| Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) were nearly wiped out by sealers. Researchers estimate that fewer than 30 animals survived, all hiding amid the rocks and caves at Guadalupe Island. It is from these few that the entire recovering northern elephant seal population is descended. | Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) were nearly driven into extinction, with a small holdout colony hiding from sealers at Guadalupe Island. However, their recovery is not as robust as that of the northern elephant seal, and they have only recently begun to establish breeding colonies away from Guadalupe. | | The California seal lion (Zalophus californianus) is found at Guadalupe Island, frequenting the offshore islets, especially Isla Afuera where the above photograph was taken. California sea lions are generally much bolder and more comfortable with divers than are Guadalupe fur seals. | | | Guadalupe Island has long had a reputation for huge white sharks. For years, fishermen have claimed to have had white sharks steal their yellowfin tuna just as the tuna is reeled in to the boat. On past diving trips we have talked with the local Mexican fishermen, who work the island year round; one told us that in the winter, when elephant seals crowd the bolder beaches at the north end of the island, you can walk across water on the backs of the sharks. The only people who meet Guadalupe Island's white sharks -- in open water -- are those who choose to dive Guadalupe Island for pleasure or out of necessity. Mexican hookah divers work the island for lobsters and abalone, and have reported to us that they commonly see white sharks. White sharks have visited divers on some of our past spearfishing and scuba diving trips at the island, making what appear to be inquisitive passes. Tragically, two freediving spearfishermen have been attacked during the 80's while hunting for tuna at Guadalupe Island, one fatally. | Cetacean species found at Guadalupe Island include large herds of Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, above) as well as the more rarely seen beaked whales. It is thought that the beaked whales feed for large squid in the deep water. | Cortez chubb (Kyphosus elegans) including a golden phase exhibited by breeding males | A massive school of jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) surrounds a videographer. | Scythe butterflyfish (Prognathodes falcifer), commonly found among boulders. | Swallowtail damselfish (Azurina hirundo) | Rainbow scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes xyris) | Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) | Whitetail Gregory (Stegastes leucorus leucorus) | Juvenile garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) | Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi), a popular and tasty gamefish found at Guadalupe Island. Two record yellowtail were speared on our annual diving trip in 1999. | The Guadalupe cardinalfish (Apogon guadalupensis), commonly seen in groups under rock ledges. | Guadalupe Island is steep and falls abrupty into deep oceanic water, and consequently is frequented by weird pelagic creatures such as Pelagia noctiluca (left) and Beroe forskalii (right), a pelagic ctenophore (comb jelly). Our 1994 trip even provided one videographer with footage of an exceedingly rare juvenile oarfish. | |
