Grayson was used to diving - that was something he had done many times before. Usually, while exploring the depths of the ocean, he encountered beautiful and colorful fish. However, this time it was different. He saw a big seal, and it seemed like it was making sure Grayson didn’t get out of the water alive.
He had no idea what to do, and it seemed hopeless until he realized one simple detail. There was actually a message that the seal wanted to convey to him. What was it? Could the diver understand it? Read on to find what about the unexpected turns that this story is about to take.
Underwater Adventure
Going diving was an expensive hobby. It required the diver to receive training and be prepared for a variety of situations. You never knew what would happen once you were feet below the surface.
On this specific morning, the air was crisp and Grayson had been planning this dive for weeks! It had taken a lot of planning to get everyone on the same schedule, but they were finally headed towards the big blue frontier.
The Crew
Grayson and his friends had all been diving together before. When they arrived at the port they excitedly talked about what they hoped to see today and reminisced about previous successful dives.
The group of friends had developed a clear set of rules so everyone would stay safe, plus a language based on signals. It was important they could communicate underwater. No one could have foreseen this particular adventure.
What They Loved About The Ocean
Grayson and his friends loved several things about the ocean. They adored the quiet and the deep blue color of the playful underwater landscape. Every time they dove beneath the water, they saw something new.
Even though Grayson and his friends had gone diving several times, they still had so many things they wanted to see. As they got on the boat to go to their dive spot, the team wondered what the ocean would surprise them with today. And there was, indeed, a huge surprise none of them expected to see.
Communication Is Key
As the team sat on the boat driving to their dive spot they reviewed their group rules. They were all relatively experienced divers but something could always go wrong and it was important to check in.
The main thing to remember about diving was not to panic and to stay together. The group went over all the communication signals for speaking underwater and began to put on lifejackets. Grayson had no idea what the day would bring to him...
Breaking The Surface
It was time and the divers were getting into the water. Last-minute encouragement and screams of excitement happened before they put in the air tanks and dove into the water. It always took Grayson a moment to get comfortable underwater, but he never stopped being in awe.
Under the waves lived an amazing ecosystem and he was so excited to find out more. He couldn’t wait to find out what lived behind every seaweed and coral in his path. The underwater environment had secrets and dangers around every corner.
Guests In Their House
As the divers continued further down into the depths of the ocean, they were surprised by Atlantic gray seals. The majestic creatures appear silently next to Grayson. Even stranger, they seemed to be studying him as much as he was watching them.
Grayson’s friends signaled they would move on, but he wasn’t so sure. It was rare for these seals to choose a human to interact with. Grayson weighed the pros and cons but motioned his friends to go on without him. It was a rule break that would impact his safety later.
Try Not To Impose
When divers find a large group of underwater animals, it’s important that they don’t disrupt the environment. It’s always safer to watch from a safe distance than try to interact. Grayson was well-aware of these rules, but these seals seemed to be encouraging him to come closer.
At first, he calmly stayed in one spot, but then the seals came closer. It began to feel like Grayson was no longer in control of the situation. As he realized how far away his friends were, Grayson realized a dangerous mistake.
You Just Never Know
Seals were an interesting species. They could appear playful and curious, but in a blink of an eye get aggressive. It was never easy to read the creatures, but divers always warned each other if they came into contact with one or many.
Grayson could hear the warnings in his head about these beautiful creatures, but they seemed friendly. He wanted to trust the beautiful underwater creatures, but how could he predict what would happen next?
It Was A Kodak Moment
Grayson knew one thing for sure, he needed to get his camera out! There was no way anyone would believe him about this magical experience. He tried to slowly get his camera into his hands and try to capture the magic that was happening around him.
Grayson realized the seals were also slowly coming towards him. He hadn’t moved but they were definitely now within his reach. Would they remain curious and playful, or would Grayson discover their aggressive tendencies?
They Were Swimming Into Dangerous Waters
An important trait about seals was the environment you found them in. They acted differently in open waters versus large kelp regions. Grayson began to scan the area around him and also noticed a dense region of kelp not far from his flippers.
Seals may try to surprise predators if they want to eat the kelp. Grayson was finding himself in hot water. What would happen if he tried to swim towards his friends? Grayson kept his camera rolling and couldn’t believe what he saw next.
A Skilled Photographer
Gary Grayson was building a successful photography business. He used different mediums and was trying to capture more wildlife. Gary didn’t realize how he could use his passion for diving to also further his career.
Today’s dive was meant to be just for pleasure but what Gary would witness was about to make him a household name. He needed to stay calm and see what the amazing seals would do next.
