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There are wildlife experiences, and then there are encounters you carry for the rest of your life. Swimming with Atlantic grey seals in the waters around Lundy Island falls firmly into the second category. In water that is frequently among the clearest anywhere on the English coast, seals will approach within touching distance, roll around you, and display a curiosity about humans that consistently surprises first-time visitors.
Wild Frontier Charters runs dedicated seal swim trips from Ilfracombe harbour to Lundy Island. Here is what the experience involves.
Why Lundy?
Lundy Island is England’s only statutory Marine Conservation Zone. The ban on bottom trawling within the zone since 1973 means the reef and rock communities around the island have recovered to a condition rarely seen elsewhere in English coastal waters. The water clarity is exceptional, the marine life is diverse, and the grey seal colony numbers several hundred individuals.
The seals at Lundy have had limited negative contact with humans over many decades. They are genuinely inquisitive animals rather than merely tolerant ones, and the encounters that result are qualitatively different from seal watching from a boat.
What Does a Seal Swim Involve?
The trip departs from Ilfracombe harbour. The crossing to Lundy takes approximately 90 minutes and is often wildlife-rich in itself, with seabirds, porpoise, and occasional dolphins encountered en route.
Once at Lundy, we anchor near suitable seal haul-out sites and participants enter the water. We provide a full briefing on seal behaviour and interaction guidelines beforehand. The key principle is to let the seals approach rather than chasing them. When this is followed, the results are remarkable.
Snorkels, masks, and wetsuits are available to hire. Participants should be comfortable in open water and able to swim without assistance. SCUBA diving alongside seal swim trips is also available for qualified divers.
What to Expect in the Water
Grey seals are highly social animals with distinct individual personalities. Some will approach immediately and stay close for extended periods. Others will make a pass and swim on. Juvenile seals are typically the most interactive, displaying the kind of playfulness usually associated with dogs.
Water temperature in July and August around Lundy runs between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. A 5mm wetsuit provides comfortable insulation for most swimmers for 45 to 60 minutes in the water.
Other Wildlife at Lundy in Summer
Summer visits to Lundy offer far more than seals alone. Puffins nest on the west side of the island through the breeding season. Guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes are present in significant numbers. The kelp forests around the island hold wrasse, pollock, and a range of invertebrate species visible to snorkellers who explore the shallower reef areas.
Booking
Seal swim trips run from June through September, with July and August typically offering the best weather windows and the warmest water. These trips are popular and dates book ahead of time.
Contact Wild Frontier Charters to check availability and book your Lundy seal swim.