'Brilliant' up close seal swim thrills surfer in Pembrokeshire (www.bbc.com)

submitted 1 week ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/nature@feddit.uk

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A surfer from west Wales says it was a "brilliant experience" to swim so close to an "inquisitive" young seal.

Gethin Rowlands, 28, from St Davids in Pembrokeshire, filmed the encounter while surfing at Newgale beach at about 16:00 BST on Thursday.

He said he has been around seals "all his life" through his work as a wildlife skipper - but this was the longest one has ever stayed with him, following him for around 45 minutes.

"It actually stopped me from wanting to surf - I was just content being there and didn't want to disturb it," Gethin said.

With seals now in breeding season, Gethin, who has been working with them for the past 10 years, stressed that people must avoid deliberately approaching them.

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this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2025

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