Curious sea lion, posing for the camera

The photographer was surrounded by 40 sea lions dive into the water near Hopkins Island (South Australia) to work.

American photographer Michael O'Neil, who specializes in wild life, said: " When I jumped from the boat to the water, all the baby sea lions chased me. They followed a big one that overcame me. several times to investigate me ".

"They are all friendly and mesmerized by my underwater camera."

"The young lions play and chase each other, pick up stones, release them and then occasionally blow bubbles."

"They followed me for nearly two hours before they started to get bored and swam away to the coast."

"I must say that this is the most valuable memory in my professional photographer's life."