Mark Carwardine / Tourists in small boat watching curious Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, February 2007

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) close-up of eye, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) blowing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale calf (Eschrichtius robustus), San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf upside down, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / California sealions (Zalophus californianus), one in water with other sitting on rock, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus), San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) swimming fast, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) near surface, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) porpoising swimming fast, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Smoothtail Ray / Mobula (Mobula thurstoni) flying out of the water, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of adult female Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico (Pacific coast), Endangered species

Claudio Contreras / Grayish Mouse Opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens), Maria Magdalena Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June.

Claudio Contreras / Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina), near San Quintin, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, December.

Claudio Contreras / Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) in flight, Ensenada, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, December.

Claudio Contreras / Heermann's Gulls (Larus heermanni) in flight. Ensenada, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, December.

Claudio Contreras / Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), El Requeson, Gulf of California, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, December.

Jeff Rotman / Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) caught in gill net, observed by diver at night, Huatampo, Mexico, Gulf of California, Pacific Ocean. Model released. May 2008.

Claudio Contreras / Tres Marias Rabbit (Sylvilagus graysoni) in profile. Maria Magdalena Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June. Endangered.

Claudio Contreras / Tres Marias Rabbit (Sylvilagus graysoni). Maria Madre Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, July. Endangered.

Claudio Contreras / Mexican / Brown Vine Snake (Oxybelis aeneus) with mouth open. Maria Madre Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June.

Alex Mustard / A young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) swims in a shallow pool. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A split level view of a bull California sealion (Zalophus californianus) swimming beneath Los Islotes sealion colony. La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) portrait, inside an underwater cave. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) playing with a starfish, inside an underwater cave. The pups will pick up a variety of objects (such as starfish, lumps of coral, shells and feather...

Alex Mustard / A young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) playing with a starfish, inside an underwater cave. The pups will pick up a variety of objects (such as starfish, lumps of coral, shells and feather...

Alex Mustard / A bull California sealion (Zalophus californianus) bursting through a school of baitfish in the shallows. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) head portrait, Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A silhouette of a California sealion pup (Zalophus californianus) next to cliffs. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / A silhouette of a young California sealion (Zalophus californianus) swimming just below the surface, close to shore. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / An adult California sealion (Zalophus californianus) makes a sharp turn at high speed. Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) swimming past a baitball of Sardines (Clupeidae) off Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean, November

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) expeling air and water from mouth through baleen plates after engulfing part of a baitball of Sardines (Clupeidae) with California sea lion (Tetreapturus au...

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) swimming past a baitball of Sardines (Clupeidae)California sea lion (Tetreapturus audax) and Striped marlin (Zalophus californianus) in background. Off Baja...

Alex Mustard / California sea lion pup (Zalophus californianus) portrait in a rocky underwater cave. La Paz, Baja California Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean. October

Alex Mustard / An adult female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) head portrait, in a rocky underwater cave. La Paz, Baja California Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean. October

Alex Mustard / Split level of female California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) basking in the sun on the surface. La Paz, Baja California Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean. October

Claudio Contreras / Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) pup playing underwater, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) viewed from above, in the surf, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) weaner / juvenile head portrait, with head turned to look at camera, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Febr...

Claudio Contreras / Pair of Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) male holding female during copulation, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) colony on beach, with juvenile / weaner in the surf, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) in fishing net, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) close-up of eyes, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) passing divers cage, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, Pacific ocean, September

Claudio Contreras / Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) close-up of weaner / juvenile sleeping, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) head portrait of chick, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) pup swimming, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) pup portrait in shallow water, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalos townsendi) head portrait of pup, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Two Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) males fighting for dominance, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. April

Claudio Contreras / Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) head portrait calling mate, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) head portrait calling mate, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) weaner sleeping at the bottom of a tide pool, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) flying, silhouetted against the sky, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) head portrait of weaner / pup, on beach at Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, April

Mark Carwardine / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) slapping the surface during courtship battle, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) surfacing adn blowing, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking / diving, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at surface, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at surface, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at surface, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at surface, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) blowing / spouting, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) surfacing and blowing, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) surfacing, showing blowhole and vertebrae of spine, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking / diving, Endangered species, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) juvenile swimming alongside mother, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) at surface, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) at surface, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) bow-riding in front of boat, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) at surface, spouting, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) breaching, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Pod of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) at surface, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) fluking, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, Endangered

Mark Carwardine / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) fluking - lifting the tail in the air before a dive, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) swimming over a bait ball of Sardines, three ridges on forehead that distinguish the Bryde's whale from other mysticetes are prominently visible. Off Baja C...

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) with throat pleats expanded after engulfing part of a school of Sardines, off Baja California, Mexico (Eastern Pacific Ocean)

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) expelling air and water from mouth through baleen plates after engulfing part of a baitball of Sardines, Sardinops sagax, off Baja California, Mexico (Easte...

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) feeding on baitball of Sardines (Sardinops sagax) off Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean. 4 in sequence of 5

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) feeding on baitball of Sardines (Sardinops sagax) off Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean. 3 in sequence of 5

Jeff Rotman / DeepSee diving submersible, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean Property released

Richard Herrmann / Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) group, Carmel, Monterey Bay, California

Doc White / Close up of Grey whale (Eschrichitius robustus) eye, Baja California, Mexico, Pacific

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Coastline at dusk, Shark Fin Cove, Davenport, California

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) male in breeding plumage on pond, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, California

Patricio Robles Gil / "Male Baja California / Peninsular pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) vocalising, semicaptive breeding facility, Biosphere Reserva of El Vizcano, Baja, Mexico, Critically endangered subspe...

Patricio Robles Gil / Aerial view of coastal waters, Baja California, Mexico, April 2008

Patricio Robles Gil / Aerial view of Llano de Cachigui with water rivulets following heavy rain, Baja California, Mexico, April 2008