Diving in California, Jan/Feb 2007

[Mattkk]

Hi All - I'm new to this site and am looking for some help/advice. I'm a UK photographer based out of Malaysia and have recently been commissioned to produce a book about different marine environments around the world. I need to include Kelp forests but am working on an extremely tight deadline - I need to have everything in the bag by mid-Feb at the latest. California is certainly an option but I really need some info about conditions over there - what the kelp is like, what sort of vis I can expect, general conditions etc etc, basically anything that will help me out! At the moment its a toss-up between California or Tasmania but the kelp in Tas is at its worse in the next few months (winter is best) - I can go now, or delay and head to California in Jan. I would seriously appreciate any help/advice/opinions from you all.

Regards

Matt Oldfield

 

[LAJim]

Catalina will have great kelp in Feb. Viz will be 30 to 70 ft. Front side of the island protected from most conditions. Plenty of people to help you out here.

Jim

 

[under water]

You might find the Monterey Bay Aquarium has most if not all the answers you need regarding kelp forests.
http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/

 

[drbill]

You can also check out my web site under my scientific research papers and my newspaper column for info on SoCal kelp forests.

 

[SoCalAngel]

I posted a reply in the Nor Cal forum...hope you make it out here. Can you fill in your profile a bit more. Us scuba chicks are a curious lot! :blinking:

 

[mposin]

If you come to Southern California, try diving at Little Corona in the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach. I dived there last week, and they had plenty of kelp. It's a lovely shallow dive, maxing out at about 25 feet, so there is plenty of natural light for photography. However, be forewarned that visibility for shore dives from the Southern California mainland rarely exceeds about 20-25 feet. If you take a trip to one of the islands, where visibility is much greater, I would recommend either Santa Barbara Island or San Miguel Island for kelp forests, over Catalina. On the other hand, Catalina is much more accessible, and unlike the other islands has regularly scheduled boat service (don't call it a ferry), and a town with lodging. Once you are there, you have the option of either taking a dive boat, or diving from shore at the Dive Park, which has kelp, and is within walking distance from most lodging. For the other islands, you will have to take a dive boat out of Long Beach (for Santa Barbara and San Clemente Islands) or out of Ventura (for the northern islands).

 

[SoCalAngel]

Ok..Dove at Catalina Island this past Saturday (Dec. 30th)... LOADS of Kelp coming back...on backside and at East End...was totally gorgeous diving in the kelp forest again...even saw several divers get all tangled up (hee hee)

L