With the arrival of spring comes the return of many to the area’s golf courses. If you’ve always just stayed in a hotel somewhere why not do things differently this year. We have many Pawleys Island golf course rentals that you’ll just love! These are fully furnished and beautifully decorated homes that provide everything you need for a comfortable stay with awesome fairway views too!

Pawleys Island Golf Course Rentals

The attractive villa shown above overlooks a pond and the golf course. It’s located at 510 Grier in DeBordieu Colony, a private, gated community. Providing 3 bedrooms and 3 baths in addition to a living room, dining room and nicely equipped kitchen, you’re going to feel right at home here. Amenities include TV’s, DVD’s, internet, screened porch, gas grill, and outside shower. Lifestyle amenities include golf, tennis and multiple on-site dining options. Enjoy the miles of beach and tidal creeks, a nature preserve with walking trails and bike paths,  and the golf membership which gives you access to two pools at the Beach Club, dining, tennis and golf.

Pawleys Island Golf Course Rentals

With views overlooking the #1 green, 515 Graypups LLC Fairway Oaks Villas, is a charming villa. This home comes furnished and has a living room, dining room and 2 car garage; wet bar, wireless internet, 2 open porches; TVs, VCR, outside shower, gas grill, and book/video library.  You’ll enjoy this private, oceanfront, gated community located near Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Amenities include miles of beach and tidal creeks, an on-site nature preserve with walking trails and bike paths, and a delightful year round climate. This property has a Social Membership at the DeBordieu Club that gives you access to the 2 pools at the Beach Club and dining.

Pawleys Island Golf Course Rentals

If you’re coming with a group of friends you’ll be needing a larger house, ideally with all the bells and whistles. We have that for you at 124 Tugwell (shown above). This gorgeous 6 bedroom, 6 bath home with its private pool and lush landscaping is just a short drive to the beach. The home features a reverse floor plan and 2 master suites, one on the main living area and the other on the top floor. The gourmet kitchen, which has a wet bar with granite countertops, wine cooler and icemaker, is open to the living room and convenient to the formal dining room. There are 2 fireplaces with gas logs, an elevator (wheelchair accessible), 2 whirlpool tubs, 2 half baths (one on the 3rd floor Master BR and one on the main living level near the laundry room), wireless Internet, TVs, DVDs, VCRs and stereo. Outdoor amenities include a sundeck, screened porch, 2.5 car garage, gas grill, and outside shower. Natural amenities include miles of beach and tidal creeks, an on-site nature preserve with walking trails and bike paths, and a delightful year round climate. This home has a 3-night minimum.

When you’re ready to secure your accommodations, it’s easy to do on our website. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us at DeBordieu Rentals by calling 843-527-9894.

There are two popular events coming up over the next couple weeks that you’re not going to want to miss. Mark your calendar now for the Georgetown County YMCA Oyster Roast taking place this weekend and the start of the Winyah Bay Heritage Festival taking place next weekend!

Georgetown County YMCA Oyster Roast

Georgetown County YMCA Oyster Roast
On February 28 from noon until 3 p.m. the Georgetown County YMCA Oyster Roast takes place at the Georgetown County Family YMCA at 529 Browns Ferry Road. Come join us for fellowship, food, music and fun! Ticket includes oysters, pileau, fried chicken, coleslaw, non-alcoholic and adult beverages. Oyster knives will be available for purchase at the event or you can bring your own. Desserts are available and sold at additional cost. Admission charge is $25 Y member, $30 non-member; $10 Y teen (10-18), $15 non-member, teen; and free for 9 and under.

Winyah Bay Heritage Festival

Winyah Bay Heritage Festival will be presenting “Cattails & Cocktails” at the Hobcaw Barony Kimbel Lodge, on Saturday, March 7 from 1-4 p.m. The event features music, Silent Auction, a raffle and the following local celebrity chef’s: Raejean Beatty, Macajiah Williams, Chip Lachicotte/Jimmy Hortman, Bill Mace/Jim Clark, Bobby Barrineau, Jim Hills & Brian Clark, Stuart Ballard, Craig Evans/Martin Harper, Kenny McConnell/Mike Young, and Lou Hutto. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission fee is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at Georgetown County Museum, 120 Broad St., Georgetown. or by phone 843-545-7020. Kimbel Lodge at Hobcaw Barony is off Hwy 17. Just 1 mile after leaving the bridge from Georgetown.

