Once hunted for **their fur, sea otters are now endangered.

Find these sea mammals — among the smallest on earth — as they splash and bob in the kelp forests of Monterey Bay, California, and Whalers Cove and Cypress Cove in Point Lobos. Play a game of peek-a-boo as they peer back at you before ducking behind rocks. Otters sleep wrapped in kelp so they don’t drift far. You can encounter otters year-round, but viz is best — 15 to 30 feet — in fall and spring. Cold water-diving gear is a must, as water temps hang in the 50s year-round.

When to go: Fall and spring

Where to go: Aquarius Dive Shop