15 replies to this topic

[Pfuller]

I've never posted any images to wetpixel before, so i thought i'd post some shots from an Australian Fur Seals colony in Port Phillip Bay. We have been blessed with better than average vis over this summer, so it was a good opportunity to shoot these larger creatures. These pix are from a World War 2 structure in the middle of the bay called Chinaman's Hat. About 30 odd seals hang out around here and are commonly visited by snorkelling charters. They are a lot of fun to dive with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinaman'..._(Port_Phillip)

Please excuse the crappy watermarks...ive gotta work on that! More pix at Peter Fuller's Dive Blog

Swimming around the pylons of Chinamans Hat



Quick as a flash




Come watch us play



....Its how you use it



Just hanging around



Cute Pup



Yeah we're cute, but dont mess with us



Who wants a photo with Mr Blenny?



Wha..what are you guys?



A closer look



Thanks for looking!

Pete

Edited by Pfuller, 29 February 2012 - 04:31 AM.

[davichin]

Looks like a very fun place to dive! Do they eat those crabs or just play with them? 6 and 7 are my favourites, I think they are very good

[seansrs968]

Nice Pics. I always love diving with baby seals. They are fun to watch UW.

[Panda]

Brilliant Pete. Jealous.

[Xanderwater]

Very cool, first one and last one with the crabs are my favourite!

[johnjvv]

Very nice! We passed the Chinamans hat last Saturday getting back from Pope's eye but did not jump in....smells great above water Port Phillip Bay is a pretty cool place for diving! Thinking vis this weekend will be a bit worse though after all the rain though...

[JimSwims]

Great shots Pete. I agree with David those close focus ones are gold.

Cheers,
Jim.

[ilanbt]

Great shots!
I especially liked -Yeah we're cute, but dont mess with us

[Pfuller]

Looks like a very fun place to dive! Do they eat those crabs or just play with them? 6 and 7 are my favourites, I think they are very good

Crabs may form a very small part of their diet, but I think it was more curious about what i was focussing my attention on (e.g not it!) Then the crabs started seeing the seals as more of a threat than me, and made them back off with a bit of claw swiping.

[Pfuller]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[errbrr]

Love your shots, especially the first one with flying seals everywhere. I like the framing on the very last one too. I got in for some shots here late last year, and had problems with vis because the seals were chasing each other around and stirring up the sand. They were too busy with chasing to come and say hi.

I also got the bubble blowing behaviour when I got too close to the pylons. It seemed like a territorial defence display? Or maybe they were just practising, given this is a bachelor colony.

Exhale by Liz_Rogers, on Flickr

I'm back there this weekend, hopefully the rain hasn't turned everything green(er).

[Pfuller]

I also got the bubble blowing behaviour when I got too close to the pylons. It seemed like a territorial defence display? Or maybe they were just practising, given this is a bachelor colony.

Nice one Liz! I got 'woofed' at a number of times by the larger seals near the pylons..a bit daunting, but of course we're invincible with our 8" dome shields. : )

There's a lot of 'practicing' going on at this bachelor colony.

Just practicing

Edited by Pfuller, 01 March 2012 - 06:47 PM.

[Alexx]

Nice series of shots Pete...thanks for sharing!

[sasdasdaf]

Wow, very nice shots. Looks like a ton of fun.

[Cal]

Amazing!

[Pfuller]

Thanks for the comments!
Pete