Georgetown is Hopping With Events Not to Miss

On Sunday, March 8 is the Winyah Bay Heritage Festival “Best Of Fest” being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The SC Duck Calling Championships will be held at Francis Marion Park on Front St. Registration is at 11 a.m. and the competition from 12-3 p.m. Free event. Call 843-545-7020 for more details.

In addition, during the event, Black River Outdoors will offer a 90 minute kayak tour of Historic Georgetown Harbor on Sunday, March 8. Tickets are $20 per person. Call GCM at 843-545-7020 for tickets or purchase them at “Cattails & Cocktails” on Sat, March 7. Tickets limited for this event. Tours begin at Francis Marion Park, 800 Front St, Georgetown.

When you’re vacationing in the coastal South Carolina area a must-see place to visit is the historic city of Georgetown, SC. Located halfway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston this is South Carolina’s 3rd oldest city and history buffs will love exploring. There’s plenty of things to see and do from lots of waterfront shopping to boating, fishing, dining and taking in the ghost tours and historic tours in the area. If you’re coming soon, here’s the top 5 things to do in Georgetown that you’ll want to check out while you’re here!

SC Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary in Georgetown SC
1. SC Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary

Animal lovers won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit this animal sanctuary. There are many special events held here throughout the year. The sanctuary provides a compassionate ‘no-kill/no-breed’ haven for abused, neglected and unwanted exotic animals. If you’re interested in taking a behind the scenes tour of SC CARES & meeting the animal residents please call 843-546-7893 to set up an appointment. SC-C.A.R.E.S. is located at 236 Abbeville Drive in Georgetown, South Carolina.

Rover Boat Tours in Georgetown SC
2. Rover Boat Tours

Collect sea shells, see Dolphins in their natural habitat, and view the Georgetown lighthouse all while enjoying a tour on a modern 40-foot pontoon boat. The naturalist-guided tour will enable you to listen, watch, and learn about the nature and history of one of America’s oldest settled areas, a place where history lives in harmony with the natural world. Vistas of the estuary and salt marshes will surround you, perhaps dolphins or a sea turtle will swim alongside, while overhead bald eagles, terns, pelicans, herons and egrets dance on the wind. Adults 12 years and over or 90 pounds and over are $ 35.00 each, children 11 years and under or under 90 pounds are $ 25.00 each. Rover Boat Tours is located at 735 Front Street in Georgetown, SC. (843) 546-8822

Kaminski House Museum
3. Kaminski House Museum
Located at 1003 Front Street in historic Georgetown is the Kaminski House Museum. Meticulously preserved, come experience life in Georgetown in the 18th Century though the two Great Wars as you enjoy the guided tour and listen to intriguing tales of South Carolinians. The Kaminski House Museum offer antiques, architecture, and history all wrapped up in a bow of Southern hospitality not to be missed. Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, House Tours: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., or by reservation by calling 843-546-7706.

Stewart Parker House in Georgetown SC

4. Stewart Parker House

At the same location as the Kaminski House Museum is where you’ll have the opportunity to tour this Georgian style brick home built in the 1740s. It is known that George Washington was entertained in this residence. Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, House Tours: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., or by reservation by calling 843-546-7706.

Swamp Fox Players Productions of Georgetown SC
5. Swamp Fox Players Productions

These are Broadway-quality shows you won’t soon forget! The Swamp Fox Players, a non-profit volunteer community organization, put on live performances four times each season at the Strand Theater in Georgetown. The Strand is located at 731 Front Street, near the intersection with Screven Street, and diagonally across from the Rice Museum clock tower. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 843-527-2924. The price of a ticket to a play is $15; a ticket to a musical is $18.

With so much to do around Georgetown SC you’re sure to have a fun-filled time no matter what time of year you visit. If you need accommodations during your trip, consider staying with us at DeBordieu Rentals. We’d be happy to talk with you about the type of accommodations that will best meet your needs. Give us a call toll-free at 800-797-3633 if we can help!

