COVID-19 travel restrictions and border closings are constantly evolving. There is no guarantee that the dive sites mentioned within this article will be open at your time of travel.

You may hear the popular residents of the rookery off the southeast side of Santa Barbara Island, one of California's Channel Islands, before you see them. A large colony of raucous sea lions greets divers, who can interact with the curious creatures in water that averages 40 to 100 feet of visibility. Despite weighing around 700 pounds, these sleek, 6-foot-long marine mammals are quicker than seals, topping speeds of about 25 miles per hour.

When to Go: July through October Get There: Ventura Dive & Sport

Find out about more seasonal marine animal encounters:

The Humpback Whales of Kona, Hawaii

Top 10 Shark Dives Around the World

World's Best Big-Animal Dives and Snorkels