
Close up of two Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) above sand bottom. Bahamas.

A small pod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) over sand in Hawaii.

Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) cruise on the glassy ocean surface infront of Diamond Head, Oahu on a picture perfect day.

California sea lion plays in the distant kelp.

A young Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) blowing bubbles. Galapagos Islands.

A huge pod of hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) swims over sand in clear waters off Oahu. Hawaii.

A pod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris ) cruises over sand bottom in Hawaii.

Juvenile sea lions play in the shore break at a rookery on Santa Barbara Island, California.

An Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) swims over white sand. Bahamas.

A sea lion bull cruises underneath a school of sardines at Los Islotes. Baja, Mexico.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki). Galapagos Islands.

A spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) plays fetch with a leaf. Hawaii.

Sea lion pup at the surface in a cave.

Two Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) up close in clear, blue water of the Bahamas.

Free willy:) Bottlenose dolphin bull (Tursiops truncatus) courting Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins spend lots of time together in the Bahamas. They play and forage together, babysit each others calves and even hybridize on rare occasions. Bahamas.

An Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) torpedos by in clear turqoise waters of the Bahamas.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and sunrays from below. Tonga.

Two playful sea lion pups at Los Islotes, Mexico.

Two peas in a pod. Bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins spend lots of time together in the Bahamas. They play and forage together, babysit each others calves and even hybridize on rare occasions. Bahamas.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) pup. Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) pup. Galapagos Islands.

Four Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) playing with a gorgonian branch above sand bottom in the Bahamas.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) off Oahu. In 1998, the the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was recognized as a separate species. Before then, the genus Tursiops was monospecific. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is generally smaller than the common bottlenose dolphin. Hawaii.

Three spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). Hawaii.

Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) swims by curiously in the shallows. Hawaii.

Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) swims over rocks in shallow water. Hawaii.

Bottlenose dolphin bull (Tursiops truncatus) courting Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Bahamas.

Head on shot of playful Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). Hawaii.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus) surface reflection. Galapagos Islands.

A large pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) over rocky bottom off Oahu, Hawaii.

Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) reflection. Hawaii.

Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) getting playful. Hawaii.

Silhouette of two spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) under clouds and blue sky. Hawaii.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) pup. Galapagos Islands.

Humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) plays on the surface in Tonga.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf fully breaches out of water. Tonga.

A curious harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) swims out from the kelp forest.

A Hawaiian spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) pod swims over sand. Hawaii.

A California sea lion bursts out of the green water on a deep reef in the Channel Islands, California.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) diving down from the surface. Galapagos Islands.

A small pod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) cruise over sand in Hawaii.

Curious Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) swims over rocks off the Big Island, Hawaii.

Sea lion pup plays with a starfish in a cave at Los Islotes.

Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) pod reflection in Hawaii.

An Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) swims toward the surface over white sand in clear, blue waters of the Bahamas.

Two spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) break the surface in slow motion. Hawaii.

Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) on an Easpanola Island beach. Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus) surface reflection. Galapagos Islands.

Sea lion pups play on the surface in a cave at Los Islotes.

A sea lion swims by with a stick in its mouth. Los Islotes, Mexico.

Two sea lions play on the surface above a California kelp forest.

Head shot of Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) off Oahu. She popped her head out of a cave while I was photographing fish with my 100 mm macro. I had back off quite a bit just to get just even a head shot. She danced upright for several minutes (no doubt ridiculing me for my poor lens choice) and then gracefully swam off alomg htr sea cliffs.

Two Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) up close in beautiful, clear blue water. Bahamas.

A sea lion pup nips my fin in a cave. Los Islotes, Mexico.

Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) pod over sand in Hawaii.