La Jolla’s Amazing Body Surfing Sea Lions

By March 14, 2022March 15th, 2022La Jolla, Sea Lion

One of my photographic projects the last couple years has been the California Sea Lion colony in La Jolla. I spend a lot of time making portraits of them on rocky Point La Jolla.  These are beautiful animals and I try to depict them as such.  But where sea lions are most appealing is in the water.  I have spent many years photographing sea lions underwater, mostly in Baja and the Channel Islands where the water is clear and blue.  But when it comes to sea lion acrobatics viewed from above water, La Jolla is one of the best places in the world since it is here that they bodysurf the shore break and put on a fantastic show.  Some of my favorite body surfing sea lion images are below.  Cheers, and thanks for looking!

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla. Sea lions are the original body surfers and still the best, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla. Sea lions are the original body surfers and still the best.
Image ID: 37533
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Image ID: 37531
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37572
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37662
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer, Zalophus californianus

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer.
Image ID: 37742
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37821
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Two California sea lions bodysurfing in tandem in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

Two California sea lions bodysurfing in tandem in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37828
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Image ID: 37542
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Image ID: 37545
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37661
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37663
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Juvenile sea lion playing in white wash on Point La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

Juvenile sea lion playing in white wash on Point La Jolla.
Image ID: 37717
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer, Zalophus californianus

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer.
Image ID: 37744
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer, Zalophus californianus

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer.
Image ID: 37748
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37825
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Sea Lions in the Surf and Waves, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

Sea Lions in the Surf and Waves, La Jolla.
Image ID: 36805
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Image ID: 37543
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Two Bodysurfing Sea Lions Side by Side. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer, Zalophus californianus

Two Bodysurfing Sea Lions Side by Side. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer.
Image ID: 37743
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer, Zalophus californianus

Bodysurfing Sea Lion. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is surfing extreme shorebreak at Boomer Beach, Point La Jolla. The original bodysurfer.
Image ID: 37752
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla.
Image ID: 37797
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Young California sea lion and breaking wave, La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

Young California sea lion and breaking wave, La Jolla.
Image ID: 37731
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California Sea Lions socializing on rocks, with large surf and waves breaking around them, La Jolla

California Sea Lions socializing on rocks, with large surf and waves breaking around them.
Image ID: 37645
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!