Michael Cullen

They breach the surface of the water and jump into the air to let their wahoo colleagues know they had a whale of a time.

How easy is it to tell the seals apart?

Well, when it comes to a bull or a cow, size and shape determines that.

A bull like Beamish is stout, dark and has a white snout.

Doris is, well, a lady just like Doris Day.

But how does the seal whisperer separate Doris from Brona and Brona from speckles?

Mark tells me it's down to body markings and personality, how they behave in the water.

The local herd of grey or harbour seals at Dorky Island numbers around 50.

They swim to and from Sandy Cove and Channels, occasionally stopping off at Bullock Harbour for a snack.

They can spend up to 30 minutes submerged.

Mark understands why people might be nervous around seals.

They are put off by how big they are in the water, particularly a bull, and how fast they move.

Seals are territorial.

Pups are highly inquisitive and find the actions of humans intriguing.

It's advisable to avoid a cow when she has young alongside her in the water.

As with any wild animal, if you're unfortunate enough to be bitten, even slightly, it's important to get a tetanus vaccine as a seal's mouth is alive with bacteria.

Can bathers and seals safely share the sea?

First and foremost, Mark insists, people must remember that the ocean is the seal's home and they know it.

Having said that, should you find yourself close to a seal when bathing, move slowly.

Stop in the water and face the seal like you would a dog.