Underwater specialist Justin Hofman says he captured four likely first-ever underwater photographs of a Ross seal after 15 seasons in Antarctica. The images, taken during a Lindblad voyage aboard the National Geographic Resolution and shared on Instagram on Dec. 26, show the seal up close and in profile as it glides beneath pack ice. Ross seals are the smallest, rarest Antarctic true seals, living south of 60°S and diving to nearly 1,000 feet to hunt fish and squid. Their deep-ice habitat and long dives make underwater documentation exceptionally rare.
Photographer Justin Hofman Captures What May Be the First Underwater Photos of the Elusive Ross Seal
GettyRoss seal on Antarctic ice
Underwater photographer Justin Hofman says he has captured what are likely the first-ever photographs of a Ross seal beneath the ocean surface — a notable milestone for Antarctic wildlife photography.
Rare Sighting Beneath the Ice
Ross seals are the smallest and rarest of the Antarctic true seals and are notoriously difficult to study because they live deep within the Antarctic pack ice and rarely encounter people. Until now, most published images of the species were taken on sea ice rather than underwater.
How the Images Were Made
Hofman, an underwater specialist who has worked with Lindblad Expeditions for 15 Antarctic seasons, wrote on Instagram on Dec. 26 that he has seen only two Ross seals in that time: one on the ice and this recent individual in the water. During a voyage aboard the National Geographic Resolution that traveled farther south than his previous trips, Hofman photographed the seal in deep blue, icy water and shared four striking underwater shots.
“This animal lives so deep within the Antarctic pack ice that its life history is not very well understood, and it is not seen very often,”
What the Photos Show
The images show the seal up close — sometimes looking directly into the lens — and in profile gliding through the water. They reveal distinctive features of the species: broad, dark stripes on the body and neck, large eyes, a slender torso, a thick neck, and flippers and tail trailing as it swims.
About Ross Seals
According to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), Ross seals are born and bred in regions of medium to dense pack ice south of 60°S latitude. They venture into open water to hunt lanternfish, Antarctic silverfish and squid. Ross seals are capable of diving to nearly 1,000 feet (about 300 meters) and can remain submerged for more than 20 minutes, behaviors that make them especially challenging to observe and document.
Hofman described the photos as a personal and scientific milestone: a rare chance to document an animal that has rarely been seen beneath the ocean's surface. The images expand our visual knowledge of one of Antarctica's most elusive marine mammals and could inspire further study of their underwater behavior.
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