Given the seal of approval! Teenage diver has trip of his life after being befriended by wild sea creature

A teenager first-time diver had the trip of his life when he was befriended by his affectionate wild seal.

The young diver, known only as Jamie, was diving off the Isle of Man when he was greeted by the animal, which nuzzled up to him like a pet.

Underwater pictures show the wild grey seal wrapping its fins around the 15-year-old diver’s legs, pawing like an excited little puppy.

Michelle Haywood from Discover Diving said: 'We were diving around the Calf of Man, a little islet situated on the southern tip of the Isle of Man.

'We had been in the water for only a few seconds when the seal approached us, initially tugging on our fins to get our attention.

'Whilst it’s not unusual for us to encounter seals during a dive, this particular seal clearly wanted to have some fun with us, and each time we thought he’d swum off, he came right back and swam around us like an excited little puppy.

'Jamie, the diver in the video, was on his first ever boat dive and the amazing encounter that he had that day is one that most divers wait all their lives for.'

The Isle of Man has a large seal population, of both grey and common, which inhabit the waters all year round.

Grey seals can be seen in their masses throughout the year, giving visitors prime seal spotting opportunities.