Elephant seals are classified within the seal family of pinnipeds, clearly identifiable by their lack of external ears, reduced limbs, and inflatable trunk-like snout, from which they derive their name. There are two distinct species of elephant seal, the northern and southern. Northern elephant seals are found up and down the coast of California, in the United States, and Baja California, in Mexico, preferring to congregate on offshore islands rather than the mainland. The southern species lives in the nutrient rich sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters of the chilly Southern Ocean and are the largest of all seal species.

Sea lions are pinnipeds that are easily recognizable by their external ear flaps, cute, pointy nose, long, puffed up chest, and their ability to walk on all fours. Some of the more popular sea lion species are the California sea lion and the Steller sea lion. These fast, agile swimmers can reach up to 30 knots underwater and are very curious about the world around them. In fact, sea lions are not afraid of scuba divers in the least and have been known to buzz right around a group of divers, blow bubbles at them, and even chewing on their snorkels and fins.

Fur seal is the common name given to nine distinct species of pinnipeds belonging to the Arctocephalinae subfamily of eared seals. The northern fur seal, the only species found in the northern hemisphere, occurs in the North Pacific, is the largest of the fur seals, and was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century. They have now greatly rebounded to 1.3 million individuals. The rest of the fur seals are found in the southern hemisphere, all much smaller than their northern cousins, and live in small colonies in Mexico, South America, Africa, and Australia.

The round, sweet eyes of a seal don’t only make these acrobatic mammals one of the cutest creatures in the sea but have a highly functional purpose as well. Seals have excellent underwater vision, especially in dark and murky waters. Being deep divers, sometimes reaching depths of up to 100 meters, having this increased ability to see in low light conditions is not only beneficial, but necessary to survive. Their bodies have also adapted to allow for these deeper, longer dives better than other marine mammals. Seal’s blood contains special properties allowing them to absorb more oxygen than other marine mammals, therefore allowing them to do these deep, long dives with ease.

A close relative to the manatee, dugongs are thought by some to be the motivation of seafaring tales of mermaids with their shapely bodies and fluked tails. In fact, they belong to the classification order Sirenia. Dugongs are the only strictly herbivorous marine mammals in the world and can be found all throughout the southern hemisphere, encompassing 40 countries and territories within the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Together with Dugongs, Manatees form the order of sea cows. These two species differ mainly in their caudal fin; Manatees have a single round paddle-shaped tail while Dugongs have a forked fluke more like that of a whale. With a length of up to 5 meters, a manatee can weigh up to 500 kilograms. Diving with manatees is indescribable. These wonderful animals are very peaceful, calm, and slow, moving at a speed of only 3 to 7 km/h, perfect for observing and studying these majestic marine creatures.