SUP Seal Encounter: Robin in Watergate Bay, UK

UK: Just a few miles North of the popular Cornish seaside town of Newquay lies one of the UK’s most beautiful and famous surfing beaches, Watergate Bay. It’s a stunning vista with a couple of miles of golden sand opening up beneath the steep Cornish cliffs. This is where you’ll find some of Cornwall’s most famous Atlantic swells and you won’t have to wait long to see surfers hotdogging their way across the bay when conditions are right.

Talking of hotdogs, the ASI recently sponsored a seal pup that we named Hotdog in support of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, not too far away from Watergate Bay and we have been keeping you posted not only on his rehabilitation but on the seal encounter adventures we’ve been collecting from the SUP and surfing community.

Robin Ross is an ASI surfing instructor and ASI Trainer and his school, Freewave Surf Academy, is based nearby in Bude, Cornwall. He got in touch recently to tell us about a seal encounter he enjoyed (and caught on film!) while teaching a surf class at Watergate Bay recently.

“This year I had an encounter with a seal while teaching down in Watergate Bay. It was around high tide and this little fellow popped up in the surf next to me. He seemed a little lost and perhaps though my camera was his Momma! He swam up to me, gave the camera a little kiss and went on his way.” Said Robin.

Mindful of the correct way to handle a wild encounter like this, Robin left the seal to dictate how things went, kept his distance and informed the right people afterwards.

“We let the lifeguards know in case there were further sightings of him or he needed assistance”

Remember, should you come across seals it’s important to engage mindfully with the encounter. ASI instructor and marine biologist, Alana Bonnick gives us this advice:

“Always keep 100 yards away from marine life as they are wild animals and therefore can be unpredictable. If humans get too close we can also cause large amounts of stress to the animal which in some cases can result in injury, so it is best to just keep your distance! It is fine if the animal's curiosity gets the better of them and they decide to venture closer, like I said, I've had some very close encounters! But it is just important that it is on their terms.”

Find out more about the UK’s seal population,  how you can help them and what to do if you encounter them whilst out paddling in our interview with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary  

You can also donate to the Seal Sanctuary 

Send us your seal encounter stories if you want your very own, limited edition, Cornish Seal Sanctuary water bottle!    info@academyofsurfing.com

Don’t forget to follow our campaign #ASISealRescue and keep up to date with our campaign to support the Cornish Seal Sanctuary 

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About ASI
ASI is a professional membership organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
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