Today was another action-packed day, with about four hours of fun in the water with our sea lion friends. Among the day's highlights, there was one particular pinniped with a penchant for kissing everyone:
Young sea lion coming in for a kiss
We also had a nice swim with a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), which was unusual. There aren't too many of them in the area, and they tend to be shy. But the one we swam with wasn't terribly standoff-ish. With a little patience, we were able to get close enough to get a good look.
New Zealand fur seal hanging upside-down, with flippers sticking out of the water
The fur seal seemed to enjoy floating at the water's surface with its flippers sticking out in the air. Perhaps this cute position is for thermal regulation, or maybe it's just for fun. In any event, the encounter was a terrific bonus.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that our good luck with weather, water and animals so far will hold through tomorrow, which is our final day on the water.