A California sea lion relaxes at the surface in the nearshore waters of the Gulf of the Farallones. Stellar sea lions are one of several endangered species making a comeback in the Gulf of the Farallones. From the size of the male in this photo, one can see how they were named after lions. Barnacles encroach upon the blowholes of a California gray whale. Barnacles are typical on gray whales and do not hurt them.
Barnacles give the whales their characteristic mottled appearance.
Explosive jumpers, Pacific white-sided dolphins can often be seen by the thousands in Sanctuary waters. A nineteen foot white shark cruises the waters around SE Farallon searching for its next meal of an unsuspecting juvenile elephant seal. October is the peak month for shark attactks in this region. In a behavior study conducted at the Farallon Islands, a white shark attacks a float rigged with a radio transmitter. Blue rockfish Sebastes mystinus hover nearshore amidst long stipes of bull whip kelp.