Undersea Life in Seward!!

As you may or may not know, I'm a PADI Underwater Diver/Instructor and love seeing the sea creatures!!  Yesterday we definitely got an eye-full.  Patty picked up this cute little starfish and let it crawl across her hand.  It's a very funny feeling ... you should try it if you get the chance.  Several different varieties of anemones are in the background.

Here's a look at the bottom of their feet ... millions of tiny "legs" moving them along, even if they look like they are standing still.   If they really ARE standing still, they are probably eating something, so don't stick your finger in the hole in the middle ... it's full of "teeth"!!

Starfish come in all shapes, sizes and colors, as do the sea urchins.  These prickly guys are what the sea otters are munching on when you see them floating on their backs, eating.

The water here is REALLY cold, as you can imagine.  It requires ice diving preparation, including jammies (thick fleece clothing) to be worn under your dry suit ... named because it has rubber seals around the neck and arms, keeping you dry while diving.  That is until you have a small leak, which means unless you like shivering, the dive is over.

The fish here are almost fluorescent, with surprising colors.  In Monterey, where I dive most often, the fish are pretty drab in color ... maybe an orange rock cod ... but nothing like here.

No clue what this guy is .... other than about 2-1/2 feet long.

I think these guys inspired the library building.

Amazing octopus!!!  His body is close to two feet long ... no telling about those tentacles.  I certainly wasn't going to get any closer to check them out!!

And of course my all time favorite ... harbor seals.  They love to play tricks on you ... I have had them come up behind and grab my fins, push me with their nose ... trying to get me to chase.

When you turn around, they will blow bubbles in your face and be gone in an instant.  Amazingly fast, acrobatic and effortless swimmers, they make you laugh!!

I've had them swim up to my face, look me in the eye and disappear in an instant.  Being the color they are, we are always thinking SHARK!!!!  as they flash around.  Very curious creatures they are!!

Also spending a lot of time underwater are these puffins.  

They spend more time flying underwater than they do above water.  We saw them pester a huge crab for 20 minutes.  Not sure if they were looking for dinner or just playing around.

This mama, whose got better makeup than me, was gathering nesting materials.

Right you are again ... we really didn't go diving.  We were at the Alaska SeaLife Center checking out all the amazing creatures under the sea.  This is one of the best aquariums of local critters that I have seen.  The Stellar sea lions were camera shy today, but they reside here too.  If you come to Seward, be sure and check it out!!