I’ve been surfing Seal Beach north of the pier on Saturday mornings but this past weekend I had a head cold so I opted to take a few photos instead. My friend James was already in the water when I arrive just after 7am so I watched him and the Seal Beach Namesake – a seal that swims up and down the beach north of the pier and seems to make it his mission to startle unsuspecting surfers.


A couple of weeks ago the seal surfaced about twenty feet from me and was headed my way. I watched nervously as his dark shape swam directly beneath my board. This morning I watched as he approached behind James and closed on him so close that I thought he was going to crawl onto James’ board with him. I’ve become used to the dolphins at Bolsa Chica. They’re graceful, usually don’t close quite as close to the surfers, and breath forcefully but smoothly when they do surface. The seal, however, snorts loudly when he surfaces and seems to have no qualms about coming right up to a surfer.

More photos here.