Alex Zozulya says:

This photo was taken during a visit to the islands of South Australia. White capped sea lions are local endemics and a vulnerable species, but otherwise they behave much like sea lions everywhere in the oceans: curious, friendly, and playful.

They do not mind human contact. What matters most is that they have something to keep them engaged. Although they may first show interest only from a distance, lying quietly on the seabed and watching without moving, they slowly begin to relax. Gradually they behave more boldly and eventually open up completely. The photo captures the moment of their very first encounter, the instant of first eye contact.