He said on his blog that he was posing for the photo when a sea turtle came up for a breath of air at just the right moment.

The island, according to de Jesus is "one of the world's best known community-managed Marine Protected Area[s]."

De Jesus has been contacted by multiple media outlets on his blog for interviews and to confirm the photo is real.  He told an NBC News producer in the comments that "the photo is authentic, just like the turtle."

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez