Atlantic Grey Seal

Photo: dagamb · CC BY-NC

A resident colony of grey seals hauls out on Rathlin's sea stacks and accompanies divers with characteristic curiosity, often circling within arm's length before darting away. Pups are born on shore in autumn, and young seals are particularly bold underwater in their first year. The seals hunt the same kelp forest channels as the divers, making encounters almost guaranteed on most dives.