Green sea turtle swims underwater for first time in 11 years thanks to world's first dive belt built for endangered sea creatures

Ali had been hit by a boat which left an air bubble under her shell

It stopped her from submerging and caused her to float bottom up

But help has come from team at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park

They've created pioneering belt with 2.5lbs of removable lead weights



A green sea turtle was today enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the world's first dive belt built exclusively for endangered sea creatures.

Ali has managed to dive properly for the first time in 11 years, since she was hit by a boat which left an air bubble under her shell, stopping her from submerging and causing her to float bottom up.

The metre-long turtle, who weighs more than 10 stone, had found herself stranded on the surface.

Suited up: A team at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park in Dorset have created a pioneering belt with 2.5lbs of removable lead weights that works just like those used by scuba divers Help: Ali's giant shell was split open by an engine propeller and she was left for dead after being hit by a boat in her native Palm Beach in Florida.

Now a team at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park in Dorset have created a pioneering belt with 2.5lbs of removable lead weights that works just like those used by scuba divers.

The new invention is believed to be the first of its kind - and means Ali, named after boxer Muhammad Ali, can dive again.

Fiona Smith, curator at the Sea Life park, said: ‘The common thing to do is to stick weights to injured turtles' shells to allow them to dive.



'But where Ali's shell was in slightly worse condition because of her accident it wasn't that easy.

‘My team and I started thinking about how else we could attach the weights, and came up with the idea of a harness.

‘We took the idea to a nearby dive shop and they came back to us with a custom-built dive belt we could slip weights into. It needs a few tweaks but otherwise it is ideal.

Special project: The new invention is believed to be the first of its kind - and means Ali can dive again

Ready to go: A protected endangered species, green turtles breathe oxygen but spend most of their lives under the water feeding and sleeping

‘It will take a little time for Ali to get used to wearing her new jacket but eventually we see her wearing it all the time. Poor Ali used to float like a butterfly and swim like a bee.

'This new invention will make life so much better for her. If the belt is successful it could pave the way for the other turtles' Fiona Smith, Sea Life Adventure Park

‘But this new invention will make life so much better for her. If the belt is successful it could pave the way for the other turtles.’

Ali's giant shell was split open by an engine propeller and she was left for dead after being hit by a boat in her native Palm Beach in Florida.

Luckily she was rescued and nursed back to health at a special hospital for turtles - but when her injuries eventually healed an air pocket was left under the shell giving her unwanted buoyancy.

She's back: Ali has managed to dive properly for the first time since 2001, when she was hit by a boat which left an air bubble under her shell, stopping her from submerging and causing her to float bottom up

Thought to be 15 to 20 years old, Ali was one of five hospitalised green turtles transferred to Weymouth to ease numbers.

All five had weights glued to their shells to help them dive but her shell was so badly damaged the weights wouldn't stick, prompting work to start on the special belt.

A protected endangered species, green turtles breathe oxygen but spend most of their lives under the water feeding and sleeping.