California sea lions underwater, Coronados Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
A beautiful golden-brown female California Sea Lion at the Coronado Islands, posing on a carpet of purple marine algae, Baja California, Mexico.
Juvenile Northern Elephant Seal Underwater, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
A mother California sea lion (left) and her pup (right), underwater at the Coronado Islands, Mexico. Mothers and pups spend much time together with the mother teaching her young padawan learner how to pursue prey. I spent a lot of time over 6 days watching this pair in Fall 2023.
California Sea Lion Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Young Adult Male California Sea Lion Underwater, his sagittal crest (bump on his head) is starting to be visible. In another year or two he will be large enough to challenge for his own harem and begin mating with females.
Two Young California Sea Lions at Play Underwater in the Coronado Islands, Mexico. Pups spend much of their time playing with one another in the water, strengthening their swimming skills and mock jousting.
California Sea Lion and Underwater Photographer Celia Kujala at the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
California sea lion, Coronados Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Zebra perch, Hermosilla azurea, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
California sea lion pup at the Coronado Islands, Mexico, inquisitive of the photographer, underwater.
California sea lions playing underwater, socializing at North Coronado Island, Baja California, Mexico. Much of the play and mock sparring young sea lions perform involves biting and mouthing because what else can they use - they have no hands, duh.
Female California sea lion laying on pink marine algae, Coronado Islands, Mexico. Another female rests at the surface in the background, and two orange garibaldi fish swim around over the reef.
Middle Coronado Island, viewed from the south.
California sea lions, Coronado Islands.
California sea lion, Coronado Islands.
North Coronado Island, Mexico, northern point looking south with Middle and South Islands in the distance, aerial photograph.
California Sea Lion hunting Zebra Perch, Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Garibaldi and Marine Algae, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Sargassum and Marine Algae, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
California Sea Lion Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
California Sea Lion Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
California sea lion hanging upside-down underwater, watching the photographer, Baja California, Mexico.
California sea lion pup at the Coronado Islands, Mexico, inquisitive of the photographer, underwater.
California sea lion pup at the Coronado Islands, Mexico, inquisitive of the photographer, underwater.
A young California sea lion pup hovers upside down, looking down curiously at the photographer below it, in the shallows of the sea lion colony at the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Adult Male California Sea Lion with Several Young Pups, Mexico. This male sea lion is not yet large and mature enough to form his own harem so he swims at the underwater periphery of the territories of the more established males to see what females he can approach without being challenged and chased off by a bigger male.
Female California Sea Lion with Severe Fishing Line Entanglement Injury, in the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico. The line is buried in the sea lion's tissue so far that is difficult to see. It is possible this synthetic line will continue to cut into the skin of this sea lion until it succumbs to infection or blood loss. I have never seen any marine mammal rescue teams at the Coronado islands and suspect this poor animal will not live long.
California sea lions underwater, Coronados Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Aerial Photo of North Coronado Island, southern point looking north, Baja California, Mexico.
Middle Coronado Rock Island, aerial photo.
North Coronado Island aerial photo, Baja California, Mexico.
Atop South Coronado Island, aerial photo.
California sea lion.
Brown pelicans feeding en masse on clouds of krill, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Middle Coronado Island, aerial photo. Moonlight Cove on the left. Middle Rocks (Middle Grounds) and North Coronado Island in the distance.
Fin whale dorsal fin. The fin whale is named for its tall, falcate dorsal fin. Mariners often refer to them as finback whales. Coronado Islands, Mexico (northern Baja California, near San Diego).
California sea lion, Coronados Islands.
California sea lion hanging upside-down underwater, watching the photographer, Baja California, Mexico.
California sea lion hanging upside-down underwater, watching the photographer, Baja California, Mexico.
Marine algae including invasive sargassum, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Atop South Coronado Island, aerial photo.
California sea lion, Coronado Islands.
Garibaldi, Coronado Islands.
Gray whales traveling south to Mexico during their winter migration. The annual migration of the California gray whale is the longest known migration of any mammal, 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the Bering Sea to Baja California.
A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background.
Invasive sargassum, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
South Coronado Island, Mexico, northern point showing underwater reef structure, aerial photograph.
South Coronado Island, Mexico, southern point looking north, Middle and North Islands in the distance, aerial photograph.
North Island, northwest exposure, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado).
Zoanthid anemones, Coronado Islands.
Pelagic red tuna crabs, Coronado Islands.
Zoanthid anemones, Coronado Islands.
Garibaldi juvenile, vibrant spots distinguish it from pure orange adult form, Coronado Islands.
Cormorant colony, Coronado Islands, Mexico.