Pacific Harbor Seal

I was out snorkeling through the kelp bed while my friends were on the beach. Finally, when I felt that it was time to warm up on the sand and I turned shoreward, my friends lazily gestured 'turn around!' When I looked around, a little white puppy-like head dunked into the water. It had apparently been following about fifteen feet behind me for some time, hiding whenever I turned. I pretended to resume idly snorkeling (I was really hoping for another visit) and stared intently at some kelp with my camera at the ready. Sure enough, my new friend took the bait and became a frightening streak of white across my field of vision (not on film), then later came back for some more genial acquaintance-making. --------

A longer, slightly more intimate video that I took of the lovely creature is here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPRBtbx6T0I&feature=youtu.be --------

And oh but woe is me that the flash was on for that last picture! ------ (harbor seal?)