reducing single-use plastic, keeping beaches clean, and avoiding products made from rare marine wildlife.

 

Important rules include not throwing food or objects into the tanks, not touching turtles, not making loud noise, not knocking on tank edges, not using flash in a way that disturbs animals, and not allowing children to lean dangerously over the tanks. These turtles are under care, and visitor behavior should reduce stress rather than create it.

 

The center is especially suitable for families. Children can see real sea turtles up close and learn why hatchlings need protection, why turtles must eventually return to the sea, and why nesting beaches must remain quiet and safe. Adults can make the visit more useful by asking simple questions: How do turtles swim? How do they breathe? Why does a shell matter? How are baby turtles different from older turtles? How can people reduce marine waste?

 

For visitors staying in Khao Lak or departing from Thap Lamu Pier for marine trips, the turtle nursery is a useful educational stop before or after sea excursions. It helps travelers understand that the Andaman Sea is not only about beaches, coral reefs, and islands. It is also a habitat for long-lived marine animals that depend on healthy beaches, clean water, and responsible human behavior.

 

A typical visit takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. A half-day route can combine the turtle center with the Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center, Thap Lamu Pier, Hat Son, or Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. A full-day route can add Khao Lak Beach, Nang Thong Beach, local seafood near Thap Lamu, or a quiet coastal drive around Lam Kaen and Khao Lak.

 

Overall, the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Sea Turtle Nursery is a valuable conservation-learning stop in Phang Nga. It is easy to reach from Khao Lak and Thap Lamu, open daily, free to enter, and closely connected with the Andaman coast’s sea turtle conservation work. With respectful behavior, ID preparation for base access, and attention to conservation rules, the visit adds depth and meaning to any Phang Nga or Khao Lak itinerary.

 

 

A: It is located inside Phang Nga Naval Base, Royal Thai Navy Region 3, in Lam Kaen Subdistrict, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, near the Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center and Thap Lamu Pier.

 

A: The center is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. Groups should contact the center in advance before visiting.

 

A: No. Admission is free, and visitors may make voluntary donations to support sea turtle conservation.

 

A: The center is associated with important sea turtles such as green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and olive ridley turtles, along with broader educational information about sea turtles found in Thailand.

 

A: Visitors should carry an ID card or identification document because the center is inside Phang Nga Naval Base and access passes through a military checkpoint.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for families because children can observe sea turtles and learn about marine conservation, but adults should supervise children closely and prevent them from disturbing the turtles.

 

A: Most visitors should allow about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for observing the nursery tanks, reading information, taking photos, and learning about sea turtle conservation.

 

A: Nearby places include the Chulabhorn Underwater Park Conservation Center, Thap Lamu Pier, Hat Son, Chao Pho Khao Lak Shrine, Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, Khao Lak Beach, and Nang Thong Beach.