The ocean is home to an abundance of interesting and active wildlife. Forget about the sharks, the rays, and the turtles for a second. Have you ever thought about scuba diving with a dugong? Or interacting in the water with sea lions? This article is a dive into the places and experiences that are lesser known, however might be some of the most amazing and unique dives and sights out there.

The Mola Mola

A strange (and not the most pretty) creature of the sea is the mola mola. Also known as sunfish, the mola mola is the largest bony fish currently known to date. Very little is actually known about them, however, what we do know is that they reside mostly in deep, oceanic waters and only on occasion rise up to shallow coastlines (above 30 meters) for purposes of feeding, cleaning, and apparently sunbathing. When they rise, they do it with cold water upwellings, which is why it is rare to see them all year round in the few places that you can see them.

One of the best places to see the mola mola is off the coast of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia. Between the months of August and September when the water is the coldest (can sometimes drop to temperatures of 14 degrees Celsius), is when you’re most likely to see them. You can be so lucky to see as many as 13 on one sunrise dive! They are extremely shy animals that will dart away at any disturbance, and so giving them space and staying calm is a key practice.

Sea Lions

In contrast to the mola mola, sea lions are curious animals that will happily interact closely with any non-threatening human in the water. Nicknamed the ‘puppies of the sea’, these inquisitive characters are fun to watch and interact with in the water. They will swim right up to you and inspect you, and they also frequently enjoy playing in the bubbles that you blow out.

The absolute best places to scuba dive, freedive, snorkel, and swim with sea lions is in South and Western Australia. Here, you can see them all year-round, and if you visit from June to October, you might also get the chance to see breaching humpback whales on their annual migration.

Other spectacular places to dive with sea lions include the Galapagos Islands, Baja California in Mexico, South Africa, and Kaikoura in New Zealand

Sea Cow - Dugong

The name says it all - the dugong sea cow is a chunky animal that feeds and lives on seagrass beds. Relaxed and usually minding their own business, dugongs are generally peaceful creatures that will either cruise along or feed on seagrass.

They are frequently spotted by surfers and snorkelers in places that have an abundance of seagrass vegetation, however, the best places to scuba dive with them are in Palau and Australia. Palau, Micronesia is home to the world’s most isolated and secluded population of about 200 dugongs. Whilst Australia has the largest population in the world. The Ningaloo Reef and Moreton Bay are some of the most popular spots to spot these tranquil animals.

Furthermore, Timor Leste is also a good place to see them, along with spots in Sri Lanka that are marine protected, and where the dugongs are a target for conservation efforts.

Penguins

When we think of penguins we instantly think of birds, however, these animals are more marine than avian-adapted. First off, they can’t fly, but they are tremendous swimmers. Their wings are adapted for swimming; a pair of feathered fins if you will.

Penguins, like sea lions, are generally not very shy towards divers, and will offer a unique spectacle of movement unlike anything that is commonly seen in the underwater world. The warmest place to see this is in the Galapagos Islands. Other than that, you’re most likely travelling to cold water destinations such as South Africa and Antarctica, where coincidentally, you can also dive with sea lions!

☀︎ We should always practice passive interaction when entering the habitat of wild animals. Letting them come to us is a key practice of responsible scuba diving. So grab your gear and head out to see these lesser-known aquatic beings! ☀︎

Written by Kayli Wouters

LinkedIn | Instagram