Adorable: Tweed Heads gets seal of approval in ‘once in a lifetime’ Cook Island sighting

The rare sight thrilled beachgoers who said they’ve nothing seen unlike like the adorable sea critter on our beaches. Video inside >>>

A seal has made a splash on the Northern Rivers recently, thrilling onlookers with the unusual sighting.

The sea mammal was captured on video near Fingal Head on July 18, surprising beachgoer Kylie Skye Hankin and her partner, who spotted the adorable seal on their boat.

The pair regularly free dive around Cook Island and had seen a bevy of turtles, starfish and coral but this was a first.

“At first, it looked like a blob, I thought maybe it’s a shark, and then it starting swimming towards us,” Ms Hankin said.

“What was so cool about him was he was so intrigued by us, he kept following us for about half and hour down to Fingal.

“It was honestly so magical … he was showing off and playing with us, going from one side of the boat to the other.

“It was like a dog in the ocean.”

Ms Hankin posted the video on a Kingscliff Facebook community group where others chimed in, believing they also sighted the seal.

Many also noted the seal, typically a very social species, was not travelling with a pack.

“Everyone’s been saying to us it’s a once in a lifetime thing,” Ms Hankin said.

A NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said it was common to see seals along the NSW coastline, including on the North Coast, between May and September.

“The most common species we see are Australian Fur Seals, New Zealand or Long-nosed Fur Seals, and occasionally Leopard seals,” she said.

“Seals spotted during this winter period are typically juveniles that have recently weaned from their mothers.”

While a thrilling sighting, NPWS spokeswoman urged sightseers to be careful around seals, to protect them from inappropriate disturbances and to protect people from potential harm.

Seals can react aggressively as a defence to disturbances. she said.

When spotting a seal, residents should: Keep 10 metres from an adult seal in the water, or

40 metres from an adult seal hauled out on land, and 80 metres from a seal pup in the water or on land.

If you see a seal in distress or injured report them to the NPWS on 13000 PARKS or ORRCA on 9415 3333 but give them space.