Playful sea lions fall in love with scuba diver and his camera

Sea lions are like the puppies of the ocean. They are loveable and curious, often looking for an opportunity to play. Their behaviour and their features are much like that of our canine companions. Aptly nicknamed "sea dogs", they have been charming sailors for centuries. Tourists that venture to the Galapagos Islands often remark that the sea lions are the most captivating of all the animals.

Scuba divers have a special fondness for sea lions as well. The males, or bulls, are often territorial and it is wise to avoid getting close to them. But the females and the youngsters are inquisitive and friendly, in most cases. To encounter a sea lion underwater is a very welcome opportunity to play with them and witness their antics up close. They are curious about the clumsy humans who visit their world and they are likely to come up and inspect anything that the scuba diver holds out to them.

These divers were exploring Pinzon dive site in the waters around Isabela Island in the Galapagos when they encountered a magnificent school of salemas, the bait fish that swarm in such numbers that they can create a complete eclipse around a diver. Mesmerized by the beauty, they captured the spectacle on video. In the middle of this wonderful experience, they became the objects of fascination for a group of young sea lions out hunting for their lunch. The sea lions were intrigued by the camera on a pole and by the divers. Sea lions love attention and these playful pups followed the divers and swam in circles around them for several minutes. Forgetting all about the fish, the divers were easily distracted by the antics of these underwater clowns.