Swimming with Seals!

If you click on the photo, it will blow it up for a better view. There was no zoom on the camera!

In our quest to remain cold in New Zealand, we decided to try swimming with animals. We originally wanted to swim with dolphins, but the company was booked until the middle of January, so we decided to give swimming with seals a try. This could possibly be the highlight of our New Zealand experience thus far. We were suited up in a centimetre of wet suit from head to toe. We walked along the shore to where the seals were, and swam out to an island that they were swimming around. The wetsuit was better than a lifejacket. We were so buoyant, and surprisingly warm. We were (well I, Laura, was) a little apprehensive about being so close to wildlife, however it was amazing. When we got out to where they were they immidiately started to swim around us. They would come within inches of our body, including our face and at the last second, dart away. It is incredible how fast they are! I (Laura) am proud to say I took the picture above! We were in the water for just over an hour with the seals, however it seemed like 5 minutes. We both loved the experience and are now booked to swim with dolphins in the Bay of Islands, which is in the North Island of New Zealand.