Cape Fur Seal

Photo: Callum Evans · CC BY-NC

Juvenile Cape fur seals from the Simon's Town colony use the Miller's Point kelp forest as a socialising and hunting ground, and their interactions with divers are among the most engaging wildlife encounters in South African waters. The seals are particularly drawn to divers who exhale bubble streams, which they will chase and snap at playfully for extended periods. These interactions are entirely on the animals' terms — they approach voluntarily and depart when they choose — making each encounter feel like a genuine moment of cross-species curiosity.