Their actions perplexed Shawn. He was a seasoned diver and he had seen many things, but nothing like this. More seals began to surround him. He was encircled in a matter of moments. The pup that had initiated the craze was now buried in its midst. Shawn&#8217;s mind started racing. The situation was no longer safe.

Unusual Experience 

Growing up, Shawn Dunmore was different from the other children. He spent the majority of his teenage years lost in a dreamland. All of his friends wanted to become engineers and doctors, but Shawn knew he was destined for something different. Shawn was mesmerized by nature, and working in an office setting sounded tedious to him. After school, he had a serendipitous experience that led him to his actual calling.

A Different Path 

Shawn and his family resided in Windham, New Hampshire. They lived in a beautiful up-and-coming town, and they were content with their lives. Having a well-known dentist as a mother and an architect as a father has its advantages. His parents did everything in their power to make sure that their children lived a comfortable and happy life. Shawn&#8217;s fate was transformed during a family vacation on his eighteenth birthday.

A Good Life

Shawn’s parents took him on a trip to the Isles of Shoals, located on the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire. The lighthouses and seal diving excursions on the islands were well-known. Shawn felt at ease on the boat journey, inhaling the crisp, salty air. He understood this was his destiny the instant he dived for the very first time.

His Destiny 

Shawn’s parents believed that the path to success included attending college. Shawn knew that it would be difficult to follow his true calling with his parent’s expectations. When Shawn shared his desire to become a diver, they initially thought that he was referring to a mere vacation job. They were displeased when it became evident that this was his desired professional path. On the other hand, Shawn was adamant, so he devised a strategy.

Convincing His Parents 

Shawn had always been creative and capable of making things happen independently. Shawn drafted a business plan after conducting an extensive study. He wanted to persuade his mom and dad that scuba diving was a plausible career path. Shawn was pleased with his idea, but he recalled the agonizing anticipation for his parents&#8217; decision.

Making A Plan 

Shawn instantly impressed his parents with his thorough plan and because of this, they gave him their full support. They provided him with professional diving courses, bought his equipment, and gave him some money to kick start his career. Years down the line, Shawn decided it was time to venture out after earning his certification as a professional instructor. He was now ready to strike out on his own.

Their Full Support

Shawn&#8217;s greatest achievement was repaying his parents&#8217; trust in him, and he did so in record time. Shawn created his own scuba diving adventure company and was quite prosperous. Shawn had accomplished what most people aspire to: he had turned his passion into a profession. Even he, though, had no idea to see where it would carry him.

A Huge Success 

It took Shawn a few years, but he eventually became quite the successful diving instructor. He also offered diving adventures for tourists. This all took place where Shawn realized his passion, at the Isles of Shoals. Diving with seals and sea lions was a popular activity on the main island. Shawn felt he understood everything there was to know about these exquisite animals, but they astonished him on that particular day.

Isles Of Shoals 

On a normal diving excursion to the Isles, Shawn and his companions came across a large harem of seals. Even though seals normally avoid divers, one pup, in particular, acted abnormally toward them. It kept poking Shawn with its nose and approaching him fearlessly. Shawn had no idea what it wanted, but his senses warned him something wasn&#8217;t quite right.

Strange Behavior 

Shawn’s advice was always to stay still when confronted by sea creatures. No sudden movements were the key. As the seal pup became more agitated as it nuzzled at Shawn’s hands, he felt nervous. The rest of the harem were all nearby, including the larger adults. Shawn was afraid they might think he was a threat to the pup if she didn’t stop soon.

The Situation Got Hairy

Before long, Shawn found himself surrounded by most of the harem. He was really nervous now and hoped his inexperienced clients wouldn’t try to intervene. The way the pup kept nibbling his hand and turning over made him think of a dog. On instinct, when it turned again, he began rubbing its belly. To his surprise and relief, this was what the pup had wanted all along.

He Was Surrounded

Shawn had never encountered this particular harem of seals. The Atlantic Greys were more docile and friendly than wild seals usually were. These were definitely a unique group. After rubbing the pup’s belly, to Shawn&#8217;s astonishment, more pups and even some adults began swimming up to him and nudging him too. There was only one thing to do.

A Rogue Group

Motioning for his clients to follow suit, soon Shawn and his tour group were all mingling with the seals. This behavior was unusual but made for the most enjoyable dive Shawn had ever experienced. His clients had the time of their lives, and soon everyone was interacting like one big family. The seals behaved remarkably like puppy dogs, and there was no option but to provide belly rubs all around.

New Friends 

Shawn later learned that some seals on the Isles were becoming more tolerant of humans. The increased tours had adjusted the seals well, and they no longer saw their human friends as threats. When Shawn began his diving career, he knew he would do well but never expected to become a viral sensation. However, after releasing his GoPro footage of the seals, this was precisely what happened.

This Diver And Seal Whale Have An Incredible Relationship