December on the Georgia coast means cooling water temperatures, the return of North Atlantic right whales and the occasional appearance of another massive marine animal — leatherbacks.
We documented four leatherback sea turtles within 10 miles of shore during a right whale research cruise last week. The videos show one of the turtles approximately 8 miles east of Sapelo Island.
Leatherbacks are the world’s largest turtles. Adults can reach 6 feet long and average 660 to 1,200 pounds. The name comes from their tough, rubber-like skin: Leatherbacks are the only sea turtle that doesn’t have a hard, bony shell, or carapace.
This species dates to the dinosaurs, and leatherbacks are built like something prehistoric. They migrate over 10,000 miles a year and have been documented diving almost 4,000 feet deep, or nearly three-quarters of a mile.
They’re also endangered. NOAA says leatherback numbers worldwide are down 40 percent over the past three generations.
Leatherbacks are truly amazing. They’re presence off Georgia’s coasts is also another reason for boaters to keep watch and follow the right whale mantra: Go slow, whales — and turtles — below.