You should never try to dive inshore there!!!

Pics from video made recently in Argentina, was my second stay in Valdes peninsula
A spot chosen by orcas to feed... to this end they show an amazing strategy by beaching to catch pups/ young sea lions...
Observing these exceptional attacks depends of multiple parameters, in particular:
- low tide
-sea becalmed and light wind (rare in this extreme weather area)
-pups about 2/ 3 month olds completely unaware of the danger
-hungry orcas patrolling the beach, but only some of them do that
thank's to my friend Juan and his welcome at his close to beach "estancia"

pics...

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Do the seals and pups leave after the whales start feeding or can they not seek refuge further up on the sand?

yes! but they get back swimming again few minutes after the attack!!
most of the time attacks are made by two or three orcas and only one pup is taken during the action... orcas have been using echolocation to spot the seal in the shallow water, the visi there is poor because of the waves and sand
sea water is about 14C degree, current is strong++