Pinniped

Australian fur seal

Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus

IUCN status: Least concernWidely sought

A large fur seal breeding around Bass Strait and Tasmania. Water encounters are opportunistic and animals must control the approach.

Max size
Males up to about 2.3m
Habitat
Rocky islands and cool coastal waters of southeastern Australia

Best places to dive with Australian fur seal

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season
Tasmania — East & Southeast
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Resident habitat association; individual sightings are never guaranteed.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 1 source and checking notes