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Famed Bay Area big-wave surf break Maverick’s proved to be the epicenter of all the madness we saw from the most recent swell to slam into California. However, in the middle of all the high drama was a moment of levity, thanks to a surprise passenger on one of the rescue Jet Skis that frequent the spot. Rather than his usual cargo of surfers and surfboards, Maverick’s Jet Ski operator Drake Stanley found himself transporting a young sea lion. “I named her Bubbles. We gave her to Marine Rescue,” wrote Stanley in the caption to the video of the event he posted to Instagram.
Though it’s unknown why this specific critter decided to try its hand at Jet Ski operation, sea lions have previously been seen hopping on to watercraft to avoid ocean predators. Given that the scene took place in Half Moon Bay, there’s a decent chance the predator in question would have been a great white. Just one more thing to worry about in the Maverick’s lineup.
