In the absence of my Nikonos, got me one o’ dem kodak disposable underwater cameras.
Why ? you ask…
SEAL…he’s been around for the last week, surfing with us, playing with us, launching airs… having a GREAT time ! [as seals do when there’s a bit of a wave and a crowd of people to show off to.]
Came close today, but he/she went left on the right hander I had lined up in the viewfinder, did an air, then took off out to sea. At 5.30am…
SO… I just hope it will be around for a week or more. I WILL NOT GIVE UP …until I have at least 15 or so shots…
The beauty of the disposables is they float, they’re light…and you can tie them to your wettie cord, so you can go surfing at the same time.
Those of you who believe in this sort of stuff, pray that the seal will keep coming while I have the camera [ready NEXT time, hopefully!] , as I’d LOVE to get some good shots to post here. It is SO friendly…earlier in the week it was resting its head on the nose of my board…wish I’d had the camera THEN !!
I don’t know if you can get the American version of The Surfer’s Path in Oz, but the current issue (#45) has a great image by Sean Davey: Manoa Drollet hanging onto a double or triple overhead vertical wall of a Tahitian reef pass wave. If you look closely, it is just possible to make out a little boil water in the water, and in the water it looks like it’s got to be two seals, one cutting left and one cutting right, trimming, bodysurfing the wave just under the surface of the water. (Not having been there, I would never have thought that Tahiti would have seals).
It’s remarkable not just in that they are directly beneath him, but in the intensity of the wave. Davey must have just gotten worked - from the camera angle, he’s almost at the lip and chances are he probably would have gone over onto the reef. Professional dedication over the top.
Chipfish, We had a pup seal swimming around in the lineup at Cardiff a couple of winters ago. Eventually it climbed up on someone’s board and stayed there sunning himself for awhile. The guy wanted to surf, so my buddy Ric Sorenson scooted it over on to his board where it stayed for over an hour. Once when a wave started to build up, we thought, “Oh no, he might get knocked off and get hurt.” Instead, he grabbed his flippers around the front of the board, lowered his head, and punched through the wave. Never lost a beat.I had enough time to paddle in and get my water camera. I got some pictures that I’ll post in a few days when I’m back at work. Doug
I’m not 100% positive about this but I highly doubt that there are any seals in Tahiti. The only seals in the world that I am aware of which live in tropical waters are Monk seals which live in Hawaii and are a highly endangered species (less than 500 in the world).
I haven’t seen the pic you speak of but I strongly suspect that what appears to be seals are just shadows on the reef.
Once when a wave started to build up, we thought, “Oh no, he might get knocked off and get hurt.” Instead, he grabbed his flippers around the front of the board, lowered his head, and punched through the wave. Never lost a beat.I had enough time to paddle in and get my water camera. I got some pictures that I’ll post in a few days when I’m back at work. Doug
As you guys would say, "…Oh, reaaallllyy ??? "
…That is an AMAZING story, Doug !!
I’d love to see the photos, just to make sure it wasn’t Rob Machado dressed in a seal suit, messing with your minds [remember the shark scaring away by painting on boards and / or wearing disguises thread ??!!]
But, maybe it was actually Donovan Frankenfartlighter undisguised…hard to tell him from the walruses , what with that 70s porn star moustachio he wears and all !
yes, PLEASE send pics ...
"...truth is SOMETIMES stranger than fiction" chip
Yes, I’d wondered if it might be a coral head, but it almost looks like there is something (flipperesque) coming just above the surface of the water. It’s still hard to tell, I wish someone else had access to the image. We gets lots of sealions and seals in the Pacific Northwest. Kind of like aquatic dogs, they’re usually pretty curious and will pop up near you in the line up to check you out.