Ocean guardian saves turtle at Glenmore Beach
Thanks to one man’s quick thinking and compassion, a turtle was given a second chance.
For Denis Ananiadis, the ocean is more than a workplace – it is a lifelong companion.
At 53, Denis is a professional deep-sea charter fisherman who spends most of his days on the water.
Between fishing, spearfishing and scuba diving, the ocean has shaped not only his career, but his values and his sense of responsibility to marine life.
It was during a routine return from a deep-sea fishing trip that Denis noticed something troubling near the shark nets off Glenmore Beach. As he passed the familiar stretch of coastline, he saw a turtle struggling in the water.
“Something looked wrong,” he said.
Drawing closer, Denis realised the turtle was badly tangled in the nets. It was exhausted, clearly distressed and fighting to stay afloat. With years of experience at sea, Denis knew time was critical.
“I got to it as quickly as I could,” he explained. “It took real effort because the turtle was trapped and weak, but leaving it there wasn’t an option. If it hadn’t been freed, it would almost certainly have drowned within a few hours.”
Without hesitation, Denis worked carefully but urgently to free the animal. The rescue required strength, patience and determination, but eventually the turtle was released from the netting and able to swim away.
The moment left a deep impression.
“It was upsetting to see,” Denis said. “You could see it was in pain and struggling to survive. When you spend your life in the ocean, you develop a deep respect for marine life. I had to save that turtle.”
Denis’s connection to the ocean runs deep. Over the years, he has had many encounters with turtles and has often swum alongside them.
“I seem to have a thing about saving turtles. A few years ago, I tried my best to save a turtle in Mozambique.”
To Denis, they are gentle, ancient creatures that deserve protection and care.
That love even extends into his personal life.
“We have turtle sculptures at home, and my wife wears turtle bracelets,” he shared. “They mean something to us.”
Having fished extensively, including in the Transkei, and now living in Glenmore Beach, Denis has seen the ocean at its most powerful and most fragile. He has swum with bull sharks and caught large fish, but he says moments like this put everything into perspective.
“The ocean is about far more than fishing,” he said. “It’s about respecting life and protecting it when you can.”
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