Watch a Hungry Sea Lion Hunt Around Surfers in California Lineup (Video)
Spoiler alert, there are no sharks in this post.
Yes, there are other fish in the sea (literally) other than the men in gray suits.
Like the sea lion below, that's been captured picking off a meal from a huge bait ball near a crowded lineup in Southern California. And you know what? It's really freakin' beautiful.
The footage comes from San Diego-based ocean photographer and shark advocate, Scott Fairchild.
Fairchild captioned the clip above:
"Sea Lion hunting a big bait-ball right amongst the surfers.
"Love these sea puppies, they can be such dorks."
As usual, Fairchild shared a fun fact.
"Did you know: Sea Lions can reach speeds of 25 mph (40 km)! They can also hold their breath for up to 10 minutes while diving for food."
In the clip above, a hungry sea lion is chasing a bait ball in bright blue water off the San Diego coast.
The chase takes place just outside of the lineup, where a crowd of surfers are hanging out, waiting for waves.
Fairchild couldn't have picked a better song, so press play and turn up the volume. It's a beautiful scene.
According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors:
"These carnivores enjoy a varied seafood diet of small prey, such as herring, anchovies, crabs, and squid.
"Sea lions spearfish using 34 to 38 sharp teeth, and sift through reefs using their whiskers.
"They swallow their meals whole, and can eat up to 40 pounds a day! In some cases, sea lions have been known to consume up to 8% of their own body weight in food per day."
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