What is the significance of Justin Hofman's Ross seal photos?

These are the first known underwater photographs of the elusive Ross seal, offering a rare glimpse into its life.

Where do Ross seals live and what makes them hard to photograph?

Ross seals live in dense Antarctic pack ice south of 60°S latitude and dive very deep, making them extremely elusive.

What do Ross seals eat and how deep can they dive?

They hunt lanternfish, silverfish, and squid, and can dive to nearly 1000 feet, staying underwater for over 20 minutes.

Home / Environment / First Underwater Photos of Elusive Ross Seal

First Underwater Photos of Elusive Ross Seal

7 Jan

•

Summary

A Ross seal, the Antarctic's rarest true seal, has been photographed underwater for the first time.
Underwater photographer Justin Hofman captured the historic images during a voyage to Antarctica.
Ross seals inhabit dense pack ice and dive deep to hunt, making them incredibly difficult to study.

First Underwater Photos of Elusive Ross Seal

In a remarkable photographic achievement, the Ross seal, Antarctica's smallest and most elusive true seal, has been documented underwater for the first time. Underwater specialist Justin Hofman secured these groundbreaking images during a recent voyage aboard the National Geographic Resolution, which ventured further south in Antarctica than he had previously explored.

Hofman, who has spent 15 seasons in Antarctica, described his mission as curiosity-driven, acknowledging the rarity of even sighting a Ross seal. The species' habitat within dense pack ice and its deep-diving hunting habits make its life history poorly understood and sightings infrequent. These new images offer an unprecedented look at the animal in its natural, submerged environment.