Swimming in Cabrillo Beach near the traditional finish area of Catalina Channel crossings, we found ourselves swimming parallel to rocky coastline of Southern California among a thick kelp forest.
The thick kelp forest below the water surface seemed to stretch forever beneath the water’s surface. Although we wondered what possibly could be down among the kelp, we had no real worries or high expectations that we were going to run into anything out of the ordinary.
But out of the blue, a solitary sea otter popped up to the surface with its cute little head. We immediately stopped right there and just stared. The little furry pup startled us and it stared back right back at us with its long whiskers twitching inquisitively. We didn’t know if he would bark or bite so we just eggbeatered in place.
Our marine friend did the same. The stare-down must have been only seconds long, but it seemed longer. Its eyes gazed into ours. We didn’t dare blink or move, not knowing what it would do. It sniffled its nose as if to indicate our human smell was odoriferous.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.