VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – A leatherback sea turtle has set up shop along Virginia's Atlantic coast, making history with the first recorded nest ever discovered in the state. As the world's largest sea turtle, the leatherback's presence on Virginia Beach didn't go unnoticed by wildlife officials. Fish and Wildlife Service, the unprecedented nesting marks the first recorded time a leatherback sea turtle has laid eggs in Virginia. Fish and Wildlife Service, leatherback sea turtles can grow up to 8 feet and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Instead, they're named for the thick, leathery skin covering their backs that helps them dive deeper and travel farther into colder waters than any other sea turtle.