The story of the fact that being in the same environment and under the same conditions a person and a seal become much closer to each other. That we can be interesting and even communicate with each other.

This week we have a model of our album about the underwater world of the Far East. . Today, there will be a story about one of our expeditions along the route Sakhalin - southern Kuriles.

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After our idea of

seeing Steller's sea lions in the west of Sakhalin turned out to be impossible due to weather conditions, there was nothing else to do but focus on other representatives of pinnipeds living in the region. The first attempt to swim with the seals, we undertook, despite the wind and rain in the north of Sakhalin. In the vicinity of Lake Busse. There is a site where the shore of the lake merges with the edge of the ocean, forming a channel. As a result, the water in the lake is salty. And it was in this place that the lags settled on the shallows. In such weather, it was problematic to count them, but approximately it is about the number from a few tens to a couple of hundred.

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Later, already in the Kuriles, we used the copter for counting. Here it was not easy to force myself to get out of the car, not to mention flying. But despite the weather, two still made an attempt and sailed to the seals. The distance from the shore of the lake to the shallows is not large, something about a couple of hundred meters. Although due to the rain it was visible barely. At one end, the experiment turned out to be positive, and the seals approached relatively close, although certainly not closely.

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But from experience, for the first time this is a very good result. On the other hand, technical problems arose, as a result of which our group was left without one of the cameras. Even taking into account that we took equipment with us, which is called with a reserve, it was not part of our plans. After all, a multi-week expedition was just beginning. Was it worth the effort? From the point of view of obtaining information - it is possible. But in any case, no high-quality shooting in this weather can not be done. The salt water of the lake mixed with the rain becomes non-transparent, a halocline effect is formed. So the maximum that we got at the exit is a few zipped in a meter-other physiognomy of the seals shot on the action camera. But the beginning was laid. We were waiting for Kunashir.

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It can not be said that the weather was lucky on the island. Rather, it can be characterized as usual for this time of year. A few sunny days were given out, and the rest was cloudy, and the rain was foggy and intermittent. This increased demands on the survey itself. I needed very close contact with animals to make really high-quality photos and videos. The first call was on the Pacific side. We tried to combine visiting the Filatov rookery and the bird market on Rogachev Island.

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And again in many ways everything happened by the will of chance. Again, the result could not be called unambiguous. We spent many hours in the water, which, to our great regret, was extremely turbid. A very large suspension everywhere in the coastal strip, a strong influence of tides. In such conditions, it is almost impossible to make a good shot. Largi, as was to be expected at the first acquaintance, kept a distance of several meters. We could see how they looked around when they emerged. And they gazed intently at us when the distance was reduced to a minimum. But closer than 3-4 meters they did not allow. All but one. In my opinion, this is a very revealing example of the fact that each animal has its own distinct character, and it must be taken into account when shooting.

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I do not know what we really liked about this seal, but he quickly went to contact, and then everything was always close. He was interested and he literally poked his face into his fins, mask and camera. Interestingly, this had a positive effect on other seals. Seeing that we do not show aggression, they came closer. Although as close as this larga no more approached. Well, we got several portraits, despite the regrettable quality of water. Near the island Rogacheva water was not much better and did not give hope for a better and varied shooting.

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As a result, we still had one more chance. The Sea of Okhotsk. Rookery on the Middle Island. A week on the cordon, where you can only get bypassed by boat and no one else but us, the inspector and the seals. Perhaps this was the best time in Kunashir. A distant cordon, on the border of the forest, next to an abandoned border post where one could watch the sun every day in the mountains of Hokkaido.

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Despite the fact that the weather did not spoil us, we every day took our boat down to the water, loaded it with photographic equipment, put engines and went to the seals. Only a few kilometers and we are there. Before that, the truth was another not the most pleasant procedure - dressing a wet wetsuit in 10 degree water. But then we could spend at sea not one hour. Four photographers and seals. In total, according to the results of the migration of the Copter, we counted more than a hundred seals: most of them were largha, and a small percentage of anthuria. The first couple of days became addictive. They were convinced that several strange pinnipeds are not dangerous, and we in turn tried to understand their daily routine and habits.

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All this time we were content with short moments of mutual interest. Individuals on bolder approached almost closely and allowed to make several shots. However, this did not last longer than a few minutes, after which everything began anew. Unlike last year's experience with the entourage on the Commanders, here we had a few minutes of general attention at the beginning of the day. Then I had to look for small groups of seals all over the accessible water area. Each contact was not long. Seals lost interest in us, and tried to keep a distance of several meters. For shooting in water, the transparency of which periodically spoiled the rain, it's not at all good.

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Only three days later there were changes. It can not be said that seals began spending more time with us. The same small period of activity at the beginning of the day was preserved. But then, instead of swam away, many seals remained and simply engaged in their own affairs: they rested, looked for food, talked or played with each other. Well, and now and then we managed to observe this in the immediate vicinity.

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One pair of seals, having described a pair of circles on duty next to me, began to play with each other passionately. At that moment they probably perceived me as a kind of tree-a bit strange and slow-moving. And at the same time, I was the only obstacle in the water, so, around me, one could swim one after another.

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For me personally, this situation was a rare success. Trying to fulfill my role as a tree as best I could, I took everything that was happening. Before the seals it was literally a stone's throw away and any non-cautious movement could destroy this amazing moment. I lived a few minutes of life with the seals before the games carried them away into the distance. There remains a sense of involvement in the process and a dozen photos.

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Shortly before our return to civilization, we drew attention to one more feature in the behavior of seals. They obviously did not want to let us go. The distance that separated the rookery itself to the place where we left the boat was pretty decent - we did it so as not to frighten the inhabitants. The road there took a couple of dozen minutes to swim. In return, you could swim for hours - the seals followed us. Then one or the other individual came very close, or dived right under the man.

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The last shots could be done almost at the shore, where I could easily get to my feet and get the bottom. And while we gathered in the way back around our boat, dark muzzles could be seen everywhere.

Today, although quite a long time has passed, I constantly recall our first acquaintances in the water, when a man and a seal peer at each other on the surface, and then synchronously dive. When they circle each other's neighborhood - one afraid to scare, and another not daring to approach. And of course those moments when the barrier of mistrust is passed, when your fins are tapped on the tooth. And then they carefully study you already, and look into your eyes.

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