When a turtle is emerging (crawling from the ocean to their nesting area), they are very sensitive to light and movement on the beach. Keep all lights off, crouch low and stay at least 15 metres away until the turtle has found her nesting spot and is actively digging. It may take the turtle from 5 to 20 minutes to begin digging, and at that point you will be able to see and hear sand flicking.

Turtles dig a body pit (a large hole about the size of their body) before they dig their nest. When bodypitting, she will flick sand up and away using all of her flippers, and you may hear her breathing heavily. It's important to stay 15 metres away, as she may not find a suitable spot to nest and move elsewhere. She is very aware of her surroundings at this stage of nesting and will be sensitive to light and movement. Keep all lights off, crouch low and keep your distance.

When the turtle begins to excavate her egg chamber, you will notice sand stops flicking and her front flippers become still. Her rear flippers do all the work scooping out sand to create a 50 centimetre deep chamber where she will lay her eggs. She may have a slight side-to-side rocking motion during this time. It will take between 5 to 20 minutes to excavate her nest, and one person at a time can move up to two metres behind her to have a look. Keep lights off and crouch or lie on the sand. 

When the turtle's rear flippers stop moving and she becomes very still, she will begin laying her 50 to 70 eggs. During this stage, turtles are not sensitive to their surroundings so you are able to move up to one metre behind her to watch the eggs are they are laid. You may use red light discretely (only one torch should be pointed towards the turtle at any time) and never point light towards a turtle's face. Egg-laying is quite quick, with the process over in three to ten minutes. 

Once her eggs are laid, the turtle will cover the egg chamber with sand using her rear flippers. Once the rear flippers begin moving, move back so you are over three metres away from the turtle, staying behind and out of her sight. Make sure you have turned any lights off now. She will take 20 to 40 minutes to cover the egg chamber and camouflage her nest, which will involve more sand being flicked from the front flippers too. For your safety, it is best to move further back once her front flippers begin moving. 

Once the turtle finishes covering and camouflaging her nest, she will crawl from the beach back to the ocean. She is very aware of her surroundings again, and tired after her nesting. Keep your distance to avoid stressing the turtle and so if she needs to stop to rest at the water's edge before entering the ocean, she is able. Keep your lights off and crouch low.