California / Baja California photos

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Huge California Sea Lion Male Underwater, a bull, patrolling his breeding harem and territory, Coronado Islands, Mexico. His sagittal crest, the bony bump on his head that distinguishes adult male sea lions, is clearly seen. This particular sea lion bears an orange tag on his left foreflipper, probably as a result of rescue and release as a young sea lion years earlier, Zalophus californianus, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)
Huge California Sea Lion Male Underwater, a bull, patrolling his breeding harem and territory, Coronado Islands, Mexico. His sagittal crest, the bony bump on his head that distinguishes adult male sea lions, is clearly seen. This particular sea lion bears an orange tag on his left foreflipper, probably as a result of rescue and release as a young sea lion years earlier.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 38655  
Two Giant Black Sea Bass in a Courtship Posture, in Kelp at Catalina Island. In summer months, black seabass gather in kelp forests in California to form mating aggregations. Courtship behaviors include circling of pairs of giant sea bass, production of booming sounds by presumed males, and nudging of females by males in what is though to be an effort to encourage spawning, Stereolepis gigas
Two Giant Black Sea Bass in a Courtship Posture, in Kelp at Catalina Island. In summer months, black seabass gather in kelp forests in California to form mating aggregations. Courtship behaviors include circling of pairs of giant sea bass, production of booming sounds by presumed males, and nudging of females by males in what is though to be an effort to encourage spawning.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39432  
Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer, Catalina Island, Prognathodes falcifer
Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer, Catalina Island.
Species: Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 40516  
Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food, Corynactis californica, San Diego, California
Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food.
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33472  
Cabo Pearce on Socorro Island, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)
Cabo Pearce on Socorro Island, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico.
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32905  
Panorama dimensions: 4282 x 11583
A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island, Carcharodon carcharias, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 21348  
San Clemente Island aerial photo, Pyramid Head and Balanced Rock (China Hat) at the southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island, exhibits distinctive geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests
San Clemente Island aerial photo, Pyramid Head and Balanced Rock (China Hat) at the southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island, exhibits distinctive geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests.
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38483  
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus, Catalina Island
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks.
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37177  
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth. Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth. Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39433  
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico, Zalophus californianus, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)
California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 36466  
Bryozoan grows on a red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Bryozoan grows on a red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25395  
California sea lions swim and socialize over a kelp-covered rocky reef, underwater at San Clemente Island in California's southern Channel Islands, Zalophus californianus
California sea lions swim and socialize over a kelp-covered rocky reef, underwater at San Clemente Island in California's southern Channel Islands.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02158  
Guadalupe fur seal pup sits on brown rocks along the coastline of Guadalupe Island, Arctocephalus townsendi, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Guadalupe fur seal pup sits on brown rocks along the coastline of Guadalupe Island.
Species: Guadalupe fur seal, Arctocephalus townsendi
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 02441  
A SCUBA diver swimming over a rocky reef covered with kelp, watches a brightly colored orange garibaldi fish, Hypsypops rubicundus, San Clemente Island
A SCUBA diver swimming over a rocky reef covered with kelp, watches a brightly colored orange garibaldi fish.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01113  
Oil Rig Ellen and Elly with invertebrate life growing on it and fish swimming around, Corynactis californica, Hypsypops rubicundus, Long Beach, California
Oil Rig Ellen and Elly with invertebrate life growing on it and fish swimming around.
Species: Strawberry Anemone, Garibaldi, Corynactis californica, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: Long Beach, California
Image ID: 34654  
California Sea Lion Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico, Zalophus californianus, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)
California Sea Lion Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 36471  
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus, Catalina Island
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks.
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37184  
Sunrise at San Clemente Island, south end showing China Hat (Balanced Rock) and Pyramid Head, near Pyramid Cove, storm clouds. Panoramic photo
Sunrise at San Clemente Island, south end showing China Hat (Balanced Rock) and Pyramid Head, near Pyramid Cove, storm clouds. Panoramic photo.
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 30855  
Panorama dimensions: 5232 x 24109
Submarine Reef with Hydrocoral and Invertebrates, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island, Allopora californica, Corynactis californica, Stylaster californicus
Submarine Reef with Hydrocoral and Invertebrates, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island.
Species: Hydrocoral, Strawberry anemone, Allopora californica, Corynactis californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 34187  
Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)
Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico.
Species: Giant manta ray, Manta birostris
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 33276  
San Benedicto Island and Barcena crater, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)
San Benedicto Island and Barcena crater, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico.
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32914  
Panorama dimensions: 4703 x 8937
Garibaldi swims in the kelp forest, sunlight filters through towering giant kelp plants rising from the ocean bottom to the surface, underwater, Hypsypops rubicundus, Catalina Island
Garibaldi swims in the kelp forest, sunlight filters through towering giant kelp plants rising from the ocean bottom to the surface, underwater.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 23419  
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25393  
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet, Balaenoptera physalus, La Jolla, California
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet.
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 27116  
Guadalupe Island at sunrise, panorama. Volcanic coastline south of Pilot Rock and Spanish Cove, near El Faro lighthouse, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Guadalupe Island at sunrise, panorama. Volcanic coastline south of Pilot Rock and Spanish Cove, near El Faro lighthouse.
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 28758  
Panorama dimensions: 4224 x 25926
Punta Norte, the northern point of Guadalupe Island, viewed from the north. Punta Desfiladero (Blunt Point) and Roca Elefante are just visible at far right, and Roca Piloto (Pilot Rock) is see to the left of the island against the distant sweep of the cliffs that comprise the northeastern bight of the island, actually the rim of an enormous caldera, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Punta Norte, the northern point of Guadalupe Island, viewed from the north. Punta Desfiladero (Blunt Point) and Roca Elefante are just visible at far right, and Roca Piloto (Pilot Rock) is see to the left of the island against the distant sweep of the cliffs that comprise the northeastern bight of the island, actually the rim of an enormous caldera.
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 28760  
Panorama dimensions: 4595 x 13560
Closeup Portrait of the Face of a Giant Black Sea Bass, showing parasitic sea lice. The sea lice are parasites that find their nutrition from the skin and blood of the host giant sea bass. Smaller fishes such as senoritas and wrasses will commonly clean the sea lice off the giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Closeup Portrait of the Face of a Giant Black Sea Bass, showing parasitic sea lice. The sea lice are parasites that find their nutrition from the skin and blood of the host giant sea bass. Smaller fishes such as senoritas and wrasses will commonly clean the sea lice off the giant sea bass.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39436  
Juvenile garibaldi, vibrant spots distinguish it from pure orange adult form, Hypsypops rubicundus, Catalina Island
Juvenile garibaldi, vibrant spots distinguish it from pure orange adult form.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 40527  
Acorn Barnacle extends to feed in ocean current, amid colony of Corynactis anemones, Corynactis californica, Megabalanus californicus, San Diego, California
Acorn Barnacle extends to feed in ocean current, amid colony of Corynactis anemones.
Species: Acorn barnacle, Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica, Megabalanus californicus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33455  
Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)
Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico.
Species: Giant manta ray, Manta birostris
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 33285  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.