Leatherback Sea Turtle

The world's largest living reptile, this oceanic wanderer spends the vast majority of its life in open water, diving to remarkable depths in pursuit of jellyfish and other soft-bodied prey across tropical and temperate seas. On nesting beaches — particularly in Trinidad, Costa Rica, Gabon, and South Africa — females haul ashore after dark to excavate deep, flask-shaped chambers in the sand, their massive dark forms distinguished from other sea turtles by a smooth, rubbery, ridge-lined carapace rather than a hard shell. For the best chance of an encounter, position yourself on a known nesting beach between March and July in the Caribbean or Pacific, arrive well after nightfall when activity peaks, and watch for the broad, paddle-like front flippers leaving distinctive wide drag marks from the surf line — once a female enters her egg-laying trance, she can be observed closely without disturbance.