Australia’s most interactive underwater playdate is hiding just 20 minutes off the NSW South Coast. Meet the hyper-curious seals of Barunguba Montague Island.

Two enormous, glossy eyes appear out of the blue. 

For a moment, we study each other with mutual inquisivity, barely an arm’s length between us. Then, with a flick of its flippers, the seal pup rockets off into the gin-clear water, leaving a trail of bubbles in its wake.

Seconds later, he’s back. And he’s brought friends. Soon I’m caught in a whirlwind of sleek, whiskered bodies that twist, dart and loop around me with acrobatic grace, seemingly competing to see who can get closest to the awkward human in a wetsuit.  

This isn’t some far-flung wildlife encounter in the Galápagos Islands. It’s happening just nine kilometres (or 20 minutes by boat) off the town of Narooma on the far NSW South Coast. 

Guided by the knowledgeable Underwater Safaris team, we’re snorkelling with seals at Barunguba Montague Island. The 1.4-kilometre-long nature reserve harbours an exceptional collection of wildlife, thanks to its unique proximity to the continental shelf and warm Eastern Australian Current. Notably, it’s home to two thriving colonies of Australian and New Zealand fur seals (including the only confirmed fur seal breeding colony in NSW), Australia’s largest little penguin breeding colony, more than 90 bird species, migrating humpback and Southern right whales in winter, dolphins and stingrays who relish the glassy visibility and sheltered kelp forests.  

But it’s not just the numbers that make this place special – it’s the creatures’ charisma. You see, the fur seals of Barunguba Montague Island don’t just tolerate humans; they actively choose to interact.  

“When you snorkel almost anywhere else in the world, the animals swim away from you," says Underwater Safaris owner Francois Van Zyl, who has been diving in Narooma for more than 15 years. “Here, it’s the opposite. We don’t touch them, but they swim right up to you. It’s pretty special." 

Special might be underselling it. 

Before we jump into the water, dive master and guide Odette Boland gives us a safety briefing and rundown of what to expect. “Thirty to forty seal pups have just been born – they’re around four months old and have only been in the water for a month or two." 

One cheeky pup somersaults directly in front of my mask. Another glides past so close I can see every whisker. When we move to a second snorkel spot in deeper water, adult seals – more than I can count – chase each other in circles beneath us. The whole experience feels like being invited to the world’s most extraordinary underwater party.

Underwater Safaris is a family-owned tour business that operates eco-conscious snorkel and scuba diving tours year-round, except in winter, when they offer whale watching experiences. Raised in Cape Town and passionate about the ocean for as long as he can remember, Francois runs the company with his wife and two sons, who help skipper the charters.

Francois previously worked for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more than seven years and has even lived on the island with his family, so he knows the land, surrounding sea and wildlife like the back of his hand. And while the island’s remarkable marine environment is part of his everyday life, he loves seeing the joy it brings visitors.

“The snorkel is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We get people from all around the world – some people who’ve never been in the ocean – and even take people out who can’t swim [floating noodles are supplied and waters are shallow]," affirms Odette. “No day is the same out there. It’s this insane experience that most people will never get to do again." 

In the cooler months of the year, Barunguba Montague Island harbours more than 1000 fur seals – but most operators don’t run snorkel tours during this season due to the cold. In spring and summer, there are still plenty of the adorable creatures hanging about – between 200 and 800. Owing to its exceptional visibility of ten to forty metres, the island is one of the country’s premier diving destinations. 

Over the years, Underwater Safaris has worked with many local and national organisations for conservation and research purposes, including ORRCA, Sydney Institute of Marine Science and universities that send PhD students to the island. The company also runs educational Squid Squad snorkelling tours for kids and school groups, intent on preserving Narooma’s delicate marine ecosystems for years to come. 

Beyond its wildlife, Barunguba Montague Island – which officially received a dual Aboriginal name from the NSW government in 2021 – has long held immense cultural significance to the Indigenous Yuin people. The Yuin people once travelled to the island on bark canoes for traditional ceremonies and food, as well as for men’s teaching. Today, public visitors can only access the island via authorised tours. 

When it’s time to clamber back on the boat, unzip my wetsuit and head back to Narooma, I can’t wipe the grin off my face. Never have I experienced such an intimate and interactive wildlife encounter where the animals engage on their own terms. I’m certain this won’t be my last visit.

Seal swim FAQs

Where is Narooma?

Narooma is a coastal town on the far NSW South Coast, around an hour south of Batemans Bay. By car, it takes five hours to reach from Sydney or three from Canberra. 

Can you swim with seals in Narooma?

Absolutely! There are several tour operators in Narooma that run snorkel and scuba dive tours to Barunguba Montague Island, departing from Apex Park Boat Ramp in Narooma. Tours typically last half a day and include snorkel gear, wetsuits, in-water guides and boat access to the island. Beginner snorkellers are welcome. A three-hour snorkel with Underwater Safaris costs $175 per adult or $155 per child (15 and under).

Can you see seals in Narooma without snorkelling?

If snorkelling isn’t your thing, you’re in luck – visitors can also witness seals in Narooma from Seal Rocks, located along the breakwall where the Wagonga Inlet connects with the ocean. Here you’ll find plentiful adult seals sunbathing on the rocks and floating blissfully in the shallows just metres away.

How long does it take to get to Montague Island from Narooma?

Reaching the island from Narooma takes around 20 minutes by boat. Members of the public are only permitted to visit the island by booking an organised tour through authorised companies such as Underwater Safaris. 

When can you see seals in Narooma?

Seals are found year-round at Narooma’s Seal Rocks breakwall, as well as offshore on Barunguba Montague Island.  

How many seals are on Montague Island?

Barunguba Montague Island is home to more than 1000 fur seals in the cooler months of the year, and between 200 and 800 in the summer months.