A large group of turtles drifting or swimming together in the open ocean is called a flotilla. Leatherback sea turtles rarely form a flotilla. Although, there was one case where about 100 leatherback turtles were seen in a 30 mile line in the water near a beach. In this rare case, they might have come together to feed, since there was a school of jellyfish, their favorite food, in the same area.

Some species of sea turtles nest in large groups called arribadas. This is a Spanish word meaning arrival. Arribadas of Kemps Ridley turtles were once reported to have hundreds of thousands of females nesting at the same time. Little is known about how sea turtles communicate with one another. When they are nesting, leatherback turtles make several different sounds. Some are like sighs and some are like belches.

Very little is known about sea turtle mating. Scientists are not really sure how mates find or choose each other. They also do not know if the mates stay together for a while or if they leave each other right away. It is known however that the only true social interaction occurs during courtship and mating. Scientists do know that the male will test the females receptivity by nuzzling her head and gently biting her neck and flippers.

Reluctant females may fold their hind flippers together. If the female is willing however, the male will mount her and grip the front of her shell with his forelimbs and curl his tail under his shell. The mating may take place on the ocean bottom, the surface or in open water. The mating will occur about 30 days before the female begins to nest.