Common Seal
Phoca vitulina
Sighting evidence at Mire Loch Wall, St. Abbs Head
Photo: Andrew Reding · CC BY-NC-ND
Common seals from the large haul-out colony on St. Abbs Head routinely accompany divers along Mire Loch Wall, diving to maximum depth and circling within touching distance before rocketing back to the surface. They are the most interactive megafauna encounter in Scottish diving, and the colony's proximity to this site means encounters are almost guaranteed outside pupping season in June and July. Seals here are wild but exceptionally bold — divers are advised to move slowly and let the seals set the distance.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Common Seal is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.