Peruvian Pelican

While not a diving species, Peruvian pelicans dive from above the surface at Roja Piedra in coordinated attacks on anchovy schools, creating a chaotic spectacle visible from below as their submerged forms streak through the same water column where divers operate. The surface-to-depth interface at this site — pelicans diving from above, hammerheads from below, and sea lions from the sides — illustrates the extraordinary productivity of the Humboldt Current ecosystem. Divers at shallow depths during a pelican feeding frenzy report the birds passing within arm's reach during their pursuit dives.