Some people believe that if they haven’t made their reservations for the coastal vacation rental where they want to stay at least six months in advance that they won’t find any vacancies. That’s just not true. We often have vacancies, including last minute ones, that we’re always happy to fill on a first come, first served basis. It is true that the earlier you make your reservations the more likely you are to get the exact place you want but at DeBordieu Rentals all of our accommodations are gorgeous as well as perfectly designed and furnished.

When is a Good Time to Schedule a Coastal Vacation?
When you’re searching for a Myrtle Beach hotel, consider us at DeBordieu Rentals; we have so much more to offer than any hotel. There are many exceptionally exquisite vacation homes in our gated community that will provide you with panoramic views of the coastline from every floor.

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to stay, this is it. So, to answer the question, the best time to schedule that coastal vacation is right now. Being centrally located as we are will provide you with easy access to all the action from Georgetown to the south and Myrtle Beach to the north.

When is a Good Time to Schedule a Coastal Vacation?

Visit nearby Murrells Inlet for some of the best seafood of your life. It is, after all, the seafood capital of South Carolina! If you play golf, you’ll enjoy the assortment of championship courses the area has to play on.

The DeBordieu Club has one of the top-ranked golf courses in the state of South Carolina. The club boasts an 18 hole Pete and P.B. Dye course that has received rave reviews. If you love tennis, you’re going to love the eight Har-Tru clay courts and two hard courts. Many of the courts are lit up for night play. Be sure to reserve a vacation rental with a membership for the type of sport you’re interested in.

Whether you’re visiting this coastal area for the holidays or you reside here throughout the winter, there is so much going on at this time of the year that you won’t want to miss a single event! When you stay in one of our holiday vacation rentals you’ll be just a short drive from all of the following events perfectly suited for singles and families alike!

Atlantic Stage will present A Christmas Carol

Atlantic Stage will present A Christmas Carol live at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sundays from November 27-December 21 at their 79th Avenue Theatre in Myrtle Beach. A Christmas Carol teaches the story that it’s never too late to change who you are. Follow Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future through his life this holiday season. Tickets are on sale through the Atlantic Stage website for $12.50-$27.50.

Surfside Beach Christmas Parade

Come on out and watch the Surfside Beach Christmas Parade that will be held on Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m. The parade will run down Ocean Boulevard.

11th Annual Christmas Towne at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center

A favorite every year is the 11th Annual Christmas Towne at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. This year it will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2014. There will be opportunities for free Santa photos, letters to Santa, amusement rides, games and lots more. It concludes with the official tree lighting ceremony for the City of Myrtle Beach.

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland 2014

The spectacular Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland light show at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach returns this year. Beginning at dusk each day you can drive your car through the colorful light displays as they change in beat with the music. The price of entry is $25.50 per car or mini-van. Activity Van/Mini Bus: $40 Tour/School Bus: $5 per person. Drive route and parking accommodations are tour bus friendly. Tickets are purchased on-site from the comfort of your own vehicle. This event runs through January 4, 2015.

The Nutcracker Ballet

The Nutcracker Ballet will be performed by the Coastal Youth Ballet at the Palace Theatre. These talented young dancers will perform a classic holiday tradition live on-stage at Broadway at the Beach. Get your tickets now! The Nutcracker will be performed at 10 a.m. for a special school length production Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16. Regular shows will be performed at 7 p.m. December 15, 16, 21 and 22. A 2 p.m. show is planned for December 21. All shows will be performed at the Palace Theatre in the main auditorium.

Holidays on the Boardwalk
While you’re out shopping or looking at all the holiday lights, take a drive up to Myrtle Beach and check out Holidays on the Boardwalk. Each week will feature a holiday light show, camel rides, live entertainment and visits with Santa! Come out and celebrate while enjoying fun events for children, free music, and free entertainment.

Every Saturday through December 27 there will be camel rides at 9th Avenue North from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m., Friday, December 12:  Sidewalk Prophets concert at Ground Zero

8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 13:  Christmas in Dixie at the Bowery

Saturday, December 20 – Meet with Santa or take a ride on the Polar Express or on a live camel. They’ll be more live entertainment on both stages.

Sunday, December 21 – Gear up for a family fun event with games and prizes plus candlelight caroling with free hot chocolate and cookies.
Saturday, December 27 – The final day for Holidays on the Boardwalk will include camel rides, the Polar Express and live entertainment.

