Fur seal is the common name given to nine distinct species of pinnipeds belonging to the Arctocephalinae subfamily of eared seals. The northern fur seal, the only species found in the northern hemisphere, occurs in the North Pacific, is the largest of the fur seals, and was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century. They have now greatly rebounded to 1.3 million individuals. The rest of the fur seals are found in the southern hemisphere, all much smaller than their northern cousins, and live in small colonies in Mexico, South America, Africa, and Australia.

The name ‘fur’ seal comes from the dense underfur that covers their bodies, which, historically, made them appealing to hunters. They have excellent hearing and sharp eyesight that helps them survive when they stay at sea for weeks at a time hunting for fish, squid, krill, and even birds. Your best chance to dive with fur seals is to catch them in the summer during breeding season when they gather into large rookeries, sometimes by the thousands, at specific beaches, making them easy to find. Want to go diving with fur seals? Explore the map below for the best dive sites where fur seals have been seen.