Diver Gary Grayson had spent decades exploring the ocean, but nothing prepared him for an underwater encounter off the coast of Cornwall: a wild grey seal that clearly wanted to be petted.
An Underwater Greeting
Grayson, a videographer from Salford in Greater Manchester, was diving around the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the southwest coast of England, when a group of Atlantic grey seals approached. One of them swam right up to him and nudged him, then rolled onto its back, exposing its belly.
When he held out his hand, the seal pressed a flipper against it and showed him exactly where it wanted to be rubbed. When Grayson paused, the seal nudged him for more. Another seal even climbed up his leg.
“I Have Never Known Anything Like That”
Grayson was 55 at the time and had dived around the world. He told the Manchester Evening News that the encounter was unlike anything he had experienced. “I have never known anything like that,” he said. The video was filmed in 2014 and spread widely after the paper shared it in 2015.
Why Was the Seal So Friendly?
The seal wasn’t alone in its confidence. Ally McMillan of Seal Rescue Ireland told the Huffington Post that this seal is part of a colony that divers visit regularly, so the animals have become used to people and allow them to approach closely.
That doesn’t mean all seals will behave this way, McMillan warned. Wild seals are large animals with very sharp teeth and can cause harm if they feel threatened.
Rules for Meeting Wild Seals
Seals can seem playful, but wildlife experts recommend following a few guidelines:
- Keep your distance. Never approach, touch or chase a seal. Let the animal choose to come to you.
- Don’t feed them. Feeding teaches wild animals to associate people with food.
- Watch the signals. A seal that raises its head, barks or moves away is telling you to back off.
- Give mothers and pups space. Seals can be especially defensive when pups are nearby.
Plan Your Own Seal Encounter
Seals are found around much of the UK coast, and there are safe, responsible ways to see them:
- Book a wildlife boat trip. Compare seal-watching boat tours in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and Northumberland.
- Learn to dive. Compare scuba diving courses and dive holidays in the UK and abroad.
- Bring the right gear. A wetsuit, underwater camera and waterproof action camera help you capture the moment.
- Protect your trip. Dive travel insurance covers cancellations and medical care.
- Support seal rescue. A donation to a seal rescue charity helps care for injured pups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gary Grayson? He’s a diver and videographer from Salford, England, who filmed the encounter while diving off the Isles of Scilly.
What species of seal was it? Atlantic grey seals, which live in the cold waters off the coasts of the UK, Ireland and northern Europe.
Why did the seal roll over? Reports say it was seeking attention and a belly rub, behavior that is possible because this colony is used to divers.
Is it safe to touch wild seals? No. Experts say not all seals behave like this, and seals can bite if they feel threatened.
Sources: Scuba Diving magazine, CBS News, and Laughing Squid, all covering Gary Grayson’s 2014 encounter with a friendly Atlantic grey seal off the Isles of Scilly, with quotes from the Manchester Evening News and Seal Rescue Ireland.
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