Seal Island

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Summer days are perfect for kayaking. Early mornings are generally the best as there is very little wind. The water is so flat that you can see your own reflection in it. It is truly sensational.



On one particular day, we decided to head out to . can be found near Rockingham. It is part of the Shoalwater Islands.



There are a few ways to visiting seal island. Most people choose to purchase a cruise around the island. Others, like ourselves, take a kayak. You can use your own or hire one. Of course, I have seen people swim to the island. Personally, I don't recommend that due to safety reasons. I have also seen some people with SUP (Stand Up Paddle) boards. However, whatever transportation option you take, is breathtaking.





On this particular day, there was, initially, very little wind. We stopped a number of times to take some photos of birds and wildlife.



I did not know what to expect. I knew that seals could be quite aggressive. Plus, the thought of sharks had crossed my mind - quite a few times.



As we rounded the corner of the island, we could see some activity on the shoreline. There were a number of seals soaking up the rays. They were, initially, not interested on our arrival. I wasn't too sure if I should be excited, or disappointed about that.



We positioned our kayaks a fair distance from the shoreline. I was a little hesitant to get any closer. I took my 'long lens' camera out and began taking pictures. There was a gentle wind behind me, and before I knew it, I was much closer to the shoreline than I wanted to be. I had to put the camera back into the waterproof container, and then paddle back to my first spot. After the 5th time, I decided to see where the wind and sea wanted me. To my delight, I ended up just outside the 'no entry' line and in the shallow water.



Unbeknown to myself, a seal had been watching me with some obvious amusement. As soon as I was a good distance from the island, I would take something out of a bag, make a few clicks, and then have to put it back in the bag. It would observe me paddling back to a spot and repeat the process. I can only assume that it was curious to see what was in this bag.





After I decided to stay where the sea and wind wanted me, the seal decided to investigate. I was taking a few 'close-ups' with my long lens when my friend called out to warn me that a seal was under my kayak. I looked down, and there it was, gliding slowly around the bow. After satisfying its curiosity, it decided to swim off to a boat that had just pulled up for the view.



We spent a fair amount of time by the island before heading off to see what was 'around the corner'. The one side of seal island was more sheltered than the other. As soon as we kayaked around the next corner, we saw that the sea had changed, and the water became a lot more choppy. We knew it was time to head back.



We made our last paddle past the pod. Notably, we took a couple more memorable photos. I was a little sad to be leaving such an amazing adventure, but my empty water bottle gave me another reason why it was time to go.



The journey to seal island was incredible. Would I suggest it to anyone? Yes, but only if you are confident in water. If you choose to kayak across, make sure you follow safety protocols which include a life vest, sun protection and water. Also, don't forget your phone in the event that something goes wrong. If you decide to take your camera, make sure you have a waterproof container. Lastly, make sure you check the weather conditions. The last thing you want is to face a headwind back to shore. However, overall, this experience was truly amazing. I would do it again.

#animals_wildlife
#day_trips
#escape_the_city
#outdoor
#parks
#scuba_diving
#shoalwater
#snorkelling
#southern_suburbs
#swimming
#things_to_see
#tourist_attractions
#tourist_sites
%wnperth