Playful Seal Nibbles Divers Flippers

The curious pup took a fancy to the photographer’s black-and-yellow gear and grabbed onto it with its short limbs.

Dan Bolt, who comes from Devon, swam with the friendly seals in Lundy, an island off the north coast of the county.

He said: “I cannot begin to explain the feeling of joy and wonder you get when a young seal swims up and muzzles your mask or allows you to scratch their tummy.

“You can make yourself more interesting to a seal by wiggling your flippers around - they seem to love nibbling diving flippers.

“You have to always remember that they are large, powerful mammals with very strong jaws and a mouth full of teeth.

“In my opinion they have a large range of what we would call body language, and it is fairly obvious when an individual, or group, of seals is relaxed enough with your presence that the contact turns into a very natural encounter.”

The island is home to a breeding colony of sixty grey seals and a dozen were willing to play with the diver.

The experienced photographer scratched the mammal’s bellies and let them nuzzle on his mask.

Dan, who has had 25 years of experience diving in south west England, said: “I find the UK's coastal waters fascinating, and the photographic opportunities they offer are seemingly endless.

"The cold, and often murky conditions, simply add to the challenge of capturing images.”