Elephant Seal

Elephant seals are classified within the seal family of pinnipeds, clearly identifiable by their lack of external ears, reduced limbs, and inflatable trunk-like snout, from which they derive their name. There are two distinct species of elephant seal, the northern and southern. Northern elephant seals are found up and down the coast of California, in the United States, and Baja California, in Mexico, preferring to congregate on offshore islands rather than the mainland. The southern species lives in the nutrient rich sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters of the chilly Southern Ocean and are the largest of all seal species.

While male elephant seals are clearly recognizable by their ‘elephant trunk” like nose, females are significantly smaller and lack this feature, looking more like a regular seal. Both northern and southern species of these unique seals were nearly hunted to extinction by the end of the 19th century, but with extreme conservation laws in place, they have made a significant comeback. If you have always wanted to dive with these loud, boisterous marine mammals, explore the dive site map below to find where you can go diving with elephant seals today!