Simon Nadim, Managing Director of the Pure Tech Diving Facility in Batroun, Lebanon, has contacted TMG to report two separate sightings of a Mediterranean monk seal, on the 15.08.2010 and 04.09.2010 respectively.
The encounters both occurred whilst diving amongst caves in northern Lebanon and were recorded on video. The animal is reported to be at least 2m in length, and is evidently in good condition.
Given the extreme rarity of the species, and its sensitivity to human disturbance, the exact location of the sightings is being kept confidential.
The Mediterranean monk seal has been considered extinct in Lebanon for many years, and it is likely that this particular individual originates from elsewhere.
It may or may not be coincidence that seal sightings were also reported along the coast of Israel earlier this year, where the species was also previously considered extinct.
Our thanks to Simon Nadim and Karim Hermes of Pure Tech Diving Facility for sharing this important information and video footage.
Pure Tech’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44025245569
First sighting on 15.08.2010. Video courtesy Simon Nadim, Pure Tech Diving Facility.
Second sighting on 4.09.2010. Video courtesy Simon Nadim, Pure Tech Diving Facility.
Hi, I remember seing a seal on the cost of Lebanon around Q3-Q4 of 2010, some 20km north of beirut. I was in my boat with my son and a friend and the seal was close to the shore and seemed to be following some fish that started to jump out of the water. the color of the seal was dark gray and was around 2 m long.
I was snorkelling today April 8 2018 and a fishermen on the rocks told me I had just missed a seal. I won’t leave the location for obvious reasons.
Hello Richard, where exactly was that? Beirut… or another place along the coast? Thank you
Tamara hi it was at Joining beach in the middle of the rocky outcrops just 100m to the south of the little restaurant.
I should have added that Joining beach is just south of Batroun.