scubaseason

Cape Fur Seal

Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus

Sighting evidence at Shark Alley, False Bay

The 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock is the ecological engine driving the entire Shark Alley food web, providing the primary prey base for great white sharks and sustaining scavenger communities beneath the surface. Underwater, the seals are extraordinarily playful and inquisitive, spiralling around divers and mimicking movements with an intelligence that makes each encounter feel personal. Their torpedo-like agility in the water — a sharp contrast to their lumbering behaviour on the rocks — is one of the most spectacular sights in southern African diving.

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