4th Place Underwater Conservation
Celia Kujala
“Hooked Pup“
Celia Kujala won a Freeway Longhaul 75 Carryall Duffel Bag!
The Story: I met this California sea lion pup at the beginning of a dive in the Coronado Islands. He was a smaller and younger pup than most in the water, but what was most noticeable was the hook embedded in his mouth. He was curious and stayed near me the entire dive. At times he would gently bite the dome of my camera. It seemed like he was trying to get the hook off and he would stare at me as if asking for help. My heart was broken because I would have needed more assistance to remove it. A rescue team and surgery is often needed to remove hooks from sea lions. Hopefully it will rust and fall out of his mouth and he can live a long, healthy life. At the least, his story can be a message of the impact of humans on the inhabitants of our ocean.
Location: Lobster Shack, Coronado Islands, Mexico
Equipment Used: Nikon D500 Camera, Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye Lens, Nauticam NA-D500 Housing, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D3 Strobes
Camera Settings: ISO 400, F11, 1/250 sec
