Hornby Island BC - Stellar Sea Lions

I made my first trip to Hornby Island in BC last month, and thougth I would share the photos with you all. The headline star of this trip is the colony of Stellar Sea Lions that live on the island. We had a few fabulous dives where a couple of dozen sea lions came down to play with us and interact. Altough some of the males can be 9 feet long and 2000 pounds, they are really very gentle. They really enjoyed nipping and fins, hoses, heads, and legs but they are just playing and never hurt anyone. Sort of like big, wet, playful puppies.

We stayed at the Hornby Island Dive Lodge, and it's just about the nicest diving facility I have ever been too. They run a great operation and I highly recommend it.

You can check out some photos from the trip here:

http://www.pbase.com/davehicks/hornby_island_mar_2006

Dave

Sea Lion checking out her reflection in the Dome Port

Harasing the poor divers.

Cool shot Dave... i haven't been to Hornby in ages! Guess you were too early for the 6 Gills?

Cool shot Dave... i haven't been to Hornby in ages!  Guess you were too early for the 6 Gills?

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Yes, I understand they come later in the year. Personally, I think the Sea Lions are a lot more fun. You would not have as good a time if a Six Gill were nibbling on your fins!

Dave

Sea lions are so damn much fun to shoot, but if I could photograph a six gill I'd take that in a heart beat. I'd probably pull out my knife and make it a seven gill shark though

Thanks for the reminder. I head to Port Hrdy on Thursday.

As for six gills, I would absolutely love to photograph them. A buddy and I have talked about doing that with Bill and Pacific Pro Dive out of Comox. I'm back there in September but can't remember when the 6 gill season is...

September's a little late.....usually July, but last August there was one in Howe Sound, just off the multimillion $ homes in West Vancouver. Go figure. I was skunked last year in August at Hornby. Bill's a great operator, by the way, but so are Rob and Amanda out of Hornby. Sightings of sharkies were down last year. The other area that seems to get them is Barclay Sound, and July was when friends saw them there. The other issue, of course is visibility. The season for them coincides with the "murky planktonic why we have lots of life crummy" vis season. As for the sea lions, I haven't been back diving with them since Mr. Nasty (check the avatar) bit two of my friends. It seems best if you're not in a big group, as they perhaps feel threatened on their turf.

Cheers,

Marli