Seven months. Twenty-six and a half hours of raw footage. Filming sites included Juno Beach, Ft. Pierce, Hutchinson Island, Delray Beach and more than five miles out in the open ocean. More than $7,800 spent on the production... and it all comes down to this moment.
One of the "stars" - hell, THE star - is now cleared for release.
When the release happens (God willing it happens without a hitch!), I will have all of the pieces to one of the most heartwarming and incredible stories of sea turtle rescue, rehab and survival ever told.  That being said, there are thousands of these stories taking place at rehab centers all over the world. Just very few filmmakers have been as lucky and free to put together such a complete story and to do so without producers or studio folks telling them how and what to create.
I know I have been really lucky to experience the arrival, treatment, progress and, now, release of a sea turtle who was gravely injured by derilect fishing gear.
When you watch the footage from Day 1 until now and you see how much it has strengthened and adapted to its challenges, you cannot help but admire the little green.
This release will hopefully follow the same fashion as one I'd filmed before. This patient being a smaller juvenile, it will likely be fast and furious. To that end (and I really hope the gamble pays off) I've decided to film the entire release with my handheld underwater camera. There's a pic of the new rig below.
Here's hoping for calm seas, clear skies and a dash of luck on release day!

Cheers,
-Rick