Harbor seals are genetically closer to bears than dolphins or dogs, so technically they’re just little friendly sea bears 🧬🦭🐻 #cuteseal #seal #harborseal #marineconservation #freediving
Harbor seals are “pierce feeders”
that means they grab fish and just swallow it whole or rip it into big chunks with their front teeth
they do have molars but those are more for crushing than chewing
built for pure efficiency
friendly reminder
respect creates encounters like this 🤿
#seal #sealencounter #harborseal #freediving #oceanlife
Green sea turtles are among the largest and most ancient marine animals on Earth. They’ve roamed the oceans for over 100 million years, growing up to 5 feet long and weighing over 500 pounds. They get their name not from their shells, but from the layer of green fat beneath them 🌊🐢
#honu #seaturtle #turtle #greenseaturtle #freediving
Green sea turtles were once heavily hunted for their meat, eggs, and shells, causing major declines in their population. Thanks to conservation efforts, they’ve been making a strong comeback.
I love coming across these guys on a dive — they all have different personalities. This one wasn’t bothered by me at all and actually swam right up to me. Such a cool experience 🤿🐢
#seaturtle #honu #marineconservation #freediving #respecttheocean
Calico bass are some of the slowest-growing fish we have in Southern California. The big ones you see cruising the kelp can be decades old, with some living 30+ years, though the average lifespan is closer to 10 years. Pretty crazy to think about honestly makes you wonder how old some of these fish really are 🤿🤙
#calicobass #kelpforest #freediving #marinebiology #ocean
California horn sharks are the only venomous sharks we have here in California. They have two spines behind each dorsal fin that they use for defense against predators. These sharks are bottom feeders that feed on crabs and other crustaceans along the seafloor. They’re one of my favorite species to see while diving — usually super chill and never too bothered by my presence 🤿🦈
#shark #hornshark #kelpforest #california #freediving
A few ocean facts 🌊
• The ocean produces at least 50% of the oxygen we breathe
• The ocean feeds more than 3 billion people worldwide
• Kelp forests are among the fastest-growing ecosystems on Earth
• The ocean absorbs around 25–30% of human-produced carbon dioxide
• Sharks are some of the oldest animals on the planet, yet humans kill an estimated 100 million of them every year
• Deep-sea organisms survive under extreme pressure in complete darkness
• Coral reefs support about 25% of marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor
#OceanConservation #MarineLife #KelpForest #SaveOurOceans #OceanEducation
Not every day is picture perfect conditions. Some days it’s dark and spooky, but it’s always a good dive when you run into one of these guys. This tope had what looked like a broken bottom jaw, not sure what happened to him, but he swam by a few times on this dive 🤿🦈
#topeshark #shark #kelpforest #sharkconservation #dopetope
