Okay, now for some underwater pics. On our Alaska trip on the Nautilus Explorer, we dove about a half mile from a Stellar sea lion rookery. When these guys heard us splash, they sent out the welcoming party to investigate. Stellars are much like our California sea lions, but much, much, MUCH bigger. This is a baby and he is 300-400 pounds. At one point I had a big adult male come up and "roar" at me underwater. You don't so much hear, as feel an earthquake in your chest. I backed off in a hurry. Imagine a grizzly bear with fins!
The babies and females are so curious that they come and dive bomb the divers. They are so cute! But when they start "nipping" at your fins or drysuit you realize that they really are wild animals. The literally swim circles around the divers. The water was very turbid at this site so it is a bit eerie to see them zoom up out of the gloom. It also made the photography very challenging! Click on the photos for more details
Amazing eyes! That big male sounds very intimidating.
Alex
Do you have any pics of the big guy?
Looks like the divers in the background of the first one are getting the hell out of there!
Do you have any pics of the big guy?
Looks like the divers in the background of the first one are getting the hell out of there!
Sadly, I didn't get a photo of the big male. I was too busy swimming for cover. I headed to a crack in the wall, put my back to it, and looked out. I think that they blow bubbles at each other to express dominance. When we show up bubbling like no tomorrow, they feel like they have to reciprocate. In the dominance battle, we are going to lose every time.
or maybe it was just mating season and he took a liking to you
Great, can't wait to see more
Great shots Steve! I go to Hornby Island in BC almost every year to dive with Stellars. Tons of fun!
First they come in acting all cute and shit. “Oh look at me, I'm so cute”. They spin around you doing barrel roles, back flips and somersaults. Then after a little while a few disappear from sight and the next thing you know, someone's trying to pull your fins off and you're being poked and prodded like you just been abducted from area 51. Finally, one of these 400lb deviants decides to wrap his jaws around your head and you realize that they're “playing” with you the way person is playing as they whack a ping-pong ball against the wall rather that the way a child “plays” with a friend. Oh yes... great fun had by all!
So, why is it that I find myself sitting on the bottom asking myself “what is wrong with me” every time I get in the water with Stellars?
That last one has a very "David Doubilet look" with the side backscatter showing the true nature of the waters these beautiful animals live in. I like it very much.
That last one has a very "David Doubilet look" with the side backscatter showing the true nature of the waters these beautiful animals live in. I like it very much.
Thanks. My only regret is that I cut of the bottom animal a little. I guess I have to go back and get it right!
