Can you name the three kinds of seals cruising around San Diego Bay?   Most people can name two, but the third might stump you.

First in the mind of anyone connected to the military are the Navy SEALs, the elite operational forces of the Naval Special Warfare Command, whose Pacific Fleet teams are based in San Diego.  These SEALs are highly regarded, highly skilled teams of warriors who undergo the toughest training in the world.  Their name, Sea, Air and Land Forces, comes from the elements in and from which they operate; their mystique comes from the fact that they operate in a clandestine manner, conducting dangerous operations. They are often seen on training excercises on San Diego Bay.

The second seal that comes to mind is the one whose antics draw visitors from around the world, the California Sea Lion, the big, chocolate brown sea mammal whose big round eyes, pointed, whiskered muzzle and barking voice make it appear dog-like.  These sea mammals are sleek and fast in the water, can swim up to 25 mph, dive to a depth of 1000 feet, but are somewhat awkward-looking on land.  Because of their aquatic skills, their ability to swim silently and their high intelligence, some are trained by the U. S. Navy Marine Mammal Program to detect underwater mines and to recover equipment from places inaccessible to human divers.  In their natural coastal habitat, these highly social mammals congregate on shoreline rocks or hang out on their favorite piers. 

Can you name the third San Diego seal?  Here are some clues: it operates equally well on land and sea; it looks a bit like a bus, a bit like a boat; it has a motor; it’s lots of fun!

This seal is the big, glossy, bright blue and yellow amphibious tour vehicle, seen on the streets of San Diego and in the bay.  It’s hard to miss, with a whimsical dive mask-wearing, snorkel-bearing seal lolling on its back painted on its side.  It’s a member of the fleet of the SEAL Tours of San Diego and it takes people on the ride of a lifetime.  

This seal, too, has special features:

1. It morphs from a land creature to a sea creature with you on board!
2. It gets you out on the water – right on the big bay.
3. It’s a great narrated tour, by land and by sea.
4. On the road, you’re seated way up high, with great views of San Diego, and the big canvas roof is a great sunshade. 
5. You’ll glide effortlessly down into San Diego Bay from a boat ramp on Shelter Island, leaving the rumbly road noise behind to motor quietly in the bay! The feeling is exhilarating!
6. You’ll see a lot of action out on the bay: Navy jets and helicopters buzzing about overhead; perhaps a destroyer, a cruise ship, even an aircraft carrier underway. 
7. You’ll see sea lions up close, if you’re lucky, hanging out on bait cages anchored in the bay.  As your SEAL circles around the bait cages, the seal lions might be around, popping up to the surface, swiftly and effortlessly propelling themselves out of the water, landing with a flop on top of the bait cages.  Once out of the water, they waddle awkwardly on their bellies over to their spot in the sun.  Keep in mind they are free spirits, and while they are almost always there looking for an easy meal, every now and then they’ll go off on an adventure.
8. You’ll see opportunistic sea birds - seagulls, herons, pelicans, cormerants - hanging out on top of the bait cages, hoping for an easy dinner.
9. From a restricted distance, you might see the conning tower of a submarine or spot a Navy dolphin in training.
10. You’ll see floating kelp, which grows at an unbelievable 18″ per day!  Pieces are constantly breaking off from nearby kelp beds and floating to the surface, often getting hung up on the SEAL’s truck wheels (they don’t retract during the splashdown).  The kelp has to be removed before hitting the road again!

Kids love the SEAL Tour!  Big people do too. 

Trackback URI | Comments RSS