You may by no means spend sufficient time within the water with these agile, humorous, and charming pinnipeds. Listed here are our prime 5 locations to dive with seals and sea lions.
Whether or not you’re a snorkeler, freediver, or scuba dive, all people loves an ocean encounter with seals—often known as the clowns or pet canine of the ocean. Fortunately, Her are our picks of the highest 5 locations to dive with seals and sea lions.
Cape City, South Africa
The place: Hout Bay
Traits:
Cape City is house to rocky shorelines, dense kelp forests, and many Cape fur seals, dwelling in two protected kelp areas. Duiker Island in Hout Bay is house to a colony of 5,000 Cape fur seals however carry your drysuit— being located within the Atlantic Ocean, the water temperature can differ between 46 and 50 F (8 to 10 C). Water time can differ from 45 minutes to an hour, but when you might want to get out and heat up, the RIB is at all times close by to return and choose you up for a bake within the solar.
Season: The season to dive with seals in South Africa lasts year-round, however one of the best months fall from September by Might.
An additional tip: When the climate situations are usually not favorable to dive in Hout Bay it is going to be favorable to dive in False Bay and vice versa.
New Zealand
The place: Kaikoura
Traits:
Three hours north of Christchurch is the Kaikoura Peninsula, surrounded by the Kaikoura Vary, making for a surreal scene the place you may lounge on the seashore with snowcapped mountains within the background. This spot is the world’s greatest for in-water encounters with curious New Zealand fur seals. After a briefing by skilled guides, you’ll get your gear and bounce on a bus, which is able to take you to the boat. From there, it’s a 10-minute boat experience out to the seals. Spend time with the seals within the water, then watch them lounging and baking on the rocks afterward. Hop within the water and observe the playful seals, then watch them lounge and bake on the rocks. Excursions can run as much as 2.5 hours.
Season: October by Might
California
The place: Monterey
Traits:
Sea lions and their smaller, noticed cousins, Pacific harbor seals, are identified to play, splash and lounge on the rocks alongside Breakwater Cove Marina. This spot is especially suited to scuba, reasonably than snorkel. Not solely does this bay draw sea lions and seals but in addition the well-known—and lovable—sea otters. As a diver, you’ll do a shore entry and also you’ll wish to put on at the least 7 mm of neoprene or a drysuit because the water temperature will be as chilly as 50 F (10 C).
Season: Late Might for seals and summer season for sea lions
United Kingdom
The place: Farne Islands
Traits:
Within the temperate waters of northeast England, you can see the Farne Islands, the place boats run charters for divers and snorkelers to work together with the inquisitive grey seals. With a notion to nibble in your fins, these guys will play for hours. Simply as you suppose you could possibly keep a bit longer, the icy 46 F (8 C) water temperature will remind you that it’s time to go again to the boat and heat up with a comfortable cup of tea. A 7mm wetsuit or thicker would come extremely really useful, however a dry go well with will are available even handier.
Season: Late September – October
Canada
The place: Hornby Island
Traits:
Whereas seals and sea lions have agility and pace to their benefit, many divers say that the playful and pleasant Steller sea lions take the cake on Hornby Island. The common water temperature is 11 C, so a wetsuit with a minimal of seven mm is important for each snorkelers and scuba divers although—once more— you’ll be extra comfy in a drysuit for an encounter with these playful animals.
Season: December by March