Mexico

Islas Coronado Sea Lion Underwater Photography

Sea Lions in the Coronado Islands, Fall 2021

This is the last in my "Southern California Bight Sampler (Post-Covid?)" series: Coronado Islands Refresher San Clemente Island's Kelp Forests Catalina Island's West End Farnsworth Banks San Diego Wrecks Coronado Islands - Sea Lions in Fall Each Fall I look forward to spending time in the shallow waters of a…

Phil CollaNovember 9, 2021

Islas Coronado Mexico

Coronado Islands Refresher

The Spring of 2021 has brought some semblance of normality, or at least the hope of normality, to our lives and that goes for diving. Granted, international travel is messed up and may be for a while. In the last year I had major dive trips to Mexico, Solomons, Philippines…

Phil CollaMay 24, 2021

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Cloud Wakes and Von Karman Vortices at Guadalupe Island, Mexico

In addition to exceptional underwater scenery and wildlife, Guadalupe Island is host to spectacular weather, much of it the result of the island's singular, impressive geometry. Standing alone in the Pacific Ocean and reaching a height of 4257', Isla Guadalupe disrupts whatever weather is flowing past the island. There might…

Phil CollaSeptember 20, 2020

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Lobster Shack, Coronado Islands, Mexico

I try to reach Lobster Shack at North Coronado Island each fall to dive with California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). Some years are better than others but generally the months of October and November offer superb encounters with these gregarious young pinnipeds. I say young because in fact the gangs…

Phil CollaMarch 30, 2020

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion Underwater Photography

Cyclops the Strange-Eyed California Sea Lion

In December I spent a day diving the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California in Mexico, home to one of the better California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) rookeries within a reasonable drive. The water was off-color so I did not make any beautiful images but I did encounter Cyclops the…

Phil CollaMay 12, 2019

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Sea Lion Underwater Photography

California Sea Lion Pups in the Coronado Islands

In early November I spent a day diving with California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Lobster Shack at the North Island was place to be since that's where a great colony of sea lions is. Conditions were excellent, about as good as diving in the Coronados gets. Photographer friend Allison had…

Phil CollaDecember 31, 2018

Aerial Photography Mexico Revillagigedos Islands Underwater Photography

Two Days in Las Islas Revillagigedo

On the return from Clipperton Island to Cabo San Lucas, we stopped for a few days to dive at Socorro Island and San Benedicto Island, two islands in the Revillagigedos Archipelago. These stark volcanic islands offer some of the best diving in the world, with spectacular encounters with sharks, manta…

Phil CollaJuly 25, 2017

Aerial Photography Mexico Sea of Cortez Video

Aerial Video of Archipelago Espiritu Santo and the Sea of Cortez

In October I was fortunate to be a guest aboard a friend's boat for 9 days, diving the islands north of La Paz, Mexico. One of our goals was to obtain visuals of the Archipelago Espiritu Santo as part of an effort to support legislative proposals seeking greater environmental protections…

Phil CollaNovember 23, 2016

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion Underwater Life Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Some of my favorite diving with California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) has taken place at Mexico's Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado). The Coronados are a small group of undeveloped rocky islands just offshore of Tijuana, Mexico and only about an hour boat ride south of San Diego. Seemingly barren, the islands…

Phil CollaMay 5, 2016

Mexico Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

California sea lions underwater, Sea of Cortez, Mexico Image ID: 31205 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico In October, Tracy and I joined our friends Mike and Sherry, Skip, Shirley, Barb and Walt for 9 wonderful days diving in the Sea of Cortez…

Phil CollaJanuary 29, 2016

Alaska Antarctica Bald Eagle California Fiji Hawaii Mexico Ocean Sunfish Penguin Surf Underwater Photography

Seven of my Favorite Images #challengeonnaturephotography

In December a Facebook "challenge" was making the rounds named #challengeonnaturephotography. One of my favorite underwater photographers, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, nominated me to give it a try, and these are the seven images I plucked from my files to share. Each bears a special place in my personal history of…

Phil CollaJanuary 16, 2016

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

Sport Diver Cover, June 2015, Sea Lion in the Sea of Cortez

I love diving in the Sea of Cortez in the Fall. The water is warm, the weather is often serene, the diving easy and fun. And there are some amazing rookeries of sea lions, including the world famous Los Islotes island in the Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve. So I was…

