Seal Snorkeling is a marine adventure company based in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Seal Snorkeling are passionate about marine wildlife and take groups out to Duiker Island for incredible wildlife experiences. At Duiker Island you’ll find a Cape Fur Seal Colony and get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel with hundreds of playful Cape Fur seals.
Seal Snorkeling is located at 8 Albert Road Hout Bay and is a short drive from the Hout Bay Harbour. You will need to organise your own transportation to the Seal Snorkeling Offices. Once you’ve kitted up they will transport you to the Harbour to get to the boat launch.
Seal Snorkeling tickets usually cost R990 each. They are currently running a special for R550 for South African locals and R750 for international clients. You can also purchase vouchers from them by emailing info@sealsnorkeling.com. Book your tickets online here.
Snorkeling with the seals, 2 guides per group, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, hot chocolate and biscuits on the boat afterwards, hot showers and changing facility at the offices. Camera equipment is not included but is available for hire. You can pay R200 for the use of a GoPro with a 16GB SD card that you can then take home or R150 for just the use of the camera (bring your own SD card). You are also welcome to bring your own GoPro or underwater cameras.
The whole trip will take about 2.5 hours. This begins with you arriving at the offices, signing in and choosing the appropriate equipment. You will then gear up and have a safety briefing with one of the guides. You will then hop into the Seal Snorkeling van and be driven 2 minutes down the road to Hout Bay Harbour. There you will get onto the boat and drive about 10 minutes to the island. You will then have 45 mins to an hour to snorkel with the seals. The water is 1-5m in depth and the water is incredibly cold (8-13 degrees C). You need to be a confident swimmer to be able to partake in this experience. During your snorkeling experience you will be in the water with the guides and have the freedom to swim around and snorkel with the seals. You may not touch the seals. They are very playful and inquisitive and will swim fast towards you before suddenly changing direction at the last moment. It is an exhilarating experience to say the least and one you won’t forget! After you have had enough you can hop back onto the boat and enjoy some warm water being poured down your wetsuit, a hot chocolate and a biscuit. You’ll then be driven back to the harbour and then to the offices where you can have a hot shower and and change.
I, unfortunately, got very sea sick during my Seal Snorkeling experience. The general swell while snorkeling and then a bumpy boat ride is a terrible combination for sea sickness. I would definitely recommend taking sea sickness tablets both the night before and the morning of your trip if you are prone to motion sickness of any sort. It’ll just mean you can enjoy your trip to the fullest!
The best time is whenever you can and time allows! Summer is generally best – September to May. The most consistent and warmest conditions occur from December – February. From mid-March onward the seal pups are learning how to swim and are very curious in the water!
You need to be 10 years or older to partake in this activity. This is also a physically demanding activity, and may be unsuitable for some. They use ribbed inflatable vessels (rubber duck boats) without ladders and so you will need to be hoisted up by someone after the snorkeling session, which can make it difficult to get back into the boat. Bear this in mind before booking your trip.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Seal Snorkeling. They run a smooth operation with experienced guides, attention to detail and a great sense of adventure. I felt safe and well looked after throughout the trip and can highly recommend Seal Snorkeling with Animal Ocean. They have a heart for the marine wildlife and ensure every part of the experience is as eco-friendly as possible. If you’re looking for an adventure in Cape Town this summer look no further than Seal Snorkeling. It is also a great introduction to freediving in the kelp forests of Cape Town. Not for you? Why not buy a voucher as a Christmas present for someone you know will love this experience.
Book your tickets for this summer here.
For more Cape Town adventures why not check out my blogs on Tandem Paragliding in Cape Town, Best Sunset Spots in Cape Town, Best Tidal pools in Cape Town, Sea Kayaking with Atlantic Outlook or Free Diving in Cape Town.
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