Interaction with Seals

[Maria CM]

:)
Fingers crossed for diving with seals at Lundy on Tuesday - anyone have any good tips for a great experience or things to look out for?

best wishes,

maria

[MattS]

:)
Fingers crossed for diving with seals at Lundy on Tuesday - anyone have any good tips for a great experience or things to look out for?
Let the seals come to you. There is no point trying to chase them, they are far better swimmers than you are. Just get on with your dive and they will join you if they want to.

[Richard Whitcombe]

Just feel for them clamping onto your fins. Chances are you'll come across that before you see them.

And yes let them come to you not the other way round.

More worrying for you, pray for good weather 'cos the forecast yet again is cr*p so continuing the worst year for diving weather since i started diving.

[Maria CM]

Everyone says about fin munching! :)

I know - I'm really worried about wind speeds for the day - keep eyeing the met office forecasts - do you know what speed it is likely to be cancelled at?

best wishes,

Maria

[Woz]

Play dead and try not to make obvious eye contact.

[MattS]

I know - I'm really worried about wind speeds for the day - keep eyeing the met office forecasts - do you know what speed it is likely to be cancelled at?It's the weekend that is rubbish the wind is supposed to die down by Tuesday. Seems to be the pattern for the year :(

[ChristianG]

Has anyone wondered just why the seals have an affinity for biting on fins? :)

Many years ago in the wilds of the Great Australian Bight with Oz thataway and Antarctica the other, but neither to be seen, an immature seal (somewhat larger than a Rottweiler with similarly sized, but much sharper, teeth to match) approached my forearm with intent. I shooed it off and that was that but I'm surprised that there haven't been more incidents of bites around the world.

[Mike Halligan]

Play dead and try not to make obvious eye contact.

Altertnatively, lie prone and gently dig a hole in the sand
or go hunting for dead urchins amongst rocks.

Both tactics have been know to attract their curiosity. In either case, avoid obvious eye contact.

(Barrel rolling and the activity of hunting can cause air in your BC to rattle, which attracts rather than deters Common, Atlantic Grey and NZ Fur seals)


Hope this helps, enjoy the privilege,

[barteh]

we had a great experience at Farne island with the seals.

They were very playful but shy at the same time. You would often feel a knocking/tugging on your fins thinking your buddy is messing around or your hitting the ground, you look round and a seal is tugging on your fin.

Like people mentioned above, it was hard to approach them, and they would generally only come to you.