Snorkeling with seals at Montague Island
You see, the thing about seals is that you smell them before you actually see them. While they are fun as hell to swim with, their odor is not the best one. We were the only boat heading into a small cove where Francois, our skipper, had told us the seals were particularly relaxed. It was also a popular spot for mums to raise their little pups. I was really hoping there would be pups in the area as January is prime time for them.
Fur Seals: puppies of the ocean
Where to find the seal pups?
We didn’t want to crowd the babies too much and decided to explore the rest of the cove. It didn’t take long before we had a few other adult seals frolicking around us. The second you decide to chase one, they are off as fast and you can push the button on your camera! Seals are notorious for teasing sharks because they know they are faster, so don’t even bother trying to catch up with one!

Falling in love with my spirit animal
My friend Elly was a pro at finding the most playful seals and I soon started following her around like a puppy. We ended up having another playful encounter with two other babies. I had not seen them coming due to the crashing waves, but soon one popped up right on my chest. The wave had pushed this curious creature towards me and while I squealed a little, the pup made the exact same sound. Looking at my photos after, I noticed they were super close to me the whole time! Talk about the best experience ever!


The fast and the playful: the adult seals


Seals were everywhere! The bigger ones were playing with each other and checking us out while swimming faster than I could ever imagine. There was a large group of them showcasing the weirdest behavior as well. Floating on the water with a flipper in the air. While super weird looking, this is how they cool off. Apparently, the local wildlife rescue groups get plenty of messages from locals worried that the seal is sick while showcasing this behavior. Go figure! Because they are resting, it is advised to leave these seals alone and snorkel with the ones that are already playing around.


Have a look at the video below to see how fast they actually swim!
What kind of Fur Seals live on Montague Island?
What wildlife can you spot at Montague island?
Can you see Whales at Montague Island?

One of the humpback whales that passed the Australian coastline in Exmouth on the west coast
Penguins
Dolphins
Birdlife
Why Plastic is a problem on Montague Island as well

Scientists refer to Shearwaters and a ticking timebomb because they collect so much plastic from the ocean. They feed this to their babies, slowly but surely starving them to death.
What about sharks around Montague Island?


Getting to Montague Island & What to Book?
Which Montague Island tour should you choose?
How much does a tour to Montague Island cost?
Fun Facts about Montague Island
A Quick History of Montague Island
Can you go onto Montague Island?

Practical tips for your roadtrip to Narooma
When do you want to go to Montague Island?
How to get to Narooma and Montague Island?
If you are looking for a quick stop between Sydney and Narooma, I can highly recommend getting a coffee in Native in Ulladulla.
Narooma Accommodation
I usually prefer camping while road trip up and down the east coast. Narooma has several campsites available as do most Australian beach towns. My personal preference would go to Surf Beach Holiday Park as they have cabins right on the water with views to die for! If you do not wish to camp, the Narooma Golfers Lodge for around 130AUD per night and Amooran Oceanside Apartments and Motel for around 128AUD per night. Click through on the names of the accommodation for exact prices. Or have a look at other accommodation in Narooma.
Another great option is staying outside of Narooma and heading further south to the beautiful beach town Bermagui. It’s one of those iconic small towns that really takes you out of the city’s business. There is accommodation in the town, but not too much, so book in advance. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Narooma.
Looking for more scuba diving and snorkeling adventures in Australia?
– Go scuba diving with Grey Nurse Sharks at the South West Rocks Dive
– Check out our series on The Great Barrier Reef
Disclaimer: This snorkel trip was offered to me by the lovely people at Underwater Safaris. Thank you so much, Francois and Clover for having us. All opinions on this article are my own and are not influenced by the fact that this trip was complimentary. Any accommodation booked through this article will provide me with a small commission.