The Iron Turtle 2026

The Iron Turtle is a triathlon within the Great Turtle Race, centered on a real ocean migration exceeding 6,000 km. Rather than solely determining the first leatherback to reach the marathon finish, Deep Sea News also evaluates deep and long dives, awarding 5 points for first place, 3 for second, and 1 for third. This award, presented in partnership with Conservation International and National Geographic, aims to highlight endangered leatherbacks and the deep-sea creatures inhabiting their environment. Cali, a 340 kg leatherback supported by Bullis Charter School in Los Altos, secured the Iron Turtle title despite not finishing first in the marathon. Backspacer, sponsored by Pearl Jam, won the marathon race, with Seabiscuit and Nueva Esperanza taking second and third respectively. However, Cali's performance, marked by 148 dives exceeding one hour and five dives deeper than 800 m, surpassed the others. His prior entanglement in fishing gear, from which researchers from the Canadian Sea Turtle Network rescued him, served as a stark reminder of the dangers leatherbacks encounter even before their ocean journeys. The trophy was created by Jason Robertshaw of Cephalopodcast.com.