Watch as newborn sea turtles emerge from the sand and hastily make their way down the beach to the ocean waves in Ostional, Costa Rica. These tiny turtles just hatched and are taking their first swim, facing many predators as they enter the sea.

Each year starting in May and lasting through December, thousands of green sea turtle hatchlings emerge from the sand in Ostional, Costa Rica. Located on the northern Pacific coast, Ostional beach sees one of the largest arribadas, or mass nesting events, of green sea turtles in the world. On morning, I had the incredible opportunity to witness this natural phenomenon up close as tiny turtle after tiny turtle broke free from their sandy nests under the cover of darkness.

As the sun rose, the beach suddenly came alive with the sounds of tiny turtles scratching in the sand. Dozens of walnut-sized turtle hatchlings emerged and instinctively knew to head towards the ocean waves crashing in the distance. It was an amazing sight to see these newborn turtles, some still wet from the egg, scurry as fast as their little legs could carry them down the beach. Although most made it safely to the water, many also faced threats from, birds and other predators lurking in the sand. For those that survive this hazardous first journey, the ocean will be their new home for the next 10-20 years as they grow large enough to return and nest on these same shores.