Underwater Photos of Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubatus, British Columbia

In January I made another trip to Hornby Island to photograph Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus).  This is some of the most exciting scuba diving that can be done anywhere in the world and is not for the faint of heart!  Steller sea lions are some of the largest pinnipeds in the world, with a juvenile being roughly the same size as an adult California sea lion (the type of sea lion most people are familiar with).  Steller sea lions are inquisitive and bold.  They gather at Norris Rocks in anticipation of the early spring herring spawn in the Strait of Georgia.  In January the water is quite cold but since it is relatively clear (the herring have not arrived yet) it is a good time for underwater photography. Unfortunately, this year we had some tough weather with a lot of snow and high winds, so we only made about half the dives we would normally make during the course of a week. For this reason I kept my photographic goals quite narrow, focusing on portraits of large groups of sea lions in an effort to really illustrate their gregarious behavior well.  Many thanks to the wonderful Hornby Island Diving which took great care of us on land and in the water, and to Richard Salas for organizing another great trip!  Cheers and thanks for looking!

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36050
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36052
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36053
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36057
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36063
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36065
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36068
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36070
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36072
Species: Steller sea lIon, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia

SCUBA Diver and Steller Sea Lions Underwater,  underwater photographer, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

SCUBA Diver and Steller Sea Lions Underwater, underwater photographer, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36118
Species: Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 36124
Species: Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus

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!