Gary Grayson has dived with sharks, crocodiles and dolphins. Then a young grey seal swam up and asked for a scratch.
A Quiet Dive Off the Isles of Scilly
Experienced diver Gary Grayson, 55, from Salford, England, was diving off the Isles of Scilly with a group of friends when he spotted two young Atlantic grey seals gliding over a bed of kelp. He stayed still near the seafloor so he wouldn’t startle them.
A Curious Visitor
Instead of swimming away, one of the seals came straight toward him. It nudged his mask, nibbled gently at his glove and tugged at his hand. Grayson couldn’t tell what the animal wanted, and his camera kept rolling.
Then the seal reached out a flipper in what looked like a handshake, rolled sideways to show its belly and pulled his gloved hand toward it. “I was absolutely loving it,” Grayson told the Manchester Evening News.
The Belly Rub
Grayson got the message and spent several minutes scratching the seal’s belly, chin and neck. The seal seemed to love it, rolling and nudging him for more. Meanwhile, the second seal swam over, inspected his legs and even tried to climb up one of them.
The footage went viral and has been seen millions of times, with commenters calling seals the “dogs of the sea.” Grayson has dived off Mexico, St. Lucia and Cuba and met dolphins, crocodiles and sharks, but he told UK media that nothing compared with this encounter. He keeps the video on his phone as a souvenir.
Is It Okay to Touch a Seal?
UK authorities said the interaction wasn’t illegal in the Isles of Scilly, and the seal approached on its own. Even so, wildlife guidance generally advises divers and swimmers to let animals make the first move and never to chase, grab or crowd them. Wild seals can bite, and young seals in particular can be unpredictable, so keeping a respectful distance is the safest approach.
Want to Dive With Seals?
The Isles of Scilly, off the southwest coast of England, are known for clear water and seal encounters. If you’d like to try diving or snorkeling with wildlife, here are some options to explore:
- Diving and training. Compare scuba diving certification courses, snorkeling trips with seals and Isles of Scilly dive tours.
- Gear. Look at action cameras, underwater camera housings, wetsuits and dive gloves.
- Protection. Review dive travel insurance, international travel insurance and medical evacuation coverage.
- Travel. Browse UK coastal getaways, Cornwall travel packages and boat charters.
- Give back. Consider marine conservation donations and seal rescue charities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gary Grayson? He is an experienced scuba diver from Salford, England, who filmed a friendly grey seal in the Isles of Scilly.
What did the seal do? It nudged and nibbled his glove, shook his hand with a flipper, then rolled over and pulled his hand toward its belly.
Was the diver in danger? No. The seal was curious and playful, though wildlife experts advise against touching wild animals.
Was the encounter illegal? UK authorities said the interaction wasn’t against the rules in the Isles of Scilly.
What type of seal was it? It was a young Atlantic grey seal, one of two seals that approached the diver.
Sources: The Manchester Evening News, GOOD Magazine, HuffPost, CBS News, Scuba Diving magazine, and AOL UK, all covering diver Gary Grayson’s viral encounter with Atlantic grey seals off the Isles of Scilly, England.
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