Brunch with Santa & Frosty

Each year the Children’s Museum of South Carolina hosts a popular event with Santa. This year, due to December 23 falling on a Sunday, the Museum is hosting Brunch with Santa & Frosty on Sunday, December 23 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A delicious lunch will be catered by the Sonic Drive-In. Families will have a meet and greet with Frosty the Snowman during Brunch, participate in fun holiday activities, and of course, take photos with Santa. Each family will receive an emailed Digital Photo Card via email before Christmas Eve to send to your family and friends! This event sells out every year, as space is limited for less than 30 families. Fee: $12/person includes museum admission, 1/2 price for members, Advance registration required by calling (843) 946-9469.

All of us at DeBordieu Rentals you and yours a very Merry Christmas this year!

The Thanksgiving holiday is nearly here and with that comes the start of another holiday season. If you’re still unsure about where you’d like to spend the holiday, we suggest you come coastal and spend it with us. At Debordieu Rentals we have many holiday vacation rentals that would be just perfect for the holidays.

There is no better time than Thanksgiving to practice mindfulness. Too often people overdo it during the holidays and come to regret it later. Sure, it can get pretty busy and you may feel at times that you deserve a little something extra for all your hard work. That’s a good time to be mindful of what that inner voice is whispering in your ear. Don’t let it use the holidays as a way to derail your sensible eating and fitness routines.

This holiday is a great time to not only practice mindfulness but also gratitude and living in the present moment. Here are some tips to get you through the holidays in a zen-like way.

Journaling: Have a Zen-like Thanksgiving

Keep a Journal

Journaling your day-to-day life is a great mindfulness practice and a great way of capturing memories. Buy a small notebook and start writing. Write your plans for the day and your success for the day before. Choose the best time for you to write undisturbed. Maybe it’s first thing in the morning or the last thing at night.

Cooking Scents: Have a Zen-like Thanksgiving

Mindful Cooking

When you’re cooking or baking this Thanksgiving, be sure to take the time to think about each step in what you are doing. Do it mindfully and intentionally. Don’t rush.  Pay close attention to the scents and tastes of the meal as it’s being prepared. Enjoy the process.

No Waste

Throw nothing out after your holiday dinner. Leftovers can lovingly go home with friends and family. Turkey can make sandwiches and more dinners for the days ahead. Even the turkey carcass can be cooked in water for the base of a tasty turkey soup.

Meditate: Have a Zen-like Thanksgiving

Meditate

During the chaos of the holiday a daily meditation practice will help to keep you calm and centered. Just five minutes of focusing on your breathing is meditation and will bring you into a more mindful state. If you can go 15-20 minutes that’s even better. Meditation is best done early in the morning when you can sit undisturbed.

Serving Others

Holidays are the perfect time to invite others to your table to share a meal and practice serving them. Not everyone has family around and many have relocated here and left their network of friends behind. What a perfect time to establish new friendships and bring them into your fold.

Show Gratitude: Have a Zen-like Thanksgiving

Be Grateful

Above all else, Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks and being grateful for what you have. Be grateful for your health, your family and friends and the meal in front of you. Take the time to reflect on your life, your family your friends and be share that gratitude aloud for the experiences and memories that you have.

It’s often a fun exercise to keep us mindful when we go around the table and everyone talks about something that they’re grateful for this year. From the very young to the very old, this is a wonderful tradition to start if you don’t already do it.

From all of us at DeBordieu Rentals, we wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What are your plans for the upcoming Christmas season this year? Will this year find you spending it at home again or have you decided this will be the year that you’re going to start a new family tradition? If you’ve taken our advice in the past, you’ve already chosen the perfect vacation rental where you can spend the holidays and you’ve decided on your arrival and departure dates.

For those who have never taken a holiday vacation somewhere coastal, you’re in for a big surprise. There is much going on in the area to celebrate the holiday season and we have plenty of vacation rentals ready and waiting to provide you with all the comforts of home during this special time of the year. You can easily book your rental right here on the Debordieu Rentals website.