Phil CollaJune 12, 2015

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes, the small island just off the northern end of Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, is my favorite place in the world for photographing California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). These wonderful pinnipeds are very comfortable with the presence of, and famous for the willingness to interact with,…

Phil CollaMarch 3, 2014

Islas Coronado Mexico Underwater Life

Whales at the Coronado Islands, Mexico

Whales visit the Coronado Islands in Mexico throughout the year. During winter months, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) pass by the islands, first southbound and a few months later traveling north, during their annual migration between Baja California and the Bering Sea. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus)…

Phil CollaFebruary 12, 2014

Islas Coronado Mexico Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Garibaldi Fish, Coronado Islands, Mexico

The most easily recognized, and typically the most prolific, fish at Mexico's Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) is the brilliant orange Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus). Some underwater areas of the Coronado Islands are urchin barrens (reef areas taken over by fields of sea urchins and devoid of most other marine life) so…

Phil CollaFebruary 10, 2014

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

Aerial Photos of Islas Coronado, the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico

Aerial Photos of the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico These new aerial photos of the three main islands in Las Islas Coronado, offshore of Baja California not far from Tijuana (Mexico) and San Diego, came from a nice flight a few weeks ago during a high pressure system, which calmed…

Phil CollaFebruary 8, 2014

Mexico Sea of Cortez

Medano Beach Sunrise, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Medano Beach, the beautiful long sand beach fronting the bay of Cabo San Lucas, can be crowded and busy with tourists, but I found that it was peaceful and quiet each morning. Sunrise on Medano Beach, on the coast of Cabo San Lucas, MexicoImage ID: 28948Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja…

Phil CollaJanuary 24, 2014

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Great White Shark Portrait

This great white shark photo (Carcharodon carcharias) was shot under dark skies, in early morning. These are tough conditions to shoot underwater with only available light. I prefer to shoot without strobes whenever possible but in the days of film this particular morning would have required I use artificial lights.…

Phil CollaApril 15, 2013

Environmental Problems Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

International Conservation Photography Awards 2012

Art Wolfe hosts the biennial International Conservation Photography Awards ("ICP Awards"). One of my images was honored in the 2010 edition of the competition, so I decided to try again this year. My photograph of a young California sea lion entangled in monofilament fishing line, taken in the Espiritu Santo…

Phil CollaAugust 15, 2012

Marine Life Mexico Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Panamic Green Moray Eel

Photo of Panamic Green Moray Eel, Gymnothorax castaneus While I was in Mexico's beautiful Sea of Cortez doing some diving last November, I spent time photographing the Panamic Green Moray eels (Gymnothorax castaneus). These eels are quite common, often found underneath large boulders and overhangs. They are typically content to…

Phil CollaFebruary 15, 2012

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes is a small island at the northern end of Isla Espiritu Santo, near La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Espiritu Santo Island and Partida Island are two beautiful desert islands, scalloped with gorgeous white sand beaches. Bird nest on their rugged slopes, and cardon cacti grow in…

Phil CollaFebruary 10, 2012

Guadalupe Island Sea Lion

California Sea Lion at Guadalupe Island, Mexico

I've been photographing California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) for about 20 years and still do not have the perfect image of one. They are a lot of fun to dive with, but are notoriously fickle about staying put and posing for the camera. In addition, the fur of a seal…

Phil CollaApril 12, 2011

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe Island :: First Impressions

First Impressions: Guadalupe Island, Mexico September 1994. Our early expeditionary trips to Guadalupe Island on the Horizon were wild affairs. Each year Skip assembled a superb mix of skilled spearfishermen looking for giant tuna and intrepid SCUBA divers seeking to explore the scarcely seen underwater environment of remote Guadalupe Island.…

Phil CollaJuly 15, 2010

Environmental Problems Monterey Sea Lion

Sea Lion Entangled in Monofiliment Line

This California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) has a severe neck laceration caused by what is likely monofiliment fishing line wrapped around its neck and digging into its skin. Monofiliment fishing line is an exceptionally thin and strong type of synthetic line used for sportfishing. Given that it is designed to…

Phil CollaMarch 10, 2009

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe 2008: Day’s End

Sunset comes at the end of a day of shark diving at Guadalupe Island. What lurks below? This is the dark water that gave the island one of its nicknames: "Monster Island". Dark water, clouds at days end, cliffs, sunset. Image ID: 21382 Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California,…