Where Were His Friends?
Gary had originally given the signal to his friends that he would catch up. When they realized he hadn’t joined them they began to swim back. Under the water, it was easy to get lost or lose your bearings.
As his friends swam back to where they had last seen Gary they couldn’t believe their eyes. It was unlike anything they had seen underwater. Quickly everyone pulled out their cameras, to capture a moment unlike any other.
He Thought He Was Alone
Gary was trying hard not to panic or startle the seals. They were so close to him that his arms were touching their smooth underwater skin. Gary couldn’t believe the experience. The last thing on his mind was capturing a photo.
He wanted to be fully in the moment and also needed to act fast if anything changed. The seals were acting strangely playful and curious, but was it all a ploy to get Gary’s guard down?
What Did The Film Capture?
When Gary’s friends started filming the seals were so close that the first footage is of their nose. They had completely gone up and close and personal with the divers. No one was sure where this experience would go next.
All the divers had imagined a similar scenario but now that it was here all they could do was watch. None of the friends wanted to risk one wrong move around the group of seals. Every minute counted towards the group escaping safely.
They Realized An Important Detail
The seals were so close to the divers and they were very playful. When one swam right in front of Gary’s face he realized an important detail. There was no way to communicate this to his friends, but all of their lives were in danger.
What did Gary notice and would his friends also notice this one important detail? Without making anyone panic Gary began to point to the seals. Would this simple gesture let his friends in on his big realization?
Why Are Seal Pups Dangerous?
This entire time Gary assumed the seals were adults, but this one detail let him know their exact age. The divers were playing with curious animals and also their lives. A seal pup will have different fur than a full-grown adult seal.
This fur is an important distinction, and pups cannot be touched as any scents from humans can make them dangerous to adult seals. If they are old enough to swim then that means they are with a family. This is where seals become protective and can cause a diver injury immediately.
A Playful Fascination
A seal pup is not used to humans. A pup might feel overwhelmed or turn angry quickly. A seal bite is extremely dangerous. It can easily rip through diving gear and leave a nasty infection. At this point, Gary realized he couldn’t control the situation.
For now, the seal pups were very intrigued with their new diver friends. They had only seemed gentle and playful. How far was Gary willing to go for a photograph that could change his career forever? He would have to see what the pups did next.
A Performance They Would Never Forget
The pups began to circle the divers and seemed to be doing very specific actions. Gary and his friends were trying very hard not to do anything that would startle the pups. They couldn’t believe how quickly they warmed and how talented they were.
While the pups were friendly and curious, were they circling the divers for other reasons? Had Gary and his friends unintentionally fallen into the young pup's trap? While they were amazed at the seal's skill, they had to stay alert and be able to act quickly.
A Seals Unique Trait
Seals have many interesting qualities. They are playful and curious and generally very friendly. What makes them different from other underwater creatures is each seal has a unique personality.
While this is fascinating, it also means that divers have no idea how seals will react. In a group, they can still all think independently and not share common goals. What were these pups' personalities? Gary couldn’t wait to see how this would all unfold.
Were They Relaxing Too Soon?
The group of divers knew they had to stay alert but these pups were so friendly. It was hard not to relax and enjoy their silly nature. The group stopped being so rigid and even began interacting with the seals.
While they began to enjoy this life-changing experience, they also continued to keep the camera’s rolling. When they reviewed this footage later they wouldn’t believe one tiny detail they missed!
An Underwater Puppy
Seals are very similar to a puppy and love to play or discover new things. They were very curious about the team's camera equipment and protective diving gear. The first time one of the pups came close to the equipment made the team very tense.
When they realized the pups were just curious they relaxed a bit. The team had a lot of expensive equipment and they needed to make sure the pups didn’t damage anything. One small mistake underwater could cost millions on land.
Nothing They Had Experienced Before
The divers had never experienced anything like this before. It was better than anything they could imagine. Whenever they planned to go out for a dive they kept their expectations low, but this was above and beyond.
It was truly a magical and unique experience. For underwater enthusiasts like Grayson and his friends they would never forget this day. The seals were going to make sure they gave them a permanent reminder.
What Happens If A Seal Bites You?
If a seal bites you, you only have a few hours to get antibiotics. As a diver, this timeline is crucial because depending on where you are in the ocean impacts how quickly you can get back to shore. As the seals grazed and nuzzled the divers, were they only minutes away from a scare?
The worst-case scenario with a seal bite would require amputation. The bacteria can fight against antibiotics in certain conditions. Gary noticed that one particular seal pup wanted his attention. He kept doing a specific gesture, but could Gary interpret this correctly?
