They extend east–west for about 5 km,[1] and are separated from Elephant Island by Sealers Passage.

Seal Island, the largest in the group, has a coastline of precipitous cliffs, with a sandy beach on the western shore and some small coves.

It is constituted of poorly consolidated sedimentary rocks which are susceptible to wave and runoff erosion.

[1] The islands, with the intervening marine zone, have been identified as a 514 ha Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support several breeding colonies, totalling some 20,000 pairs, of chinstrap penguins.

Southern elephant, Weddell, leopard and crabeater seals haul out there.