Actually abalone diving is done without scuba equipment (by law). It's all freediving with a snorkel. I usually go a few times a year, so if you want more info I can tell ya all about it.

Yes, it was snorkel not scuba.

They were young-ish & small-ish harbor seals, not adult sealions - my friend went into deeper water and had a giant sealion bark at him a bit and follow him closely enough to freak him out a bit. (It was my first time diving so I stayed in the shallower water, no sealions, just the seals.) I really did try to avoid them but they were having none of it - they didn't nip or act aggressive in any way, just observed closely. I guess I was lucky - it was fun and I'll definitely go again, but this time we'll look for a place without seals in sight! (Though I'm told seals are a good way to know if sharks are nearby - if they all suddenly take for land and act alarmed, time to get out.)