Charged by a Sea Lion Underwater

Underater bubbles accompany this roaring sea lion.

 Looking back at the beginnings of my underwater photography. I bought a little 4 megapixel digital camera with a housing from a friend of mine out in California. I was hooked from the very first time. I had some amazing encounters those first few years. As always with technology I wish I could go back to those encounters with the gear I have now and the knowledge of underwater photography.
  Take for example this picture of a charging sea lion off the coast of Santa Barbara Island. This is a famous sea lion rookery and one of my all time favorite snorkel and dive locations in the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. Younger sea lions playfully charge and roar underwater. Occasionally a big bull silently swims through your vision, eyeing you suspiciously. All the while the 'man in the grey tuxedo' may be just out of your vision.

California Sea Lion Close Up

   A young California Sea Lion gets up close to the camera off the coast of Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands Marine National Park. These youngsters are playful and energetic and seem very excited whenever we would show up with a boat full of snorkelers. I was charged many times like this and every time the sea lions would alter directions staying just out of hands reach. Every once in a while you could hear them barking underwater as they charged as bubbles came out of their open jaws.
   I always wondered why there were no sharks attacking the young pups. That was until we witnessed a massive great white shark attack a full grown sea lion about two miles off of this same rookery. After seeing these sea lions in action underwater its amazing a shark could ever catch one. They are the epitome of grace and agility with a child-like curiosity and playfulness that sparks the imagination.