Awesome Algae

I love seaweed. Having grown up in a suburb of Detroit, I never thought I'd say that. As a kid on vacation, it was always just that nasty stuff that impeded my direct path from the warm sand to the ocean waves.  

As an avid diver here in southern California, I've come to love seaweed. Algae, actually. Which, as I discovered, is Latin for seaweed. I'll stick with algae, because I don't really think of what I'm about to describe as a "weed." 

Diving in these massive kelp forests is like walking through a forest on land.  The sun streams through the canopy and dances on the forest floor.

Unlike plants, kelp species do not have a true root system, which delivers nutrients from the ground up. They secure themselves to the rocky reef by means of a root-like structure called a holdfast. From the holdfast forms the main length-wise structure called a stipe. Dozens of leaf-like blades branch-off from the stipe, which are supported by gas-filled floats. The algae absorbs nutrients from its blades and energy from the sun through photosynthesis. 

This entire kelp structure is hanging on by a thread, perhaps separated from the reef by the sharp teeth of urchins. Once afloat, this will become home to many juvenile fish and will, in turn, attract game fish before it degrades or washes up on shore.

Anyone familiar with southern California diving knows that the star of the show is giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Not only is this awesome algae home to thousands of species, it is also an important ingredient in many of the things we consume everyday like toothpaste, ice cream, make-up, and more. You can often find it on the list of ingredients under the name alginate. Since it grows so quickly (up to two feet per day under optimal conditions), it is harvested commercially. It's found in just a few temperate locations around the world including, but not limited to, South Africa, South America, and New Zealand. 

A kelp crab greets me during a safety stop at Santa Barbara Island.

The kelp canopy is filled with critters that call it home. Countless species of fish use the canopy to find food and protection. Juvenile species can be seen by the dozens, schooling together and darting behind the nearest kelp blade at the sound of my bubbles.

The kelp forests are also home to some of the largest fish species, like this giant sea bass. 

Giant kelp isn't the only species, however. Another one of my favorites is the very distinctive elkhorn kelp (Pelagophycus porra). This species is typically found where the giant kelp leaves off,  which is around 60fsw. Although you won't find vast tall forests of this species, you can often see massive areas of the sea floor covered with its large blades.

A diver looking for torpedo rays in a forest of elkhorn kelp.

Smaller, more colorful coralline and various red algae splash the reef with color, which is most apparent in the shallow, sunlit areas of the reef.  Garibaldi (the California state marine fish) will build their nests with various species of red algae, forming a large red circular area on the reef.  

A garibaldi and red algae in the bright shallows of San Clemente Island.

A crevice kelpfish surrounded by red coralline algae.

Another distinct type of algae is the southern sea palm (Eisenia arborea). Its thick trunk or stipe, along with its strong holdfasts, allow it to withstand the forces of the intertidal zone. 

This female sheephead shows no fear and poses gracefully above a southern sea palm.

Southern California diving just wouldn't be the same without this awesome algae. So the next time you're diving in these waters, be sure to look around at the different species. You never know what cool critters you may find!

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Trip Report: Anacapa Island

Rarely do I pass up an opportunity to go diving at the Channel Islands, and last Friday was no exception. This time it was an invite from my buddy Mike Bartick to head to Anacapa Island to dive the Pelican Reserve. A quick internet search turns up some interesting information. According to the National Park Service, the California brown pelican was classified as federally endangered in 1970, and as endangered by the state of California in 1971. The only breeding colonies of California brown pelicans in the western United States are within Channel Islands National Park on West Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. So, in order to help protect the ailing pelican population, the site known as Pelican Reserve is only open to divers two months of the year: November 1 through December 31. Sweet! Let's do this. . . .

Brittle stars cover the reef at Pelican Reserve for as far as the eye can see.

Pelican Reserve

Mike and I hopped off the Spectre and immediately headed to deeper waters, in search of torpedo rays. During our descent, I couldn't help by notice that the entire reef was completely covered in brittle stars. The reef is slowly being decimated by these colorful invaders. The reef finally "cleared up" at about 20fsw, where I found the occasional gorgonian.

A female sheephead cruises by in the barren shallows.

Goldfish Reef

Our next dive took us to Goldfish Reef toward the west end of the island. The sun came out, which is typically when I shoot wide-angle, but Mike mentioned the possibility of finding pike blennies, which I have never seen. 
Macro it is. . . . 

I'm so stoked that I switched! Our search for pike blennies was a bust, but we did witness dozens of Navanax inermis mating.  Eggs were everywhere, and I had never seen so many Navanax at one site before.

A pair of mating Navanax inermis at Goldfish Reef. Enter Al Green song here ___.  

After a brief encounter with a Giant Sea Bass, and with just five minutes of bottom time to spare, I spotted a rare Babakina festiva nudibranch. Wait . . . not one, but three!  These tiny, colorful nudibranchs are about the size of a grain of risotto.  How cool!

A tiny Babakina festiva nudibranch at Goldfish Reef.  We saw three of these, each just over a 1cm in length.

West End

Our third and final dive of the day came at West End. The current was mild as was descended into the colorful shallows, full of bright green eel grass and huge schools of opaleye.  

Looking east from the west end of Anacapa Island.  The currents can get intense here as the reef descends into the channel.

I found a short wall full of colorful urchins and anemones, just out of reach of the direct sun. As I wrapped up a series of frames, I noticed a substantial shift in the intensity of the current. Time to end the dive. Special thanks to Mike Bartick, and the crew of the Spectre!

Colorful urchins and anemones adorn this short wall at West End.