Introduction to seals

In the water to make a good photo you need to be a few centimeters from the object. When objects are small or inactive, it is not that difficult. But cautious sea animals usually do not allow a few meters.
You can do this in only one way. It is necessary to interest the animal. To make friends with him. How to get acquainted with the seal?

This story occurred on the Commander Islands. We really wanted to remove a rare species of seal :Insular Seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri).

But they are very cautious and do not like people. This is due to the fact that the locals hunted seals for centuries. In order to establish contact with animals, we dived for a week in one place. At the same time, they tried to copy the habits of other pinnipeds as much as possible. We did not use scuba gear and dry suits. We spent several hours in the water a day.

Gradually the seals began to get used to us and show interest. The distance between us was reduced from a couple of tens of meters to one or two. And only in the last act before the flight of July, they overcame fear and came to get acquainted. They touched and nibbled our fins. We looked into the cameras and masks. They played with us like with other seals.

It was an amazing experience. Later we used it more than once in other expeditions.

Russia Far East. Commander islands.