Santa Iñez consists of a small group of rocky islets with a large California Sealion colony. The northern sites allow close-up interactions with these amiable creatures who lounge about on the rocky plateaus and frolic in the water with snorkelers and divers. It is the schools of Anchovies that entice the Sea Lions. The long, warmer months and clear waters offer the patient photographer some stunning opportunities.

Currently due to a lack of human interaction on a regular basis, the Sealions are much more at home with snorkelers in the water than divers. Over time, we are introducing divers to the mix, to have them become used to the noisey tanks and camera equipment we all like to take with us...

Besides Sealions, you have the opportunity to enjoy some very good 'boulder diving', where all kinds of marine creatures like to hunt and retreat to. You will, also, often see dolphins on the way out to the dive site, as well as when at anchor. However, as with most dolphin encounters, most of what you see of them will be on the surface.

UPDATE (April 15th, 2006): After the last 8 weeks of diving and snorkeling we have seen extraordinary interactions between us and the Sealions. Indeed, as the visibility increases they are becoming more and more playfull. This is also turning into better interations with the divers.

This Bull (pictured left), is a sweatheart! He comes up to snorkelers (within just a couple of feet), and enjoys following divers around on their dive.