SEALS AND SEA LIONS PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK WITH HUMAN FRIEND
WITH PIX AND VID
BY SHUK YEE TSANG
An underwater cinematographer has captured a series of remarkable encounters showing playful seals and sea lions appearing to play hide-and-seek with divers beneath the waves.
Kozel Carthew, 28, from Australia, filmed the curious marine mammals weaving through kelp forests, swimming up to divers, nibbling on fins, tugging at legs, and repeatedly darting away before returning for more interaction in Australia.
The footage shows the animals emerging from between strands of kelp before approaching the camera, only to disappear again moments later as if inviting the divers into a game.
Other clips show seals and sea lions gently playing with the diving fins, investigating equipment, and swimming directly towards Kozel before suddenly changing direction and vanishing into the underwater forest.
One particularly memorable encounter features a harbour seal named Waffles approaching Kozel during a morning free dive near Queenscliff, Victoria.
The inquisitive seal can be seen swimming behind him before gently patting his head with a flipper and staring directly into the camera.
Kozel, an underwater cinematographer, said the interactions happened naturally while he was freediving.
The footage highlights the naturally curious nature of seals and sea lions, which are known for investigating unfamiliar objects and occasionally interacting with divers in the wild.
He said: "I didn't expect this to happen on my morning dive.
"Meet Waffles the Harbour Seal.
"This video shows a playful seal interacting with me while I am freediving and holding my breath underwater.
"As I float calmly in the water, the curious seal swims up behind me and gently pats my head with its flipper before looking directly into the camera.
"The encounter happened naturally while I was freediving and filming underwater.
"Seals are incredibly curious animals and often approach divers to investigate.
"This moment captured a really fun and unexpected interaction between a wild seal and a human underwater.
"She approached on her terms, curious and playful.
"No touching, no chasing, just sharing space, although she did get a bit handsy with the head taps and scratches."
Comments