To film the underwater activities of the seals, we dive every day for weeks on end. For most of the dives during our filming, the seals keep their distance, never approaching us very closely. We always enter the water hoping for the best, but end up spending much of our time merely waiting for the seals to swim by. An underwater encounter with marine mammals has to be done on their terms, because they are so fast and well aware of their surroundings. It is simply impossible for divers to keep up with them.
Seals can even swim circles around sharks.
Therefore, we have to earn their trust in order to get close enough to film. Eventually, perseverance pays off, and we do earn their trust. Curiosity gets the best of a seal or two. They swim by for a glance at us, never lingering more than a few seconds. Usually only one at a time, the animals then begin to regularly approach.