Was it a Sea Lion or a Seal?

[Steve Egner]

How do you tell?

While making our way in to shore from our second dive at the Edmonds Underwater Park, my buddy and I were momentarily separated. While circling the area where I'd lost sight of him, a large, graceful creature swirled in from out of the haze (visibility was no more than 10' at that point in the dive). She twisted and glided a corkscrew path, coming within a few feet of my mask, and then disappeared. I searched for my buddy a bit longer and then surfaced, spotting him a few seconds later. The animal had investigated him as well... what a great experience! She moved with impossible speed and grace, and never broke eye contact with me.

She (?) was dark grey and mottled with lighter shades. Roughly 6' long, and I'm guessing a body mass of around 200 lbs., with a large midsection, tapering to a smooth head.

No, I'm not describing my buddy.

Can you identify the animal, or better yet, did you see her too?

Steve

 

[OE2X]

Sounds like a seal to me. The mottled part is generally not found on sea lions. The sea lions that I've dove with tend to be bigger than 6' as well. The males don't take kindly to bubble blowers either. It's a sign of aggression.

Diving in cove 2 at night (if you have an HID) will find a bunch of seals feeding in your light. I had one friend feel some weight on her shoulder. When she turned her head there was a seal almost giving her a kiss.

 

[rakkis]

Harbor seal

 

[drbill]

Don't worry, SCUBA Diving magazine didn't get it right either. Note the picture of a "sea lion" on page 4 that looks suspiciously like a harbor seal... note the lack of external ear flaps (pinnae) and the mottling on the body. The article on page 27 indicates the diver was diving with a harbor seal off Anacapa. Of course I'm perfect, I never make mizteaks!

 

[Steve Egner]

Thanks all, for the identification tips.

I'd forgotten to mention: She was at the South end of the park, fairly close to the park boundary sign near the ferry dock, in about 20' of water. I hope she becomes a regular.

Steve

 

[scharmack]

Yep, you surely has a seal encounter,,, pretty cool huh !!!! I can echo the Alki experience,,, they love feeding in our lights. I fed my first seal as I was focusing my camera on a lone perch,,, then,,,in a blink of an eye a seal swooped in and grabbed the morsel....