A prototype is being developed that will allow us to measure a turtle hatchling’s exact digging duration while escaping the nest. Once finished, the device will provide researchers with a greater resolution of digging time (i.e. down to hours and minutes) than was previously possible. This information will in turn bring us one step closer to quantifying the energy consumption of hatchlings while escaping their nest environment; which is vital in improving existing hatchling dispersal models based on ocean currents.