Some days just feel right from the start. That’s how it was when Richard and I headed out to Los Islotes—one of our favorite spots. The sun was high, the water was sparkling, and we knew it was going to be one of those dives that sticks with you.

The stars of the show at Los Islotes? The sea lions, of course! These guys are like underwater comedians—always curious, always playful, and always ready to steal the spotlight. As we anchored up, you could hear them barking and splashing, like they were already warming up for their big performance.

Once we were underwater, it didn’t take long for the sea lions to find us. One little guy—Richard nicknamed him “Fred”—swam right up to me, stopping just inches from my mask. With a puff of bubbles and a flick of his flippers, he shot off like a rocket. Not to be outdone, a couple of his buddies joined in, zooming around us, showing off their flips and twists.

For a moment, I tried to keep up, but there’s no competing with sea lions in their element. All we could do was laugh through our regulators and enjoy the show.

The dive continued, and as always, the sea lions eventually lost interest in us and went back to their rock-hopping games. We surfaced, still buzzing from the playful encounter, and agreed—there’s just something magical about these dives. Whether it’s your first or hundredth time, Los Islotes always manages to surprise and delight with its underwater performers.

If you ever find yourself in La Paz, do yourself a favor—come meet Fred and his playful gang. You won’t be disappointed!