Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Photos

Water falling from the fluke (tail) of a humpback whale as the whale dives to forage for food in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Santa Rosa Island, California
Image ID: 27029  

California sea lion, underwater at Santa Barbara Island. Santa Barbara Island, 38 miles off the coast of southern California, is part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park. It is home to a large population of sea lions.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23418  

Northern fur seal swims through the cold waters and kelp forest of San Miguel Island, in California's northern Channel Islands.
Species: Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00966  

Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02435  

California sea lions, socializing/resting, Webster Point rookery, Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 06284  

California sea lions, underwater at Santa Barbara Island. Santa Barbara Island, 38 miles off the coast of southern California, is part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park. It is home to a large population of sea lions.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23429  

California sea lions, underwater at Santa Barbara Island. Santa Barbara Island, 38 miles off the coast of southern California, is part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park. It is home to a large population of sea lions.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23422  

Pyrosome in Kelp Forest, Santa Barbara Island.
Species: Pyrosome, Pyrosoma
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 35826  

Kelp fronds showing pneumatocysts, bouyant gas-filled bubble-like structures which float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface, where it will spread to form a roof-like canopy.
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 35827  

Kelp Forest, Santa Barbara Island.
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 35830  

Polyp of a strawberry anemone (club-tipped anemone, more correctly a corallimorph).
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 01039  

A California sea lion plays with a piece of kelp, underwater at Santa Barbara Island. Santa Barbara Island, 38 miles off the coast of southern California, is part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park. It is home to a large population of sea lions.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23427  

Kelp Forest, Santa Barbara Island.
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 35829  

Chestnut cowry.
Species: Chestnut cowrie, Date cowrie, Cypraea spadicea
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 34206  

A SCUBA diver enters a submarine cavern at Santa Barbara Island, underwater cave.
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23423  

Aggregating anemone detail.
Species: Aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00290  

California sea lion, juveniles at play in kelp forest.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 00619  

Northern fur seal.
Species: Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00965  

Northern fur seal.
Species: Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00967  

Kelp frond in motion, time exposure.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02344  

Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02436  

Kelp stipe and blades.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02498  

California bat ray swimming amidst giant kelp forest.
Species: California bat ray, Macrocystis pyrifera, Myliobatis californica
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03414  

California sea lion, Webster Point rookery.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03803  

California sea lion, Webster Point rookery.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03804  

California sea lion, Webster Point rookery.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03807  

California sea lion, Webster Point rookery.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03811  

California sea lion, Webster Point rookery.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 03812  

California sea lion.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 04827  

California sea lions, socializing/resting, Webster Point rookery, Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 06285