The next generation.

I haven't had a dive for a while as I was surfing instead last week instead so was pretty keen to get in today despite not feeling 100%. I headed over to the south coast and saw there was a tiny bit of swell wrapping around and a really low tide. As soon as I got in the sea my fears were confirmed, lots of seaweed bits being stirred up and poor visibility.

Even in bad conditions when you get close enough to your subject (in this case about 1ft!) it still appears clear on film, however on returning and checking the footage my aiming is a little off on the close ups so a lot of the shots didn't come out :( Nonetheless I had a fun time filming some small fish and some Dead man's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) which I've never seen before. I also found a picturesque little starfish nursery and some fantastic sea anemones as well as shoals of small Bass and Mullet.

I headed out deeper to explore one of my usual hunting spots and dived 12 meters into the gloom, to the seabed I don't normally see at higher tides. Down there I found a very spooky looking cave, I peered in but it was too dark to explore even if I was brave enough! Maybe next low tide I will take my torch.

Little did I know what an exceptional dive this was going to turn out to be! Initially I found my friendly seal basking on a rock, completely unperturbed to see me sneak past and looking very relaxed. Then I was surprised to find there was not one but two younger seals lounging nearby, they were a little more wary and regarded me cautiously if I got too close. Just a bit further along I found a much smaller pup which must be only 6 months old! I was thrilled! As I passed by she looked at me with wide eyes before slipping into the sea without so much as a splash.

Just when I had decided that would be the last I saw of her I accidentally discovered her hiding place - she was curled up in a corner under the kelp keeping a very low profile. No doubt unhappy to have been found she swam off casting a quick look over her shoulder as she went. I was keen not to scare her or pester her and let her come to investigate me, a delightful battle commenced between her caution and her curiosity. It was fantastic to see a young seal so closely! I was a bit concerned the mother might be protective but the pups are left to fend for themselves at quite a young age and mum was quite happy to sleep on the rocks nearby.



(left click to open in you tube, select high def and full screen for best effect).

I managed to get some great footage over a captivating half hour, sometimes she would peer out of the kelp watching me quietly and others she would dash around me at full speed. Seal pups have the most amazing huge limpid eyes and I was transfixed as we came face to face in the kelp, it was incredible, I'm still buzzing!

A close encounter with a Shag rounded off a great day! (click the links for full-size images).