Starting New Holiday Traditions with DeBordieu Rentals

One of the most memorable events in the area that you surely won’t want to miss is Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. On December 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20, from 3 – 10 p.m., come watch as Brookgreen Gardens comes to life with the soft glow of more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. Bring your family and walk the paths with a warm cup of cider, enjoy the sounds of hand bells ringing, carolers singing, and celebrate the season with family and friends. This annual event has become a popular holiday tradition that many residents and visitors alike look forward to every year.

Starting New Holiday Traditions with DeBordieu Rentals

Plan on having dinner while you’re here. An affordable dinner is being catered by Inlet Affairs of Murrells Inlet and is priced separately from museum admission. Check out their Nights of a Thousand Candles 2014 Dinner Menu. Dinner will be served from 3:30 to 9 p.m. each evening and will be served cafeteria-style in a large heated tent with inside seating. The menu features a variety of Lowcountry fare including seafood, BBQ, chicken bog and vegetarian options. Reservations are not accepted. (The Pavilion Restaurant will be closed during the event.) The Old Kitchen, located in the sculpture gardens, serves beverages and snacks. A beverage and snack tent, located next to the main entertainment tent, also offers beverages and snacks.

Suggestions for how to make your Nights of a Thousand Candles experience more enjoyable:

1. The best way to a void weekend crowds is to come on a Thursday evening.
2.   Arrive early (between 4 – 5 p.m.) and have time to see the candles being lit and map out where you would like to go. Dusk is the best time to take pictures. Tripods not allowed.
3. Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes. This is not a drive-thru lights festival. You will be walking through the gardens.
4.   A limited number of adult and child strollers are available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have mobility issues or difficulty standing for extended periods of time, please make appropriate arrangements.
5.  If possible, carpool with family and friends. You’ll be supporting our green initiative and helping to reduce the number of parking spaces required.
6. No smoking and no alcoholic beverages may be brought into the event.

We look forward to hearing from you before the holidays and know you’ll have a pleasurable time at Brookgreen Gardens while you’re here. All of us at DeBordieu Rentals want to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season!

We are proud to announce the reopening of our DeBordieu Club. Many changes were made during this renovation process and we invite you to play and experience the improvements for yourself. The course re-opened on September 13th and we have heard nothing but positive feedback in the weeks since its reopening. These glowing responses make us here happy to know that the work we put into it was truly worth-while.

This 18-hole, Pete and P.B. Dye course, underwent a total resurfacing. From Celebration Bermudagrass in the roughs and fairways to MiniVerde on the greens, our staff spared no expense in acquiring the conditions our golfers require of a championship course. In addition, DeBordieu Club has also replaced every bunker with new sand as well as created larger and several new tee options totaling six.

Since 1987, DeBordieu Club has been a staple of the DeBordieu community. This 7,000 plus yard course continues to feature some of the most majestic holes enveloping the natural surrounding beauty of the community itself. If your rental home has a Golf or Sports membership, we invite you to play and experience our new additions.


Our professional staff would be glad to assist you. Call the shop at 843-527-6000 and inquire about priveldges, fees, hours and instructional programs.

One of the most popular and well-attended events that take place every year in mid-October is the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show. Always held the third weekend in October this year’s show is October 18 and 19. If you’re planning on attending from out of town and you’re looking for accommodations, take a look at the luxurious accommodations we have at DeBordieu Rentals. You won’t be disappointed!

Georgetown Wooden Boat Show

Georgetown Wooden Boat Show

This year is the 25th anniversary of the boat show. The event takes place on the waterfront in historic downtown Georgetown and extends along Front Street. It features more than 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water, a wooden boatbuilding competition, children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, maritime art and crafts, plenty of good food and great music. Don’t miss the Wooden Boat Challenge when teams of two race to build a rowing skiff within a 4 hour time limit followed by testing their vessels for seaworthiness in a Sampit River rowing relay.

