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With an average one-way migration of 3,700 miles, leatherback sea turtles undertake the widest migration of any sea turtle species between their nesting and feeding grounds. The majority of their life is spent underwater; however, females will come ashore to lay eggs. During the nesting season, leatherbacks lay multiple nests with about 100 eggs each, usually spaced 8 to 12 days apart. The hatchlings emerge from the nest after about two months of incubation.
Leatherback turtles have been reported to dive to depths of around 1,200 meters while foraging. Additionally, they can hold their breath underwater for 85 minutes. Leatherbacks exhibit impressive adaptations for deep and prolonged dives. A significant amount of oxygen is stored in their blood and muscles, and they also possess unique features such as collapsible lungs, lung muscles, a flexible shell (to respond to increased pressure at depth), and a reduced heart rate (to conserve energy and oxygen reserves).
According to the Guinness World Records in 1992, a leatherback turtle can swim in water at a speed of 21.92 miles per hour or 35.28 kilometers per hour. They typically swim at speeds ranging from 1.12 to 6.26 mph (1.80–10.08 km/h).
