As I try to do every year, I did some diving at the Coronado Islands in October and November to watch California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Islas Coronado lie just south of the US border about 10 miles offshore of Tijuana, Mexico. The group of four islands and some rocks is a surprisingly rich and wild place for being so close to two large cities. California sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals are typically found at the islands year-round, along with many sea birds, fishes, migrating whales and occasional sharks. The small colony of sea lions found at “Lobster Shack” on the northernmost of the Coronado Islands will usually have pups, especially late summer, fall and winter. The pups are born around June; the common wisdom seems to be that about half of the California sea lions born each year are born on June 15 but I am skeptical of this. By September some are strong and inquisitive enough to venture into the water with divers. As the weeks pass, more and more of the young ones seek out divers, and they grow increasingly bold and mischievous. It is my favorite time of year to be diving in California. This year I got out with friends for seven days of dives at the colony. I typically make a two-hour dive followed by a 90-minute dive in very shallow water. The goal each year is to make nice portraits of the adult males (“bulls”, huge and dark in color with large sagittal crest “bumps” on their heads), the adult harem females (often a creamy light golden color) and juveniles of various ages including the young-of-the-year just 3-4 months old. These are some of my favorites from this year. Cheers, and thanks for looking!
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.
Image ID: 39952
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
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.
Image ID: 39953
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
California Sea Lion and Underwater Photographer Celia Kujala at the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Image ID: 39954
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
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.
Image ID: 39762
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
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.
Image ID: 39767
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
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.
Image ID: 39955
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, 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.
Image ID: 39957
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Female California Sea Lion with Severe Fishing Line Entanglement Injury, in the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico. The line is buried in the sea lions 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.
Image ID: 39959
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), 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.
Image ID: 39960
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Two Young California Sea Lions at Play Underwater in the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Image ID: 39961
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Young California Sea Lion Pup Looks at the Underwater Camera That Is Taking Its Photograph, in the Coronado Islands, Baja, Mexico. In this shallow cobblestone-strewn cove, sea lions often chase zebra perch two of which are seen in the background.
Image ID: 39962
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Inverted California Sea Lion Checks Out the Underwater Photographer taking its picture at the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Image ID: 39965
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Large Adult Male California Sea Lion Bull Underwater, Mexico. His sagittal crest, the prominent bump on the top of his head, is clearly seen. A few bubbles trail behind him because he typically barks underwater as he swims. This bull had assembled a large group of adult females and remained in a 75-yard stretch of rocky shoreline to guard them from other males. Here he is seen patrolling the underwater perimeter of his harem territory, something he does often.
Image ID: 39986
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
California Sea Lion Nibbles the Dive Mask of an Underwater Photographer at the Coronado Islands, Mexico. Sea lions, especially young ones, are very inquisitive and will often test the gear that divers have the only way they can, by nibbling and rubbing it with their foreflippers.
Image ID: 39970
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Young California Sea Lion Pup On the Cobblestone Patch, Looking at the Underwater Camera Taking Its Photograph, in the Coronado Islands, Baja, Mexico. Young sea lions will often play with the cobblestones seen here, lifting them into the water column before letting them sink back down, all the while keeping them just out of reach of the divers they are taunting.
Image ID: 39977
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Two Young California Sea Lions socialize and look at the photographer while at the ocean surface, rocks and island visible above the water in the background, North Coronado Island, Mexico.
Image ID: 39978
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Young California Sea Lion Pup hovers along a rocky reef while early morning sunlight beams cut through the water behind it, in the Coronado Islands, Baja, Mexico.
Image ID: 39979
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
A cute young California Sea Lion Pup comes to the camera for a close look at its reflection, in the Coronado Islands, Baja, Mexico.
Image ID: 39980
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Two Young California Sea Lion pups hang upside down while looking at the curious man-fish below them, in a shallow sea lion colony in the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Image ID: 39981
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