Georgetown Wooden Boat Show Schedule

On Friday, October 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. the Goat Island Yacht Club Regatta takes place at the SC Maritime Museum. It features unique live and silent auction items, as well as ?rst-class cuisine and imbibements. Tickets are $85 per person. Come meet with and trade sea stories with fellow seafarers. Proceeds will benefit the museum. Call 843-520-0111 for tickets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014    11 am – 6 pm

25th Annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show – Free Admission

Wooden Boat Exhibit

Boatbuilding Competition 12 Noon – 4 pm /  Rowing Race 5 pm

Sponsor Hospitality Tent located beside the Maritime Museum. 11 am – 6 pm

The Ship’s Store:  Poster signing and T-shirts, meet our 2014 Poster Artist

Kid’s Activities: Model Boatbuilding and Knot tying

Gig Rows with the New Charleston Mosquito Fleet

Awards Ceremony   7 pm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014   NOON – 4 pm

Wooden Boat Exhibit

Master Boatbuilders Challenge  11 am – 3 pm

Wooden Opti Pram Regatta  11 am until 4 pm

Bloodys & Bagels at the SC Maritime Museum   Noon – 3 pm

Ensemble performance by the Winyah Indigo Chorale Society   1 pm – 2 pm

Knot tying with Dan the Knot Man

Gig rows with the New Charleston Mosquito Fleet

Other Children’s/Family Activities – TBA

The Ship’s Store:  Posters and T-shirts

Beer Garden in Francis Marion Park

The Wooden Boat Show is the SC Maritime Museum’s largest and most important fundraiser. In addition, the show attracts thousands of visitors to Historic Downtown Georgetown each year. The Wooden Boat Challenge was started in 1981 by John Hansen, current publisher of Boats and Harbors Magazine, and was held at the Newport, RI wooden boat show. We encourage residents and visitors to the area to come out and support this funfilled and entertaining event.

If you’ve always wanted to do your part in helping out the loggerhead sea turtles on our beaches this is your opportunity. The South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts (SCUTE) group is just one of 30 different projects made up of volunteers offering protection to the sea turtles along the South Carolina coastline while they nest from May through October each year. All of these projects are overseen by the SC Department of Natural Resources.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Loggerhead Sea TurtleSince early in 1980 the SCUTE group has covered an area 60 miles long that extends from North Myrtle Beach to the North Inlet in Georgetown County. Because of these efforts, the numbers of sea turtle nests have been increasing steadily, especially over the past four years. Close to half of the nests along this region of the coastline are found on the DeBordieu and Hobcaw beaches. Last year alone we had 108 nests along our stretch of beachfront, setting a new record for us. The previous record was set in 1995 with a total of 75 nests.

Each day at sunrise during nesting season volunteers walk the beaches looking for the large turtle tracks leading from the ocean to the dunes and back. When tracks are found, clues are used to determine the location of the nesting area. Using pool cues, volunteers carefully probe the sand to locate the soft area of the egg chamber. An average nest of 120 ping-pong ball size eggs may need to be moved if the clutch is laid in an unsafe place such as below the spring tide line or in a high foot traffic area. Nests are protected with a plastic mesh, staked to protect it from predators and a sign is posted with the nesting date.

Baby Loggerhead Sea TurtleWhile monitoring the nests, volunteers begin to look for a depression in the nest at about 50 days of incubation indicating the start of hatching activity. When a nest hatches, usually between 55-60 days, hatchlings make a mad dash to the ocean following the fluorescence of the waves. It is important during this time that they are not lead astray by onshore lighting.

Following the successful completion of a hatch, we are required by SCDNR to wait 3 nights before conducting a nest inventory so that all hatchlings have a chance to exit the nest. At the inventory, the nest contents are dug out and data is recorded and sent to SCDNR. Occasionally live hatchlings, unsuccessful at emerging on their own, are found in the nest. Volunteers put the hatchlings on the beach, let them crawl to the ocean and ‘imprint’. At maturity, 25-30 years, female loggerheads will generally return to the beach of their birth to nest. However, recent DNA studies show some turtles will nest many miles from where they hatched.

If you would like more information about how you can help the loggerhead sea turtles please visit the DeBordieu Hobcaw SCUTE website.

Update:

We’ve got news on the turtles! Check out this message we got from members of the SCUTE:

Dear Volunteers – My friend, Carter, walked the Middle with me this morning and knew DEB03 north of WW#3 was likely to hatch tonight. About 4:30 she and her husband checked the nest and she called to say there were turtles in the top! When I got to the nest there were about 8 turtles down in the hole. I put my backpack behind the mesh to shade the hole. Well….they started moving and…well….watch the video! -Betsy