Here are a few "Steller" stories that keep divers looking over their shoulders:
I was out Salmon fishing a few weeks ago, and this guy on another boat was filming the battle and here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQXtNRfATz8#t=19 Interesting turn of events. Even though its a fairly small shark, its an interesting thing to watch.
Forget the sharks the Sea Lions seem to know how to disembowel someone real quick. When I had my inflatable I was out there off the Ritz with Lizzy and one around that size was really trying to get at/on the inflatable. It followed us around for quite a while as I was trying to get away from it - kept popping up when we stopped. Had nothing but a gaff in my hand and I felt kind of helpless. It had a real angry look in its eyes and was snarling at us. I think it had a high testosterone issue haha..
Charlie Claycomb
I guess its time for a war story.
One of my encounters was at Benitos. Just got a Yellow tail and was retrieving it from tangled kelp and a big bull charged me to run me off. He would charge and then stop about 3 ft away. All I had left was my knife which I jabbed at him repeatedly. My shaft was in a fish and my gun was tied to my float but he wasn't getting my fish. Couldn't reach him though, fortunately for me.
I got the fish and put it on the Panga while being charged and barked at under water. Who would know that they could bark underwater. Went back and he still came at me only this time I had a loaded gun which I wouldn't use on one anyway unless it was him or me. I kinda like keeping my Ono gun and my rob allen float. One of us finally left the area and it was over.
Duanne Shoemake
I was following Jeff and John Cole out of Monastery years ago, when a lone bull popped up about 25 feet away from me. Since it was looking the other way, I decided to exert a little dominance with a hard paddle slap on the water surface. The next thing I knew, the enraged 700 lb monster whipped his head around to face me, He reared up half way out of the water towards me, and all I could think of was, "Any other cool moves, Tom?" Fortunately, he was on some kind of mission, and I didn't see him again.
Tom Krebs
Totally agree. I have been chased out of the water in the past by a group of adolescent sea lion males that had one sneak up on me and bark and blow behind me letting me know it was time to exit the area. They were real confident in numbers and we're not in the least worried about the human in the water. I aborted the dive and called it a day
Jeff Fornes
I was paddling at anchor bay at a Cen Cal dive at the south east end of the island near the haul out and a huge Bull came out of the water and Barked at me less than 6 feet from my head. It was a bit unnerving. I have had a lot of smaller California Sea Lions around me often but, I have had a few Stellar encounters and they make your heart pump.
I was night diving Santa Barbara island in about 70 feet at Sutel and a very large Seal bumped my mask. It was smiling but I almost ate my regulator and dirtied my suit.
David Clutts
I was out Salmon fishing a few weeks ago, and this guy on another boat was filming the battle and here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQXtNRfATz8#t=19 Interesting turn of events. Even though its a fairly small shark, its an interesting thing to watch.
Forget the sharks the Sea Lions seem to know how to disembowel someone real quick. When I had my inflatable I was out there off the Ritz with Lizzy and one around that size was really trying to get at/on the inflatable. It followed us around for quite a while as I was trying to get away from it - kept popping up when we stopped. Had nothing but a gaff in my hand and I felt kind of helpless. It had a real angry look in its eyes and was snarling at us. I think it had a high testosterone issue haha..
Charlie Claycomb
I guess its time for a war story.
One of my encounters was at Benitos. Just got a Yellow tail and was retrieving it from tangled kelp and a big bull charged me to run me off. He would charge and then stop about 3 ft away. All I had left was my knife which I jabbed at him repeatedly. My shaft was in a fish and my gun was tied to my float but he wasn't getting my fish. Couldn't reach him though, fortunately for me.
I got the fish and put it on the Panga while being charged and barked at under water. Who would know that they could bark underwater. Went back and he still came at me only this time I had a loaded gun which I wouldn't use on one anyway unless it was him or me. I kinda like keeping my Ono gun and my rob allen float. One of us finally left the area and it was over.
Duanne Shoemake
I was following Jeff and John Cole out of Monastery years ago, when a lone bull popped up about 25 feet away from me. Since it was looking the other way, I decided to exert a little dominance with a hard paddle slap on the water surface. The next thing I knew, the enraged 700 lb monster whipped his head around to face me, He reared up half way out of the water towards me, and all I could think of was, "Any other cool moves, Tom?" Fortunately, he was on some kind of mission, and I didn't see him again.
Tom Krebs
Totally agree. I have been chased out of the water in the past by a group of adolescent sea lion males that had one sneak up on me and bark and blow behind me letting me know it was time to exit the area. They were real confident in numbers and we're not in the least worried about the human in the water. I aborted the dive and called it a day
Jeff Fornes
I was paddling at anchor bay at a Cen Cal dive at the south east end of the island near the haul out and a huge Bull came out of the water and Barked at me less than 6 feet from my head. It was a bit unnerving. I have had a lot of smaller California Sea Lions around me often but, I have had a few Stellar encounters and they make your heart pump.
I was night diving Santa Barbara island in about 70 feet at Sutel and a very large Seal bumped my mask. It was smiling but I almost ate my regulator and dirtied my suit.
David Clutts