A Nudge In The Right Direction
The one seal that was interested in Gary kept nudging his hands. The seal would swim up close to Gary and then nudge his hands before swimming away and coming back. The next time the seal approached Gary he decided to try something new.
As the seal approached, Gary held out his hands. The seal put one of his flippers into Gary’s outstretched hands. Was this a seal handshake? Gary felt like the seals were letting him in on a special secret, but was it lost in translation?
It Started Slow
After Grayson had “shaken hands” with the seal, it kept putting it’s flipper in the same spot. It seemed to Gary the seal wanted him to hold onto the seal's flipper. Gary wasn’t an animal specialist and had no idea if he could cause damage by following his instincts.
His friends watched in awe as their friend began to hold the seal. They had seen Gary follow the seal's instructions but what if it was all an elaborate trap? These underwater creatures were the kings of this water world. Would they really stay friendly to land intruders?
Was This Affection?
As Gary held the seal's flipper, the seal kept rubbing his head against Gary’s arm. This was odd behavior and Gary wasn’t sure how to proceed. The seal continued to rub his head against Gary and it became slightly aggressive.
The seal was starting to push his head into Grayson’s arm. What should he do in this scenario? With no animal training he followed his own instincts. All he could do was trust his gut and hope the seal would lash out.
Were The Seals Related?
The group was mainly being entertained by two seals. While one seal was really focused on Grayson, the other seal was swimming circles around his friends. The group of friends had heard how difficult it was for divers to gain seal’s trust.
What was this magical experience the group was having? They had done nothing to deserve this much attention from the two pups. Was it possible they were related? The group began to focus on what each seal was doing, and noticed one important detail.
Did This Feel Good?
While one seal was swimming circles around Grayson’s friends, the other seal was focused on making him interact. At first, the seal had nudged his hand, and then he had put his head against Grayson’s arm.
Gary Grayson had grown up with dogs and knows alot of people compare seals to the cuddly loyal pets. He decided to take a risk and treat this curious pup the same way he would with a dog back home. Was this the final chance Grayson would get with the playful pups?
Everyone Likes Pets!
As Gary’s friends watched from a distance they couldn’t believe their eyes. Gary was petting the seal and scratching it under its neck, just like a dog. Even more unbelievable, the seal really enjoyed it!
It was clear that the seal wanted all of Gary’s attention. What else did it want to show the patient diver? It was letting its guard down and hopefully Gary would understand what it really needed.
How Much Time Did They Have?
The team of friends knew they were witnessing something incredible, but they also didn’t know how long the moment would last. At any point, the seals could lose interest and swim away from the group.
Thankfully they had the cameras rolling non-stop. It was so exciting to imagine getting back on the boat after this dive and being able to watch the magical experience again! The seals were set on communicating one goal. Their next actions were completely unexpected.
Tiny Clues Along The Way
The seal had seen the divers and already decided what it wanted. This entire time had been a learning process for the seal to figure out how to communicate with a group of humans. One seal was specifically focused on making Gary understand exactly what it wanted.
As Gary tried to understand what the seal was communicating, a lightbulb began to flicker in his head. If he was right then this seal was truly one in a million. Was it possible that this seal needed Gary for something. Gary stretched his hand out and hoped he was right.
A Belly Rub!
The seal that was so intrigued by Gary had been slowly building up to getting a belly rub! It all suddenly made sense. He had nipped at Gary’s gloves and then slowly started nuzzling Gary’s hands. As Gary rubbed the seal's belly it truly felt like a one-in-a-million experience.
The seal was beyond happy and looked extremely content and pleased as their flippers held onto Gary’s glove. All of the previous stress and fear about being around these majestic creatures disappeared.
Greedy For Affection
The seal was really enjoying belly rubs and excitedly swam around Gary. It would flip around and over, giving Gary their stomach and then coming close to Gary’s face. Gary decided to see just how much affection the seal wanted and began to scratch the playful pup's “chin”.
It was so similar to the dogs Gary had grown up. It seemed that Gary and his friends had made an underwater ally for life. What would the footage reveal that would make the divers international sensations.
It Was Over So Fast
The seals decided they had had enough of the patient divers and swam away. Gary and his friends could not believe this underwater experience and signaled for everyone to head back to the boat. The full experience was less than ten minutes. Time had stood still while the divers figured out if they were at the seal's mercy.
Getting back on the boat, the friend group was beyond excited! They had so many questions for Gary about what he had felt and the sensation of giving a belly rub to the puppy of the ocean! It was truly a life changing and beautiful experience.