Marine life

Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals

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.

An Australian sea lion encounter, represented by an AI-generated editorial image.

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

When to see them

possible good peak

Present year-round at the main colonies, with winter often producing the most active and interactive encounters.

Where they are

Documented sites for Australian & New Zealand Fur Seals. Hover a marker for the site name.

Identification

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

Behaviour

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.

Where to see them

Sites where this species is documented as a reliable encounter.

Montague IslandA granite island nine kilometres offshore with a substantial fur seal colony.Jervis Bay WallsTemperate sponge-covered walls and drop-offs in some of the clearest water in NSW.Port Phillip Heads WallsWalls starting at 12 metres and continuing beyond 90 — the terrain behind Victoria's technical culture.Neptune IslandsAustralia's only great white shark cage location — surface-supplied, not certified scuba.Lonsdale WallVictoria's signature wall — sponge-covered, vertical, and continuing well past recreational depth.

Operators servicing those sites

Businesses documented as diving the sites above. Confirm seasonality and requirements directly.

Underwater Safaris NaroomaA Narooma operation providing access to Montague Island and its fur seal colony.Ocean DiversA Victorian operation associated with recreational and technical training and access to Port Phillip diving.Australian Diving InstructionA Geelong-region operation associated with technical training and access toward Port Phillip Heads.SCUBABO QueenscliffA Queenscliff operation, strategically located for access toward Port Phillip Heads.Adventure Bay ChartersA 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.Calypso Star ChartersA Port Lincoln operation running great white shark cage experiences and sea lion swims. Classified as wildlife tourism rather than a scuba dive centre.

Often seen on the same dives

Eastern Blue GroperNew South Wales' state fish — large, inquisitive and often the first thing to greet a Sydney shore diver.Great White SharkEncountered in Australia from a cage at the Neptune Islands — wildlife tourism rather than scuba diving.Humpback WhaleHeard far more often than seen — the soundtrack to winter diving on both Australian coasts.Port Jackson SharkA small, harmless, harness-marked shark that gathers in southern NSW winters to breed.Weedy SeadragonThe leafy's more widespread cousin — the signature animal of Sydney and Victorian shore diving.

Frequently asked questions

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.