I crept along the beach (I understand with some very puzzled onlookers) with the following as a result:
It was the closest encounter I have had, and thoroughly enjoyable (my shoes are still drying off since the tide came in and left me in 8 inches of water before the otter left allowing me to move without disturbing him)
I had made sure that I only moved while he was below the water, and always kept myself downwind. Lisa sat further back on the beach, reading a magazine while her camera was closeby. The otter played, fished, and swam straight past me, and decided to swim directly towards her- even though he must have smelt her, now being downwind of her. He swam to about 5 metres away, before continuing along the coast.
Butterfish seemed popular, and a crab was also eaten further out on a rock. We also saw him later on- presumably a regular in the area. No doubt I shall be keeping an eye in his direction whenever we return to the bay.
His right eye did concern me- noticeably puffy and reddened- possibly a wound and associated infection? Didn't seem to slow him down today however...
