Marine life profile
Seal
Recorded at 184 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Seal around the world
Social and alert, it communicates through movement, sound and close coordination with others in its group.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
Look for smooth skin, deliberate breathing at the surface and powerful tail-driven movement.
How It Behaves
Social and alert, it communicates through movement, sound and close coordination with others in its group.
Special Ability
Breath control, sensitive hearing and complex social awareness support long dives and precise underwater navigation.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Keep a respectful distance and let the animal initiate any closer pass. Never pursue, touch or separate a group.
Safety
These are strong, protected wild animals. Follow local interaction rules and avoid placing yourself between adults and young.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
Seal is closely adapted to its habitat, and patient observation reveals details that a quick swim-by misses.
Where to Find
Look in productive coastal water, sheltered bays, channels and offshore feeding areas where food is concentrated.
Known countries
Sightings map
Seal locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Blairgowrie Pier
Australia
Blairgowrie Pier is a fantastic site for photographers, due to the abundant macro life. It's also a popular training site, due to its sheltered position and manageable depth range (2-7m). The pier pylons and sea wall are heavily encrusted with sponges - home to many Seahorses and Nudibranchs - even the odd Tasselled Anglerfish. Ledges and hidey holes make great homes for numerous species of Rays, as well as Octopus, Squid and Giant Cuttlefish. You can also see Stargazers, Flathead, Decorator Crabs, Goatfish and many others. Blairgowrie Pier often hosts the annual Giant Spider Crab march in May-June each year. Thousands of crabs gather in the shallow waters to moult.
Bergse Diepsluis
Netherlands
Many believe the waters surrounding The Netherlands have more underwater life than the Mediterranean Sea. After diving in The Oosterschelde, you might believe it too. Bergse Diepsluis is less challenging than other dive sites in this area, but still rich with life. Situated in a tributary of The Oosterschelde, there is little to no tidal current, making it an ideal breeding ground for cuttlefish and squid. Colourful anemones, crustaceans and invertebrates are abundant year-round. Spring is the best time to see cuttlefish, but wait until the water temperature reaches 12°C/53°F. The maximum depth is 19 metres/62 feet. Average visibility is 4 metres/13 feet. Photo Credit: Daniel Versteeg
Casino Point Dive Park
United States
One of the most popular dive sites in North America is well worth the acclaim. Featuring enchanting kelp forests, ever-changing marine life and convenient entry, the Casino Point Dive Park is a site you will want to visit again and again.
Aldermens- Bishops Hat
New Zealand
This dive site the Bishop’s Hat offers a bit of everything as here we have a cave, wall and a magnitude of species that frequent here. Bishop’s Hat is exposed to weather from the east, and south east
Aldermens- HoneyComb
New Zealand
Honeycomb dive site offers a range of underwater exploring from going up into the honeycomb like caves to follow a steep and deep wall on the southern side of the rock.
Aldermens- Mooring Bay
New Zealand
Mooring Bay is one of the more common spots for those who want to experience the Alderman’s without the depth and current. Ideal training bay with a shallow anchoring area with sand.
Ancient mine
Greece
This spot offers easy access to the water, with a small path winding through trees and leading to a rocky platform resembling a natural pool.After passing through a shallow area, you’ll reach a reef that starts at 8 meters and slopes down to 30 meters.
Big Reef
Turkey
The most beautiful and fascinating dive site in Bodrum. Big Reef has all the diving opportunities in it. The depth starts at 7m (25 ft). Divers can use the anchor chain for an easy descent to the top of the reef. lt has a wall that faces Black Island and drops straight down from 7 meters to 34 meters.
Black Rocks Lagoon
New Zealand
This dive site is one for everyone, inside the lagoon is a fish shallow bay with plenty of fish and kelp around the edges. the outer reef system are big pins with nice gullies to swim in. The outer reef is a deeper dive and is very exposed to wind, swell and current.
Blue Diamond
Greece
this is a boat dive for all levels. Advanced divers can visit a cavern. This cannot be called an island since it is so small but gets pretty large just under the surface, making amazingly beautiful shades of blue from light to really dark . On this rock you will see only birds above water.
Blue Dive
Greece
To dive Blue Dive you will get dropped from a fishermen boat out into the blue. This is a ver exiting dive for advanced divers or higher. Everybody comes out with a big smile. This dive is deep and in the open ocean so make sure you a very good a buoyancy control.
BRONZIE BAY - GMI
New Zealand
Can be a popular fishing and diving spot on GMI, a lot of boats pass by as well so be wary. always have your dive flag up. Being a popular spot can be under a bit of pressure over summer.
C47 Dakota UÇAK BATIĞI
Turkey
C-47 Dakota is a military plane wreck with a length of 20m and wing width of 30m. It was sunk by BOSAD in 2007. Its depth starts at 19m and descends to 33m. In 2010 the wreck was broken into two pieces and the body/tail part drifted deeper. The left engine was also broken as she was moving.
Castle Rock
Greece
Boat-dive round a pinnacle. Spot where fishermen place nets (no fear for us ) Reason: fish passage Beautiful landscape in and out of the water . can follow as here.
Castle Rock
Greece
Castle Rock is a boat dive around a pinnacle. This spot is where fishermen place nets because the fish population is so big. At this site, you can also see antique pottery.
Cathedral
Greece
Cathedral is a nice shore dive for all levels of divers. It can be combined with a wall dive just next to the cavern. There is a chimney allowing sunbeams to create what are called “cathedral light.“ This can be a deep dive where you can observe some very unique antique pottery.
Champagne Rock
New Zealand
The northern side of champagne rock is a great starting area for you dive. Out in champagne bay is 10m with big open reef. Swimming along side the rock itself is a wall that is littered with sealife.
Cherry Pipe
United States
There are four moorings along this outflow pipe that are no longer in service. This is the 3rd farthest from the shoreline. Many critters along the pipe and in the surrounding reef.
Chetco Cove
United States
Easy entry from the beach. Great diving to the left and right side of the bay. A little bit of a swim is needed to reach the good diving area but well worth it. Great for beginner beach entry. Viz can be low at times form 5-15ft.
Fairlie Pier
United Kingdom
This is a scenic dive site with a maximum depth of 20m. It is an active working pier, with boat traffic. Use of DSMB’s is recommended. Access to the site is by permission only from C & C Marine. it has a confined water training area with a sandy bottom suitable for entry level dives.
Fokiotripa
Greece
This dive site is a drop-dive from a fishermen boat. You do a long shallow dive, with awesome passages and rock formations. Your camera won’t stay still. There is a small cavern. This dive is for all levels of diver.
GEM STONE BAY
New Zealand
Gemstone bay is INSIDE THE HAHEI MARINE RESERVE so its a no touch or take dive site. Some of the biggest snapper and crayfish on the coromandel its a great place to dive and view what a marine reserve can do for an area
Gregory’s Sound
Ireland
This dive site is accessible for every diver’s level. The dive is along gullies and small vertical walls. This is also a nice and easy drift dive.
Guernic Est
France
Next to the island of Téviec, an important Mesolithic archaeological site, the Guernic rock offers superb diving for underwater biology enthusiasts and beginners alike.