$$ Diver Encounters A Seal Underwater With One Urgent 'Request'
Videographer Gary Grayson was thrilled at the opportunity to film one wild beast off the British coast, but soon after encountering it, he realized there was something that just didn't sit well about the animal's unusual reaction to him. As the strange reality dawned on the man, it became clear that critter was trying to tell Gary something important...the only question was what.
Gary Grayson
Videographer Gary Grayson had already seen his share of underwater expeditions. The Brit knew better than anyone that when you broke through the surface of the ocean, it was almost as if you were breaking through the barrier between worlds.
Dive Life
In 2014, Gary and one of his pals set out on an expedition with a scuba group called Dive Life. Both men had gone on more dives than they could count, so neither expected this trip to change their views of the ocean forever.
The Isles of Scilly
A boat brought the adventurers to the coast of the Isles of Scilly, located to the southwest of England. It was a great spot to explore, as the island's warmer temperatures attracted a wide array of flora and fauna.
The Equipment
Naturally, Gary and his chum weren't going to make the plunge without packing at least some of their video equipment. They would absolutely kick themselves if they came across a once-in-a-lifetime sight and forgot to record it.
Plop
Strapping on his fins and mask, Gary plopped into the water and surveyed his surroundings. Most of the group headed off together, but the two videographers chose to peel off in a different direction. It paid off — something caught Gary's eye.
A Visitor
Down in the cracks between two rocks, a curious seal poked his head up. He clearly looked intrigued by these human visitors, but made no move to swim out from his hiding place.
Getting Closer
Still, Gary hoped that he could get near enough to see the seal up-close. After all, these animals had a reputation for being especially playful with each other. But, he wondered, how would they react to a completely different species?
Hello, Goodbye
Before Gary and his friend even had a chance to think up a plan, however, the seal came out of the rocks on its own! He was staring straight at the divers, almost as if he was welcoming them — or feeling threatened.
The Risk
Either way, Gary felt willing to risk getting up close and personal. Besides, he'd gotten within biting distance of sharks and other underwater beasts in the past. He figured that if they hadn't attacked him, neither would a seal.
Closer
Gary swam closer to the animal and tried to make it as clear as possible he meant no harm. Of course, that's easier said than done when you can't speak and are covered in scary diving equipment.
Nice Guy's Finish First
Amazingly, Gary's nice guy act worked like a charm! The seal came face-to-face with him and sniffed the surrounding water. Gary's captivated friend started rolling the camera to capture the rare interaction.
A Turn
However, the amiable greeting took a sudden turn. The seal grabbed Gary's right hand — not too roughly, thankfully — and pulled the human down toward him. One instinct told Gary to pull away and get out of there, but he waited to see what would happen.
A Belly Rub
Soon enough, any fears about a serious seal bite vanished. Instead of tearing at his arm, the seal simply moved Gary's hand down toward his abdomen. Did this wild animal really want a...belly rub?
Twirling and Rotating
That's exactly what he was after! The seal twirled and rotated through the water so Gary could pet him at every angle. Even for all his nautical expertise, the diver had never heard of a seal acting like this.
Like a Dog!
As a matter of fact, he appeared to be acting more like a dog than a sea mammal! Gary could only figure that the entire animal kingdom loved getting their bellies scratched. That much was universal.
Packing It Up
Unfortunately, Gary knew he couldn't stay down there with his new seal pal forever. He and the other videographer rose back up to the surface and excitedly described their encounter to the other divers.
So Long!
There's no doubt that the seal would also treasure the meeting forever. Who knows — maybe he would seek out more human friends in the future. The seal, incredibly, wouldn't be alone in that endeavor.
See, at first, National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen was shaken when he was asked to dive with wild leopard seals. That's because, well, they're terrifying.
The leopard seal, also known as the sea leopard, is absolutely huge. They can grow to 10 feet in length and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds! The only pinnipeds bigger are elephant seals and walruses.
Still, he was a seasoned photographer, so years of experience told him you can never be too careful around a wild animal. He recounted his first —oddly friendly — encounter with the sea leopards...
"I slipped into the water, terrified of what might happen, and I swam up to this leopard seal," Paul said. "My legs were shaking, I had dry mouth..." And then?
"She took my whole head and my camera inside her mouth and did this threat display," Paul recalled. "But then the most amazing thing happened."
"She went off and got me a live penguin," Paul said. "And she came up and started to feed me a penguin." Paul stared in awe as this massive seal approached him with what was some kind of offering.
"And right away she dropped the penguin. She came up to me and she opened her mouth," Paul said, knowing the sea leopard could've snatched his camera if she wanted. "Her head is twice as wide as a grizzly bear's the head. Just huge."
Paul said, "She kept letting these live penguins go and the penguin would shoot past me and she'd look disgusted as she'd go by me. She did this over and over..." It was almost as if she was annoyed Paul was allowing the penguins to get away.
"She started to bring me weak penguins, then dead penguins, then she showed me how to eat penguins," Paul said. "She would offer me partially consumed penguins." Was she trying to be his mother?
"She started to take penguins and actually push them into my camera. I think she thought the camera was my mouth, which is every photographer's dream. This went on for four days."
Paul continued, "And then I think she realized that I was this useless predator in her ocean, probably going to starve to death and I think she became quite panicked."
The experience was one he'd never forget. "So, here I came to Antarctica, to photograph this potentially vicious animal," he said, "to have this predator, this top predator in Antarctica, take care of me, and nurture me, and feed me for four days straight."
"It was the most incredible experience I've ever had as a National Geographic photographer," said Paul. The iconic magazine has allowed other incredible photographers like Paul to chase amazing shots. Just look at these incredible photos...
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