Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) nesting colony at Jougla Point on Wiencke Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in snowstorm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

A rare melanistic king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), feeding its okum boy chick at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), at breeding colony at Brown Bluff on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Young challenger bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) fleeing from beachmaster bull, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adult bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) mating in the surf at Gold Harbour on South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) flukes-up dive in Inian Pass, Southeast Alaska, Pacific Ocean, United States of America, North America

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), underwater on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on the beach at breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plain in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), at breeding colony at Brown Bluff on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) nesting colony almost buried by snow during snow storm at Brown Bluff, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in snowstorm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

A long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), surfacing off Gorda Banks, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Adult Peale's Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis), bow-riding near New Island in the Falkland Islands, South America

Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), in snow storm at breeding colony at Brown Bluff, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

The endemic Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) ashore at Useful Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) on ice near Devil Island in the Weddell Sea near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Hawksbill Sea Turtle belly, Australia.

Adult king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) amongst chicks (okum boys) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), ecstatic display at breeding colony at Half Moon Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) mating behavior at Jougla Point on Wiencke Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

A pair of long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis), surfacing off Gorda Banks, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) amongst chicks at breeding colony at Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding colony at Brown Bluff on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) nesting colony almost buried by snow during snow storm at Brown Bluff, Antarctica, Polar Regions

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), porpoising in the water in Puerto Refugio, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

A long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), surfacing off Gorda Banks, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

An adult female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), coming ashore to nest on Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), stampeding on the beach in Puerto Refugio, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) chewing a flipper while lying on a sandy beach, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Man preparing to dive at Chankanaab Park, famous for its superb coral reef, on the island of Cozumel, off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, North America

Californian Sea-Lions rest on floating rafts at Pier 39, San Francisco, United States of America

California Sea-Lions rest on floating rafts at Pier 39, San Francisco, United States of America

Magellanic penguin, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

Young elephant seal, Sea Lion Island, Falklands Isles, South Atlantic

Elephant Seals lying on beach, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

A young Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) lying open-mouthed amongst the seaweed on the shores of Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic.

Elephant Seals, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

Magellanic Penguin showing natural oil on its feathers at Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic.

Flippers, North Male Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, Asia

Dolphins gliding through the waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain

Young elephant seals, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

Guano in an Adelie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae, colony at Madder Cliffs, Suspiros Bay, at the west end of Joinville Island, Antarctica. Adelie's are a true Antarctic species which are suffering as a result of climate change, The Antarctic Peninsular, their only breeding grounds, is one of the fastest warming areas on the planet. This is causing Adelies to migrate south. They are reducing in numbers, they feed almost exclusively on Krill, which is also declining as a result of climate change.

Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, in Grytviken South Georgia, Antarctica, with an old whaling ship behind.

A massive bull, beach master Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, at Jason Harbour, South Georgia, Antarctica.

Large bull Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, fighting at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Antarctica, in a King Penguin colony.

Southern Elephant Seals; Mirounga leonina, at Hannah Point, on livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctica Peninsular.

A massive bull, beach master Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, at Jason Harbour, South Georgia, Antarctica, with tourists from an expedtion cruise ship.

A Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoscelis antarctica, at Hannah Point on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic. Behind the penguin is lots of greenery, plants that are expanding as the Antarctic Peninsular warms as a result of climate change,

Adelie Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae at Madder Cliffs, Suspiros Bay, with tourists from an expedition cruise, at the west end of Joinville Island, Antarctica.

Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, on Prion Island, South Georgia, Antarctica.

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A Bull Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, showing a threat display.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, with a zodiak full of passengers from an expedition cruise.

A Bull Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) on an iceberg in Drygalski Fjord, Antarctic Peninsular,

A Gentoo Penguin on Prion Island, South Georgia.

Southern Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina, on Prion Island, South Georgia, Antarctica, yawning,

An African penguin, also known as a Black-footed penguin and formerly the Jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) on a beach in Cape Town.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Grey whale (eschrishtius robustus) showing flipper above water, heavy scarring, san ignacio, mexico

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, and a wildlife photographer.

Snorkelers at whale watching, Silver Bank, Atlantic Ocean, Dominican Republic, West Indies, Central America

Steering with its pectoral fins the friendly Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) turns its streamlined body towards the boat in order to dive under the hull. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada. Sequence 5/6

The white flipper band of a Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) is visible through the greenish water. This distinctive feature is characteristic of Minke whales of the northern hemisphere and the most obvious difference to their relatives in the Antarctic. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada

A mother and newborn pup leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice floes on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula, Southern Ocean

A mother and newborn pup leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice floes on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) biting swim fins underwater at Los Islotes (the islets) just outside of La Paz, Baja California Sur in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Leaping dolphin pair (rr)

A banded Adult Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) resting among gentoo and chinstrap colonies on Barrentos Island in the Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Newborn southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on the beach at President Head on Snow Island in the South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) at the surface to breath with blow hole open. Characteristic white bands on the flipper visible thorugh the water. Hebrides, Scotland (1 of 2 images).

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) surfacing at speed in very calm waters. Eye, beak, flipper and dorsal fin visible above the surface. Hebrides, West coast of Scotland.

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing towards the camera with characteristic white bands on each flipper visible through the water. Hebrides, Scotland

Fin Whale side fluke

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) at the surface to breath with blow hole open. Characteristic white bands on the flipper visible thorugh the water. Hebrides, Scotlan

Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, breaching right in front of the photographer. Note the scar above the right pectoral flipper which has been caused by the Remora. Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean.

Elisabeth Kristoffersen surfacing during Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

Gillieume Nery world record holder and Champion during the Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

Stig Severinsen at the Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

freedivers in the Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

Gillieume Nery world record holder and Chapion during the Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

Gillieume Nery world record holder at the Oslo Ice Challenge 2009. Oslo, Norway

New Zealand fur seal (Arctochephalus forsteri) 'jugging' at surface (thermo regulation).Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand.

Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli). Close up of head. Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean.

Walrus (Odobenus Rosmarus) lying on an ice floe. Southern Hinlopen Street, Svalbard, High Norwegian Arctic.

Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus wollebacki). Galapagos.

Galapagos sea lion - Zalophus californianus wollebacki. Galapagos, Pacific Ocean (RR)