Seals in Narragansett Bay RI

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Basking Ridge Diver

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So -
I have never seen seals while diving. So I am on a bit of a hunt.

I have done some research on web and what I have come up with is this -
> There are about 1000 seals that come to the bay from Maine and above from about Nov to April
> Most of them are yearlings that can not handle the colder water up north
> Haul outs are rocks that are relatively low in the water where the seal can "rest" or hang out
> Rome Point - John H. Chafee Nature Preserve - seems like a really long walk in scuba gear or in the winter
> Greene Point
> Bull Point
> Mackerel Cove
> Dumplings (but not a specific location)

It really seems like you need a boat or be extremely lucky to run into any of the seals.

Without giving away too much - are there dive spots where you can run into a seal if you keep diving the location?
Do you need to see the seals before you dive to get a fair chance at running into them?
Fort Wetherill would be great but I have not seen any in all the times I have dove there - and there is literally nothing on Youtube about RI scuba diving and seals. Which seems really odd to me - since Youtube is like Google and has everything... :)

So if you want to PM me or are brave enough to give some insight I know I would be very grateful. I have been known to barter beer or your choice of beverage for good information... ;-)

Thanks
 
So -
I have never seen seals while diving. So I am on a bit of a hunt.

I have done some research on web and what I have come up with is this -
> There are about 1000 seals that come to the bay from Maine and above from about Nov to April
> Most of them are yearlings that can not handle the colder water up north
> Haul outs are rocks that are relatively low in the water where the seal can "rest" or hang out
> Rome Point - John H. Chafee Nature Preserve - seems like a really long walk in scuba gear or in the winter
> Greene Point
> Bull Point
> Mackerel Cove
> Dumplings (but not a specific location)

It really seems like you need a boat or be extremely lucky to run into any of the seals.

Without giving away too much - are there dive spots where you can run into a seal if you keep diving the location?
Do you need to see the seals before you dive to get a fair chance at running into them?
Fort Wetherill would be great but I have not seen any in all the times I have dove there - and there is literally nothing on Youtube about RI scuba diving and seals. Which seems really odd to me - since Youtube is like Google and has everything... :)

So if you want to PM me or are brave enough to give some insight I know I would be very grateful. I have been known to barter beer or your choice of beverage for good information... ;-)

Thanks

Coming up on 50 years diving RI / MA saw a seal once in MA, @ halfway Rock. The dumplings are a group of rocks near FTW Jamestown the biggest rock has a house on it. You can't miss it. Never saw seals there either. Once on a night dive in December at Castle Hill Newport I was on the surface and something big swam between my legs. I assumed it was a seal as December is a little cold for sharks. Never saw it though.
 
thought I could dive with seals there

The funny thing is there are about a thousand seals that migrate to that area every year - mostly juvenile seals that can not stand the cold up north. They have seal watches and boats. But I was hoping a local would know how to get close to them. All the spots that I have researched are serious hikes with equipment - seems you need a boat to get close to them. But FW and other spots appear to be too busy with human traffic. Although one diver I spoke with said he saw one seal once in the last 10 years - so that is a very crazy low percentage of running into a seal in that area.

I am now booked on a Seal Dive up off of Cape Ann MA - I finally bit the bullet and said I am going to make the effort to dive with them... :) fingers crossed I will post video with seals when I go - mid June...
 
From your post title, I thought you were stating that you had been diving with seals in RI. I now hate you because I may be going up to Rhode Island for a visit or two, & thought I could dive with seals there!

Meanie!

Go to Cape Cod there are hundreds of seals along the east coast from Orleans to Ptown. If you go in the summer you'll get to dive with GWs also! If you're really lucky you may get a video of a GW eating a seal near you! Post your dive if you go!
 
The funny thing is there are about a thousand seals that migrate to that area every year - mostly juvenile seals that can not stand the cold up north. They have seal watches and boats. But I was hoping a local would know how to get close to them. All the spots that I have researched are serious hikes with equipment - seems you need a boat to get close to them. But FW and other spots appear to be too busy with human traffic. Although one diver I spoke with said he saw one seal once in the last 10 years - so that is a very crazy low percentage of running into a seal in that area.

I am now booked on a Seal Dive up off of Cape Ann MA - I finally bit the bullet and said I am going to make the effort to dive with them... :) fingers crossed I will post video with seals when I go - mid June...

The seals in RI go up the bay near Rose island. The RI DEM is very strict and enforce marine mammal protection laws. I'm pretty sure if anyone went there with a boat to dive with the seals it would not end well, that is unless you're into handcuffs. I say this because I've never heard of anyone doing it and none of the dive operators offer seal dives in RI.
RI allows for no contact with marine mammals as far as I know.

The Isle of Man are where the seals are up north. If you can book a trip there I doubt you'd need to cross your fingers!
 

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