Marine life
Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals Diving in Australia
Arctocephalus spp.
Fast, acrobatic and endlessly curious — the highlight of Montague Island, Jervis Bay and Port Phillip.
Fur seals are the temperate counterpart to the tropical big-animal dive, and on the right day they are considerably more fun. Young animals torpedo past divers, spiral through bubble streams and hang upside down a metre away, apparently just to see what happens.
Montague Island off Narooma is the best-known Australian seal dive, with a substantial colony and shallow granite terrain that suits the interaction. Jervis Bay's Drum and Drumsticks and the Port Phillip colonies produce similar encounters.
The dives are shallow, which is ideal — the animals are most active in the top ten metres and long bottom times are easy.
| Scientific name | Arctocephalus spp. |
|---|---|
| Typical size | Females around 1.5 m, males to 2.2 m |
| Peak months | June, July, August |
| Documented sites | 5 |
| States | New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia |
- dark brown to grey, paler when wet and gleaming
- external ear flaps and a pointed snout
- extremely agile and fast underwater
- often seen in groups around island rock shelves
- Juveniles initiate play, often mirroring a diver's movements.
- Blows bubble rings and repeatedly buzzes divers who stay still.
- Hauls out on rocks between foraging trips.
In-water etiquette
How divers behave around this species affects both the animal and everyone else's encounter.
- Stay still and let them come — chasing ends the encounter immediately.
- Do not touch, and avoid reaching toward an approaching animal.
- Keep clear of haul-out rocks and pupping areas.
- Give large males space.
Dive Sites for Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals Encounters
Sites where this species is documented as a reliable encounter.
Ranked guide: the best places to dive with australian & new zealand fur seals in Australia →
Businesses documented as diving the sites above. Confirm seasonality and requirements directly.
Underwater Safaris NaroomaNaroomaPADIA small-group Narooma operator running seal dives and snorkels at Montague Island (Barunguba) since 2014, with seasonal grey nurse shark dives.BoatHireSource-backed profileDive Jervis BayHuskissonPADIA Huskisson operation with two dive boats and on-site accommodation, diving the walls, sponge gardens and seal sites of Jervis Bay Marine Park.BoatCoursesAdvancedHireStaySource-backed profileAustralian Diving InstructionPADIA Geelong PADI 5 Star IDC serving Geelong and Melbourne's west, with air, Nitrox and Trimix, ScubaPro servicing, guided boat and shore dives, and accredited first aid training.BoatCoursesAdvancedProTechNitroxSource-backed profileSCUBABO QueenscliffQueenscliffSSIScubabo Dive Victoria's Queenscliff base, with SSI instructors, on-site accommodation and a pool, and boat dives to wrecks and bay reefs from Queenscliff and Portsea.BoatCoursesAdvancedPoolHireStaySource-backed profileAdventure Bay ChartersPort LincolnA Port Lincoln wildlife tourism operation running great white shark cage experiences and sea lion swims. These are wildlife tourism products rather than certified scuba diving.BoatSource-backed profile
Calypso Star ChartersPort LincolnA Port Lincoln operator running one-day great white shark cage dives at the Neptune Islands since 1990, plus Australian sea lion swims.BoatSource-backed profileOcean DiversA Victorian operation associated with recreational and technical training and access to Port Phillip diving.BoatCoursesAdvancedTechNitroxHireDirectory listingMarine Life Seen with Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals
Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals Diving FAQs
Where is the best seal diving in Australia?
Montague Island off Narooma is the best known. Jervis Bay and the Port Phillip Heads colonies also produce reliable interactive encounters.
Will they definitely interact?
Not guaranteed, but juveniles are usually curious. The single most effective technique is staying still and letting them investigate you.
Last researched: September 2026. Dive businesses change frequently — confirm current services, prices and requirements directly with the operator before booking.