Kelp Forest with Sea Lions

Giant kelp is one of the fastest growing living things in the sea. Small gas-filled bulbs at the base of each blade hold the fronds up toward the light. A curious sea lion has swum right up to the camera through the golden kelp, which makes for a sea lion jigsaw puzzle that is mostly face and whiskers. Sea lions are famously nosy in the water and will often circle a diver for a closer look.