Shadow
Contributor
I had an awesome dive at a well-known marine ecological preserve known as Race Rocks. The name is due to the current racing past the rocks. The site is accesible only by boat, about 15 minutes south of Victoria, BC. I dove with Ogden Point Dive Shop; Pierre was the captain; eight divers on board.
There were lots of Stellar sea lions, a few California sea lions, and a couple of female Northern elephant seals with pups. In the water, the sea lions surrounded us and swam around us in circles. At one point, one of them swam straight for me, face-to-face. I kept my gaze steady, and when he was only a few inches away, he suddenly veared off. It was very cool! When the boat first arrived at the dive site, and I saw all the huge sea lions, I thought I would be nervous with them in the water. But it was too cool, and I wasn't scared at all. They were amazing. They are so graceful in the water, and curious. They come very close. And even when you can't see them, you can hear them barking.
On our second dive, several of the divers had their heads bitten by the sea lions! Nothing serious, and we're not sure what they were attempting to do (the sea lions, that is). One diver was pummelled into the bottom (luckily it was only 40 feet deep at that point). My husband and I didn't have any problems. If they had really wanted to hurt us, they certainly could have, as the male Stellars weigh around 2000 pounds.
It sure was great diving with the sea lions. One of my best dives ever.
There were lots of Stellar sea lions, a few California sea lions, and a couple of female Northern elephant seals with pups. In the water, the sea lions surrounded us and swam around us in circles. At one point, one of them swam straight for me, face-to-face. I kept my gaze steady, and when he was only a few inches away, he suddenly veared off. It was very cool! When the boat first arrived at the dive site, and I saw all the huge sea lions, I thought I would be nervous with them in the water. But it was too cool, and I wasn't scared at all. They were amazing. They are so graceful in the water, and curious. They come very close. And even when you can't see them, you can hear them barking.
On our second dive, several of the divers had their heads bitten by the sea lions! Nothing serious, and we're not sure what they were attempting to do (the sea lions, that is). One diver was pummelled into the bottom (luckily it was only 40 feet deep at that point). My husband and I didn't have any problems. If they had really wanted to hurt us, they certainly could have, as the male Stellars weigh around 2000 pounds.
It sure was great diving with the sea lions. One of my best dives ever.
Looking forward to getting out there again later this year... 
