Galapagos Sea Lion, Cousins Rock, Photo

Galapagos Sea Lion, Cousins Rock, Natural History Photography Blog

Galapagos Sea Lion, Cousins Rock

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Latitude: 0° 14' 10.35" S, Longitude: 90° 34' 28.52" W, Coord: -0.23621°, -90.57459°
Filed under: Galapagos Diaries on 2/25/2009

The last time I dove Cousins Rock, one of the finer dive sites in the Galapagos Islands, I was set up to photograph sea horses. I rarely shoot macro, but on this trip I was burned out from two weeks of diving and swimming long distances (the currents are strong in the Galapagos Islands), and I planned to settle down on one of the ledges at Cousins and just shoot the sea horses. After a few minutes on the ledge, I felt a nudge on my shoulder. A young Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus wollebacki) is laying down beside me, watching what I am doing. I had no idea it was there. It hangs out for a few minutes, playing with the smooth stones that are found on the ledges (probably left there by other sea lions), and finally leaves to swim up to the surface for a breath of air. A few minutes later there it is again, right beside me. It stayed with me like this for the entire hour-long dive. What a pleasant and mellow companion, willing to just hang out with me and relax! I eventually obliged it by taking its portrait, converted here to black and white.

Galapagos sea lion., Zalophus californianus wollebacki, Zalophus californianus wollebaeki, Copyright Phillip Colla, image #16395, all rights reserved worldwide.

Galapagos sea lion. Cousins, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Image: 16395
Species: Zalophus californianus wollebacki, Zalophus californianus wollebaeki
Location: Cousins, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador