scubaseason

Cape Fur Seal

Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus

Sighting evidence at Miller's Point, False Bay

Juvenile Cape fur seals from the Simon's Town colony use the Miller's Point kelp forest as a socialising and hunting ground, and their interactions with divers are among the most engaging wildlife encounters in South African waters. The seals are particularly drawn to divers who exhale bubble streams, which they will chase and snap at playfully for extended periods. These interactions are entirely on the animals' terms — they approach voluntarily and depart when they choose — making each encounter feel like a genuine moment of cross-species curiosity.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Cape Fur Seal is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites