Offshore Adventures

Great experience, absolutely a must do when in Plettenberg Bay. Special thanks to very knowledgeable and passionate about all things ocean Layne Wilkinsen. We visited a colony of 7000 seals and the crew made me feel safe in water even though I can't really swim - someone was looking after me at all times. Highly recommend!

One of the most amazing experiences I have had. I only wish it was longer! You get to close to the seals that they bump into you.You don't have to be an experienced swimmer as you get dropped off by boat and don't swim at all (you are mostly floating while watching the seals). However I wouldn't recommend if you are nervous in the ocean and tides.Our guide PK was brilliant. He was supportive and friendly through the whole adventure. I will absolutely do it again if I find myself in the area.

A truly amazing experience, the freeing sensation of snorkelling whilst the uniquness of enjoying it with seals. Highly recommend and cannot wait until I go again!

It was our best experience in South Africa, and we did quite a few.The guide was amazing, the trip to and to the seals was great (we even see a great white shark), and swimming with seals is just an amazing experience).So go do it.

Undoubtedly, swimming with seals is a fabulous experience. The staff was super friendly and one of them (I wish I could remember his name) was incredibly compassionate when it all started to go wrong for me. On the pictures it looks beautiful, but you do not see if there is a swell and what that will do to you combined with the smell! The website promises that they do not go out in strong easterly winds and yet we went out (I only realized on the boat that an easterly was blowing) and found ourselves fighting against a 1m swell. Not ideal conditions to go out in and I believe that the need to make an income might have influenced good judgment on the 16th of January. All other tours were cancelled and everyone was moved onto the 10h00 tour. As a total beginner, I had to trust their judgment, but regret it now. More than half of the people on the boat were seasick and the guide summed it up with the remark “We had lots of casualties today!” I am not sure how I feel about that. I clearly did not have the “sea legs” to go out that day and you might think that is entirely my problem, but I do not believe that safety rules were followed that day to the tee. Are the staff competent? Absolutely! But there were some things that should not have happened and need to be mentioned:1. If you promise that photos will be included, then make sure that your camera is working! Our guide took a photo of our group still on the beach and realized that his camera isn’t working, but instead of going back and fetching another one (I would sincerely hope that you have a reserve) he did not bother and proceeded with the tour and only told us afterwards that unfortunately there were no photos of us, but that the skipper took some pictures from the boat. Not cool! If you knew you had a problem…fix it or give us a discount! The photographic memories are half the fun of this tour.2. Anticipate the seasickness and difficulty with the mask/snorkels by giving us some training beforehand! We were equipped but at no time encouraged to try the mask and the snorkel out so that when we’d get into the water we’d be able to breathe! If someone hasn’t used a snorkel in a very long time and then (half seasick) jumps into salt water and swallows some, it is almost impossible to still breathe through a snorkel. In hindsight I realize that this could have easily been avoided if we had been encouraged to try the mask and snorkel out, on the way to the seals. But again, the swell was probably too high to do so. Which makes me question once again…3. Should you really go out in a 1m swell where you will end up “chasing” the people (off the boat for example) in situations that are completely new to them?Point 3 might be debatable but point 1 and 2 should have been taken care of! I also believe that we should have been warned of the swell.If you are 25 years old, my recommendation is that you definitely do this! It’s a great trip and seals are guaranteed. But if you are 55 and over, like me, never again! I now have a torn chest muscle that will take quite some time to heal. It happened when I tried to re-enter the boat during a 1m swell, using the metal stairs on the side of the boat. It was a disaster, especially since I was already fully seasick at that point. But I am ever so grateful to the NSRI chap who very compassionately helped me back into the boat. He deserves a medal for his effort to keep me going and comfortable. I wouldn’t have made it without him.I also vaguely remember the skipper of the boat barking some very harsh and rather unfeeling instructions at me during this whole ordeal and to his defense, I concede that we must have looked like very unsteady tourists with no sea legs at all, but my question to him: why DID you take us out on that day?? Just because people are willing to pay doesn’t mean that you must let them do it. Not in this weather!To those who get to go out in calm conditions – good for you! ENJOY IT! It will be amazing.P.s. Regarding reply from owner - why no reply re: missing camera and lack of training?

Great experience swimming with the seals. Guide was Red who was very nice to take photos of the experience and answer all our questions on the boat. Water was cold but not too bad with the wet suit in November.

Joe and I had a fantastic experience with Lain and Rederick. Professional, knowledgeable and good humoured. Wonderful to spend time with nature and see the seals up close and personal.

Had an amazing experience viewing the seals. Definintely something worth doing when visiting the Plett area. Next time we will swim with the seals as well.

Amazing experience. I can recommend everyone to do this trip with Offshore Adventures. They are very professional and we had a great time! Saw a lot of deals, they also took pictures of us swimming with them which you get for free afterwards! Thanks Stuart for the amazing trip!

Once in a lifetime opportunity to snorkel and experience the cape seals! the entire experience was a delight, from the friendly and upbeat staff, communication about start times, briefing, the boat ride out and the actual snorkelling. We are then treated to a warm shower after our amazing experience with the seals. Our guide gave us some very interesting facts and info about the seals before dipping into the cool waters. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Plett and surroundings.