Southern California Kelp Diving and Kelp Creatures
Diving in the kelp forests of Southern California never ceases to amaze me. Even after 500+ dives in these temperate waters, there always seems to be something new to witness every time I dip beneath the waves.
For some reason, to me, that three-minute safety stop seems to last forever. I feel like I’m somewhere between the “real” dive, and the next surface interval. However, when diving in a kelp forest, there’s a whole other world to explore: the kelp canopy. The safety stop is the perfect time and place to check out the various critters that inhabit this shallow water environment. Hundreds of species call the kelp forest home, and many of these prefer the sunlit canopy. When the visibility is less-than-ideal at depth, I will usually seek out the best possible light. Often times, I find myself less than 20 feet from the surface, exploring the kelp for noteworthy subjects.
Whether you’re shooting macro, wide-angle, or not carrying a camera at all, the kelp canopy is a magical place to observe fish, mollusks, nudibranchs, and a multitude of other critters behind the backdrop of the light dancing in the shallows.
As an added bonus, focusing on a particular critter will make your three minute stop seem like seconds, and you just might surface with a few extra “winning” shots to boot.
Michael ZeiglerA Norris' top snail (Norrisia norrisi) clings to a blade of giant kelp, on which it feeds, just below the surface at Ironbound Cove on the backside of Catalina Island, California.
Michael ZeiglerWhile doing my safety stop off the coast of Point Loma (near San Diego, California), I noticed dozens of tiny proliferating anemones (about 1cm), which had taken up residence on the bladders and stipes of the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Michael ZeiglerDiving in lush kelp forests is magical, as life thrives throughout the entire water column. Here, a kelp crab (Pugettia producta) greets me while hanging at 15 fsw at Santa Barbara Island off Southern California.
Michael ZeiglerKeep your eyes peeled! The beautiful and stealthy giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) can seemingly disappear right before your eyes. As soon as you look away to make any adjustments to your camera or to glance at your dive computer, it’s gone.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Michael Zeigler has lived in Southern California since 1996, and has been scuba diving since 2004. Although he has been diving in many places around the world, he prefers capturing the beauty of the diverse marine life that inhabits the rich kelp forests of Southern California. A proud member of the Ocean Artists Society, Michael also teaches underwater photography, leads underwater photo workshops, and is an AAUS Scientific Diver. He shoots with a Nikon D7000, Sea and Sea housing, and Ikelite DS-160 strobes. To see more of his work, visit www.SeaInFocus.com.
