After years of trying, I finally managed to film a seal feeding on its prey. At one of my favourite spots beneath the NCI in St Ives, I noticed a seal surfacing with what at first looked like seaweed. It soon became clear it was a cuttlefish, and I was able to capture several minutes of fascinating footage.

The seal repeatedly dived and surfaced, shaking the cuttlefish before tearing into it piece by piece. It was a remarkable display of natural feeding behaviour, something that is not often seen up close from shore. The water churned with movement as the seal worked to remove the tougher parts before finally consuming everything except the bone.

Watching the encounter felt like witnessing a rare glimpse into the everyday life of these animals. It was a reminder that beneath the calm surface of St Ives Bay, there is a constant rhythm of feeding, hunting, and survival taking place. For anyone with patience and a good eye, moments like this show just how alive Cornwall’s coastline really is.