View recovering sea turtle patients in specially designed outdoor tanks and watch through the window while surgeons treat the animals. Volunteers stand by turtle tanks with information on their charges: how they sustained their injuries, how they're healing and whether they're good or grumpy patients. It's a privilege to see and learn at such close quarters. All four species – greens, hawksbills, Kemp's ridleys and loggerheads – frequent the local waters.
Around 100 turtles are treated here and returned to the wild annually. The center runs a host of educational programs, leads ecotours ($25) and a nature tour through the dune system (free), tells 'hatchling tales' to younger kids (10:30am Wednesdays) and offers guided turtle walks (by reservation $18) from Tuesday to Saturday evenings in June and July.