Playful Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) surround my dive buddy Gildas during a dive north of Nanaimo off of Vancouver Island. These animals have been recorded diving to depths of 1148 feet (350 m) in search of food and remain submerged for around five minutes. The Steller sea lion is the world’s largest sea lion and males can reach lengths of almost 10 feet (3 m), and weigh 1760 pounds (800 kg). Their range extends from the California coast up to the Bearing Strait, and also includes the coastal areas of Japan and Asia.
