Diving the Kelp Forests
Magical and almost mystical, the kelp forests of California provide a unique and interesting habitat that stirs and inspires the imagination. Giant Kelp Forests, Macrocystis pyrifera, thrive along the western coast of North America, South America, South Africa, Southern Australia, and New Zealand
where water temperatures typically range from 50° to 60° F (10°–15.5°C). The Giant Kelp can also thrive in depths up to 30.5 m (100 ft.) depending upon the clarity of the water and the amount of sunlight available at depth. As the largest kelp species, giant kelp attains heights up to 45.7 m (150 ft.) and in ideal conditions, giant kelp fronds can grow as much as 0.6 m (2 ft.) per day.
Swimming through these magnificent kelp forests is special. With their tree-like structures swaying gently in the current, the
Giant Kelp provides a perfect habitat for a wide variety marine creatures. These life sustaining structures provide a critical foundation habitat to a number of fish, crustaceans, sea anemones, corals, jellyfishes, sea otters and much more.
Giant Kelp
Giant kelp is golden brown with rootlike holdfasts, long, branched stipes and hundreds of wrinkled blades supported by bulb-shaped pneumatocysts. It is an awesome experience to swim silently amongst these kelp forests as they gently sway with the current. The light is subdued and somewhat distorted amongst the “branches” of the Giant Kelp and resident species of fish dart to and fro. Visibility can range from a few inches to almost 60 feet depending upon the current and waves and whether the bottom is mainly sand or rock/coral. With colorful Gerabaldi swimming around you along with a number of other species this makes a really interesting dive.
Although the water temperature is cool to cold and you must wear a 5 to 7 mil wetsuit this is a dive that you should make a least once and if you are lucking enough to live along the California coast or the west coast of Latin America this should be a regular part of your diving.
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