Photographers celebrate as underwater camera records world’s first images of rare deep-sea creature
An unusual moment in Antarctic exploration was caught on camera when a Ross seal was filmed and photographed underwater, believed to be the first time this has happened. This rare meeting shows how hard these animals are to find and the work of photographers and videographers like Justin Hofman and Ayla Townsend, who shared the images.
A first for underwater photos and video
Photographer Justin Hofman and videographer Ayla Townsend were among the few to see and record a Ross seal in its natural underwater setting. Hofman called the images “quite likely the first-ever underwater photographs” of this species, and the shots were shared widely on social media. The pictures show the seal’s “signature big eyes” and “distinctive dark stripes”. Ayla Townsend added moving images to the record with her video footage.
After working in Antarctica for 15 seasons, Hofman said: “In 15 seasons of working in Antarctica, I have only seen two Ross seals, and this is the second one.” He had previously seen the animal only once on an ice pack. His voyage aboard the National Geographic Resolution took him further south than he had been before, into areas that were previously off-limits, where the sighting occurred.
What we know about Ross seals
Ross seals remain little known because they live, breed and moult south of 60°S latitude in a remote part of the Southern Ocean. They are considered the “smallest and rarest members of the Antarctic true seal family”, and much about their behaviour and lifestyle is still unknown, as noted by People magazine. Typically solitary, they tend to avoid people, which makes good documentation uncommon. The work of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition helps identify their breeding and moulting grounds.
How the discovery happened
The backdrop to this encounter was the National Geographic Resolution, which allowed Hofman to travel “further south than he’d ever been”. The expedition opened up new possibilities and led to the sighting. Hofman said: “I never thought that it was an actual possibility because these animals are so rarely seen and are generally so far south.” Capturing the moment had been a “moonshot goal” for him after learning there were no known underwater photographs of Ross seals.
Sharing it with the world
Hofman and Townsend’s photos and video, shared across social media, have been viewed by many. Their material provides visual records and may increase public awareness of the species. Hofman summed up his delight with a quip: “Well, Christmas came a little early this year.”
The documentation has also featured in coverage such as People magazine and is mentioned alongside initiatives like TCD’s newsletter campaign, which offers rewards of up to £4,000 for clean upgrades.
Capturing rare encounters like this highlights how much of these remote ecosystems remains to be documented and supports ongoing research and conservation. The underwater image of the Ross seal provides a useful record for researchers and may prompt further study.