Playful Pinnipeds: A Gallery of Photo Contest Seals and Sea Lions

A sea lion playfully bites at the camera lens.

Chris Gug

A sea lion poses while hundreds of others swim below him.

Joost van Uffelen

A fur seal showing off his teeth.

Filippo Borghi

When diving with Steller sea lions along British Columbia's coastline, it is not uncommon for them to peer at their own reflection in an underwater photographer's camera housing dome port.

Jett Britnell

Sea lions often like to nap together, floating at the surface with a fin in the air in order to regulate their body temperature. You can see a baby nursing on his mother as they both sleep.

Karin Laurel

A couple of sea lions are playing at the sandy bottom some 60 feet down.

Christian Vizl

This fur seal was making a show in front of my camera's dome.

Filippo Borghi

A free diver glides in between hundreds of young sea lions. The curious creatures move swiftly in the Pacific Ocean.

Joost van Uffelen

I loved watching these puppy-like creatures as they slept on their warm, rocky beds. Every once in a while, she would sleepily open one of her eyes to look at me, then continue her job of conserving energy.

Karin Laurel