GREY SEALS

Each year, Brixham is home to a number of Grey seals when they return to shore to mate and pup. They take shelter across the coastline spending most of their time in the water hunting or hauled out on land sleeping. 
 

Once the seal pups have been born they spend their time on land. They are born with a white fur coat. This white fur isn't waterproof so they stay dry until they moult and their waterproof grey fur comes through. The moulting can take up to 6 weeks. 

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​Around Brixham you can often see Grey seals swimming around the harbour and coves. Grey seals are very inquisitive animals and often like to investigate people. They will follow swimmers from a distance or play with divers underwater. 

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During my dive we were followed throughout the dive by at least 3 different seals. They began by biting my fins. This is very common for seals as they experience the world through their mouths. Similar to dogs, they don't have hands to feel so they use their long whiskers and mouths to feel. I decided to sit still and let them play with my fins, one friendly seal stayed with me and held onto my leg feeling my fins. Once it was bored it was off. All throughout the dive I would have a seal pull my fins from behind. 

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This playful behaviour was the perfect opportunity to take some of my favourite photos to date. Floating still in the water I'd let the seals swim right up to me investigating. My camera has a big glass dome on the front which piqued their curiosity quite a lot allowing me to get some very close up shots. 

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Growing up in Brixham I have always seen these seals but I have never had such an amazing interaction with these gentle animals before.