A curious Hawaiian green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) investigates her reflection in my dome port. Taken in Honaunau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

I wanted to take advantage of the sunrise, and for that I must be in the water very early. I didn't have too much time as the sun rises fast and could spoil the atmosphere that I wanted to get. I waited a few minutes for sea turtles. When they appeared between the sunlight I took this picture. Taken in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Mature green turtles spend most of their time in shallow, coastal waters with lush seagrass beds. Adults frequent inshore bays, lagoons and shoals with lush seagrass meadows. Taken off the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

On the coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands), we have many specimens of green turtles. I devote much time to them. I observe their different behaviors and I try to take photos of these moments.

A loggerhead sea turtle found a small coral overhang where it was rubbing the algae and grime off its shell. A remora was eager to help as well. Taken in Turtle Rock Island, Belize.

A loggerhead sea turtle takes a breath of air before returning to the swimmers in Turtle Rock Island, Belize.

Green sea turtles are frequently encountered in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt.

This turtle was a lot of fun. He was very curious about his reflection in my camera's dome port and played with me (or really, his reflection) the entire dive. Taken at Dimakya Island in the Philippines.

This majestic sea turtle was approaching a beautiful school of fish as they formed an "eye" in Malaysia.

Akumal Bay in Mexico is a great feeding ground for green turtles. I like to go there at sunset to get [these] kind of colors.

On the coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands), we have many specimens of green turtles. I devote much time to them. I observe their different behaviors and I try to take photos of these moments.

This turtle was photographed off the coast of Sipadan, Malaysia's only oceanic island.

The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the few places in the world where green sea turtles come out of the water to bask in the sun. Taken in Kiholo Bay, Hawaii.

I was snorkeling when I saw a green sea turtle in the distance. I got close and it didn't swim away — quite the opposite, it seemed very relaxed around me. However, it suddenly stopped and appeared scared by its own shadow.

Hawaii is known for its green sea turtles. On this morning, I was lucky enough to see one being cleaned by parrotfish and yellow tangs. Taken in Puako, Hawaii.

A green sea turtle and a young yellow pilotfish were spotted in Abu Dabab Bay, Red Sea.

A green sea turtle swims through a ring of yellow tangs in Puako, Hawaii.

As we explored the reef, this old loggerhead made a left turn and came right at my lens. The barnacles are clearly visible on his back. Taken at Long Caye Wall at Lighthouse Reef in Belize.

This was shot at Columbia Reef Shallows in 20 feet of water in Cozumel, Mexico.

Imagine my excitement when this beautiful turtle cruised by at the end of a beautiful dive at Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman.

Green sea turtles swimming, eating and resting in the shallows of northern Isla Isabella in the Galapagos.

A curious turtle crossing our way. Photo taken in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.

This image of a green sea turtle was captured on Molasses Reef in Key Largo, Florida.

Looking up and a perfectly graceful reef turtle swimming at just the right moment. Taken at Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos.

I was about to enter the one of the famed swim-throughs in Cozumel when I was pleasantly surprised by this hawksbill turtle hiding under the reef. Taken in Palancar, Cozumel, Mexico.

While snorkeling in Kiholo Bay, I stuck my camera out of the water to capture this salt-encrusted green sea turtle sunning itself onshore. Taken in Kiholo Bay, Hawaii.

This green sea turtle was eating and raised his head to look at me when I approached him. Taken in Dumaguete, Philippines.

This photo was taken with a Sony camera utilizing underwater flash in Belize.

A hawksbill turtle feeds on algae in Cozumel, Mexico.

I had the wonderful chance to get very close to this green sea turtle while diving off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. Luckily, my dive partner was quick to take my camera from me and snap this photo.

Taken on a dive at a natural cleaning station for green sea turtles in Maui, Hawaii.

A hawksbill turtle with gray angelfish in Cozumel, Mexico.

A turtle in Papau New Guinea was hamming it up for this photographer.

Spent half of a dive swimming against the current, waiting for this turtle to turn back so that the sun and boat were in the shot with him. The sand is gently swirling beneath his left flipper. Taken in Cozumel, Mexico.

[I] came upon this turtle at the side of the reef, and was told it was asleep. Taken in Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands.

Where are the best places in the world to dive with, see and photograph sea turtles? When we were judging the 2013 Through the Lens Photo Contest, we were amazed by some of the great turtle images captured by our readers! From Cozumel to the Philippines, from Curacao to Malaysia, these shots of loggerheads, hawksbills and green sea turtles are sure to delight.

Captions provided by photographers.