December seals

[Seal diver]

Updated clips including diving on Sat 2nd Dec.
The lobster one is interesting... you can see through the red antennae.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

The seals are .... close.
(Keep in mind they are wild animals, not pets and they have very sharp teeth!) Fortunately they are just being playful!

Finally in answer to a recent question.... I never ever use any food/fish etc to try to get them to come close. To do so is not only dangerous, but would also alter their behaviour. I don't believe in using food/bait for attracting ANY wild animals for interactions (e.g sharks etc).

Seals at Longstone.jpg

safe diving,
Ben. ("Seal diver")

[Dan Wilko]

Thats amazing! Where about is this?

Safe Diving

[Seal diver]

The seal clips/pics have been taken off the Farne Islands and at lesser known sites off the NE coast and Scotland. The Lobster was off the Farnes, the Orca off the north of Norway.

Glad you enjoyed,
Any questions just ask,

Safe diving,
Ben ("Seal diver")
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Lars B]

Really nice footage and pics. However, I have some experience with seals from very small to really huge! And I would NEVER NEVER NEVER let one 'sniff' between my legs ;-)

L.

[Gram43]

Originally Posted by Seal diver

The seal clips/pics have been taken off the Farne Islands and at lesser known sites off the NE coast and Scotland. The Lobster was off the Farnes, the Orca off the north of Norway.

Glad you enjoyed,
Any questions just ask,

Safe diving,
Ben ("Seal diver")
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Hi, I remember responding to one of your posts previously. As you are no doubt fairly confident diving and filming and obviously playing about with seals, it is worth emphasising the point that these animals can (if they wanted to) cause problems for more inexperienced divers.

I have dived the Farnes many times and have also been around seals. One of my buddies actually had a seal try and bite at his mask, regulator, gloves and hood at the same time, coming at him from different angles. I knew he was more than capable of handling the situation, however, the other divers nearby, who had cameras though it was all just a laugh and that he was being really brave, so they snapped away and got plenty of good shots. I knew otherwise as I could see just how "overplayful" this thing was getting!!

Finally, my buddy and I managed to make the seal go away and we were able to continue our dive. Back on board the boat you could see where the seal had tried to have a nibble at his gear!!

Also, on a dive at the Farnes in August with 2 females and another male diver, the younger of the 2 females was paranoid about meeting a seal underwater, even though her other 2 friends had told her there was nothing to be worried about. However, we kept her close to us and sure enough when 2 seals appeared she went into panic mode and latched onto me and the other guy (for the rest of the dive). Even though she enjoyed the dive and felt quite safe with us, she said she would be very nervous about diving the area again!

Some people either like them and some people are quite scared of them. Your pictures are good and show just how friendly these creatures can be because of the exposure to divers on a regular basis. However, as I said, some lesser experienced divers may get "freaked" if one came up and tried to nibble their fins unexpectadly.

By the way, who do you go out with (boat wise) to the Farnes.

ATB....Graham

[Seal diver]

I agree. Young seals can (if they feel safe) get carried away when they perceive that a diver /seal interaction has become a "great game".

I have had a few young cow seals that have got carried away "playing" and thinking that a game of nip the suit / hood / hand is most entertaining!



They are not being malicious (if they were you would know about it! - a large seal can bit straight through your hand!)

Having taken in divers who have been very nervous I think that sometimes the seals can detect this (don't ask me how?!!) and single these people out for more mischief! If you are not very familiar with their antics they can at times misinterpret your body language and persist in such "games".

Usually if you are gentle and respectful, so are they.

Safe diving and all the best,
Ben ("Sealdiver")

[makk509]

Small world!

Ben, if you were on the Glad Tidings last weekend with a group from the The Tribe, I was the long haired guy sat by the lift.

Great video footage, the visibility seems better through your camera

Do you have any still shots from the weekend? I'd love to see them.

[Seal diver]

Yes that was me. It was good to meet you all from "the Tribe" and I have sent Gemma a link to the video clips and a couple of stills that she'll put on your web page... at some point.

All of the clips marked "New December" on the site YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. were all taken last Saturday when we were diving. I think the viz looks better than the real 3-4m that it was as the seals and lobster are close to the camera and the light isn't bad with them being relatively shallow.
See you again at some point,

Safe diving,

Ben ("Seal diver")

[Seal diver]

This Saturday there are spaces on an excellent hard boat out of Seahouses heading for the Farnes and seals.
The forecast is good (7 knt westerlies) with sunshine!
Not bad for December! Viz last Sat was 3-4m.

If you are wanting to dive this Saturday 9th try William Shiel on 01665 721297.
I'll see you there!

Safe diving,
Ben ("Seal diver")
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Seal diver]

I am not organising a formal trip but places will probably be available on a hard boat seal diving this Saturday 16th Dec at the Farnes. (weather permitting!)

Beats XMas shopping!

Try the skipper on 01665 721297.

Safe diving,
Ben. "Seal diver"
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.