Phil CollaOctober 12, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Great White Shark Portrait, Horizontal

This is one of my favorites from this year's trip on the M/V Horizon to photograph great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island. A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island. Image ID: 21346 Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe),…

Phil CollaOctober 7, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Great White Shark Face

Here is the face of a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Check out the detail in the shark's eye, he is looking straight back into the camera. This was shot with a 24mm lens, full frame sensor, no crop. Pretty tight. A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean…

Phil CollaOctober 6, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Satellite Tags on a Great White Shark

Many of the great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island are known to researchers and appear in the white shark ID database. Some of the sharks have even been "tagged" and now sport small pop-up satellite transmitter tags that collect data about the shark's environment and behavior, eventually transmitting…

Phil CollaOctober 5, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Vertical Photo of Great White Shark

When a Guadalupe Island great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) first approaches the boat, it is often deep. If there are divers in the cage they typically get a look at the shark as it swims slowly beneath the boat. It seems the shark is surveying things before making a decision…

Phil CollaOctober 4, 2008

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe 2008: Approaching the Island

Last week I made another trip to Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) on my favorite boat, M/V Horizon, captained by Greg Grivetto. The trip was conducted in collaboration with Patric Douglas and SharkDiver.com. Of all the boats and captains working at Guadalupe Island, the Horizon and Captain Greg have to have…

Phil CollaOctober 2, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

South Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Here is a shot of South Island, part of the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) not far from San Diego and Tijuana, just south of the border. South Coronado Island, north end viewed from the north. Image ID: 21324 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico

Phil CollaSeptember 17, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

Middle Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Here is a shot of Middle Island, part of the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) not far from San Diego and Tijuana, just south of the border. Partially obscured by Middle Island is "Middle Rock", to the left and behind. Middle Coronado Island, viewed from the south. Image ID: 21322 Location:…

Phil CollaSeptember 15, 2008

Aerial Photography Blue Whale California San Diego

Aerial Photo of a Blue Whale

Here is another blue whale aerial photo shot from our recent flight over the Coronado Islands and Nine Mile Bank. More blue whale aerial photos. Blue whale. The sleek hydrodynamic shape of the enormous blue whale allows it to swim swiftly through the ocean, at times over one hundred miles…

Phil CollaSeptember 14, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

North Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

From a recent flight over Islas Coronados (Coronado Islands, Mexico) recently, seen here is the western exposure of North Coronado Island viewed from the southwest. Do you see the crack between the rightmost tip of the island and the main island? There is a narrow submerged passageway through that crack…

Phil CollaSeptember 12, 2008

Aerial Photography Blue Whale California Wildlife

Blue Whale Aerial Photograph

I had a chance to go flying with a pilot friend whom I had not seen in a few years, and jumped at the opportunity. Flying in small planes is a lot of fun, and it allows us to see the ocean in ways one cannot from the coast or…

Phil CollaSeptember 11, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Photo of a White Pointer Shark

This great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) had a particularly pointy look to him, really streamlined and sleek, with little beady black eyes. When you see a white shark in person its no wonder they are known as white pointers down under. A great white shark swims through the clear waters…

Phil CollaJanuary 7, 2008

Islas Coronado Mexico

The Coronados Islands, Their History and Environment

Yesterday a copy of the new book, The Coronados Islands, Their History and Environment (Las Islas Coronados, una Historia y un Entorno Natural) arrived in our mailbox. It is very well done, the best treatment of the Coronado Islands (Las Islas Coronados) I have yet seen. Although I was contacted…

Phil CollaDecember 19, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Great White Shark Eyes The Camera

This is my favorite shot from my Shark Diver trip last week on the liveaboard boat Horizon to see great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island. One shark in particular took to circling the boat clockwise and would pass very close to the starboard side cage. As it did…

Phil CollaSeptember 26, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Photo of a Great White Shark Dorsal Fin

This is the dorsal fin of a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island, sticking above the water as the shark cruises at the surface. Dorsal fin of a great white shark breaks the surface as the shark swims just below. Image ID: 19493 Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon…

Phil CollaSeptember 24, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Great White Shark Photo

I was pretty lucky to get this photo. This is a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) that I photographed at Guadalupe Island while I was on a Shark Diver trip last week on the liveaboard boat Horizon. This one, a medium size (e.g, 12-13') male, surprised us all. We were…

Phil CollaSeptember 23, 2007

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