Recess with the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

What started off as an overcast morning turned into a beautiful and truly inspirational day. When told that we would swim near sea lions, we never expected to actually get close and dance and twirl with these wonderful marine mammals. After getting over the initial shock of the cold water, the adrenaline rush pushed us onward to seek out the smiling lions. We quickly forgot how cold the water was and focused on watching these magnificent animals - as excited to see us as we were to see them. It was absolutely incredible to be in the same body of water as these animals, much less a part of their dance. Many of the curious and inquisitive creatures were juveniles born in 2000, not quite independent but well on their way to adulthood. We saw several juveniles still suckling on their mothers on shore, despite their large size and obvious agility at sea. These pinnipeds that dive for fish are typically quite wary. But here in the remote waters of the Gulf of California, where humans are not so common as in more populated areas, they swim alongside the Zodiac, incite frolicking among the divers, and seem free of fear. On shore, though, their loud calls for their mothers reveal that their weaning is not quite complete. And even though the loud din of barks and wails are incoherent to us humans, we suspect that somewhere, little junior is swimming in for dinner. "Come along dear, there is plenty of time to play later!"