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Sea Lion

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7

Sea lions are pinnipeds that are easily recognizable by their external ear flaps, cute, pointy nose, long, puffed up chest, and their ability to walk on all fours. Some of the more popular sea lion species are the California sea lion and the Steller sea lion. These fast, agile swimmers can reach up to 30 knots underwater and are very curious about the world around them. In fact, sea lions are not afraid of scuba divers in the least and have been known to buzz right around a group of divers, blow bubbles at them, and even chewing on their snorkels and fins.

Divesites
58
© iStock-Michael Zeigler

Dive sites with this animal

El Mar Diving Center, 85202 Mesa

South Point - San Pedro (★4.1)

Exposed dive site on the south tip of San Pedro de Nolasco. Can have strong currents, better for advanced and expert divers. Deep drop off and outside pinnacle with large pelagics at times.
CENTRO DE BUCEO PROSUB, 4270856 Concepción

RADA LOBOS (★4.3)

Rock inhabited by sea lions all year round, although it is an observation point for marine mammals, it also houses a great variety of flora and fauna, as well as passages between the submerged rocks and small caves where you can pass and observe the associated encrusting fauna.
SB Divers, 15856 Lima

La Lobera (★4.7)

Located on the northwest face of the Galapagos Island of Pucusana. Approximately 25 minutes by boat from Santa Maria and only 10 minutes from the Pucusana pier. It is an area where the sea hits directly, so a quick entry and descent from the boat is needed. Only for advanced divers.
Ben A. (#3536434)

North Point - San Pedro (★4.5)

North Point is located on the northern tip of San Pedro and is a fantastic dive site for beginners and advanced divers. Due to its location at the tip, the site is exposed to currents at times and offers pelagic species.
Todd H. (#2497908)

Cabo San Lucas (★4.2)

Cabo offers diving for all levels of divers and many different types of adventures from easy, calm aquarium like shore diving to deeper water diving off the coast at places like Gordo Banks that offer the possibility of large pelagic sightings like orcas, humpbacks, hammerheads, tuna, and more!
David F. (#2551895)

HMCS Yukon (Wreck) (★4.2)

The Yukon lives in an area known as ’Wreck Alley’ and is San Diego’s most popular wreck dive and one of the largest wrecks in all of California at 366 feet long! Sitting just off Mission Bay, the Yukon is an advanced dive as it sits in 100 plus feet of water.
Tim V. (#4208131)

Kicker Rock / Léon Dormido, San Cristobal, Galapagos (★4.5)

León Dormido, a gigantic rock formation rising out of the ocean, is a “sleeping lion.” The remains of a lava cone split in two, it is also known as “Kicker Rock.” Located off the coast of the island of San Cristóbal.
Shark Explorers, 7975 Simons Town

Partridge Point (★4.3)

Also known as Seal Rock. This site is at the southern edge of the Castle Rocks restricted zone, within the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, where no fishing has been permitted for many years, and the result can be seen in the numbers of fish.
Joep N. (#4775521)

Los Islotes (★4.7)

Once referred to as the ’aquarium of the world’ by Jacques Cousteau, diving in the waters surrounding La Paz, Mexico is just that: so full of diverse marine life it’s like diving in an aquarium. Los Islotes boasts great rock formations and tons of marine life but most divers come here for the sea lions.
SSI USA West Coast Training Center - no certs -, 33487 Boca Raton

Casino Point Dive Park (★4.5)

Casino Point Dive Park, also known as the Avalon Underwater Dive Park, is the most popular dive site on Catalina Island and one of the most popular dive sites in all of Southern California. Catalina Island is only accessible via private boat or ferry from the mainland so check ferry schedules.
El Mar Diving Center, 85202 Mesa

Las Cascaditas (★4.5)

Las Cascasdas (or Las Cascaditas) is a popular dive site near San Pedro Nolasco Island, close to San Carlos, Mexico, known for its underwater “waterfalls“ (rock formations/boulders).
Frederick T. (#4532825)

Channel Islands Break Wall (★4.2)

An easily accessible dive site from Channel Island Beach. A great spot for beginners with an easy swim out to the site. Lots of critters hiding within the rocks of the break wall.
Bamboo Reef Dive Centers, 94107 San Francisco

San Carlos Beach (★4.0)

San Carlos offers an easy entry beach dive along with all the amenities including two dive shops within walking distance, plenty of parking, bathrooms, and showers.
Claudia G. (#4714827)

Swanee Reef (★4.6)

Swanee Reef is a natural dive site south of Espíritu Santo Island, near La Paz, Mexico. It is known for its rich marine life, including sea lions, rays, moray eels, and large schools of fish, and is also known to be the site of the Salvatierra Ferry shipwreck.
Joe G. (#3100699)

Sea Lion Colony (★4.6)

Fantastic place to start your Diving expedition. Sea Lions are like lovely dogs, very curious and friendly. This dive site is also full of other marine life and it is an easy dive.
iStock-mantaphoto

Gordon Rocks, Galapagos (★4.5)

Near to the Santa Cruz Island and also known as the “washing machine”, you find the Gordon Rocks. Due to currents and upwellings, this dive site is suitable for advanced divers. On this site you will see hammerhead sharks and the famous oceanic sunfish (mola mola).
Mares

La Jolla Canyon (★4.0)

Kelp beds on the outer edges of the slope are popular fishing spots and great for observing seals, dolphins, birds and fish. Beyond the slope the bottom takes a sudden and 500-foot (150 m)-deep plunge into the La Jolla Canyon. The canyon reaches depths of 600 feet (180 m) within the park.
Aqualung

The Marine Room (★3.9)

Entry: use the alleyway next to The Marine Room Restaurant. Careful during higher tide as the water will wash on to steps. Sandy bottom, stays 3-5 meters for at least 100m out from shore.
Mares

El Bajo - Cabo Pulmo (★4.6)

The beautiful underwater topography mirrors the cliffs above water and creates a dramatic backdrop for the amazing wildlife sightings in the Sea of Cortez.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

El Bajo Sea Mounts (★4.0)

Probably the most famous dive site in La Paz, Mexico, the Baja Seamounts are a series of seamounts ravaged by heavy current as they are exposed to the open ocean of the Sea of Cortez, therefore, this is considered an advanced to expert dive site and only accessible by boat.
Mares

Anacapa Island (★4.2)

From spectacular walls and deep drop-offs to dive-bombing sea lions, wrecks, and relaxing kelp, Anacapa Island, the smallest of the Channel Islands, has it all. Although Anacapa Island is only reachable by boat, there are several dive charter operations that leave from the mainland daily, making it very accessible
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Catalina Island (★4.5)

With over 70 named dive sites, Catalina Island has it all and is one of the most popular diving destinations in the state of California. On Catalina Island, you can dive from shore or boat over beautiful reefs or majestic kelp beds all teeming with wildlife.
Scubapro

Breakwater Cove (★3.9)

The Breakwater is a very popular dive site for Open Water classes with its calm water, easy entry, and protection from ocean swell. It is a fairly short walk from your car to the water and there is a dive shop within walking distance for air fills.
Aqualung

La Jolla Shores (★4.0)

La Jolla Shores is the most popular dive site in San Diego county. Accessible from Kellogg Park, “The Shores“ is an easy beach entry unless the surf is high, then only those experienced in high surf entries should dive.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Sea of Cortez (★4.4)

The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, is a warm, sub-tropical strip of water that sits between Baja California and the mainland of Mexico.