I like diving in kelp, I always think of it like walking through a forest. Here's my input:
-Be relaxed and swim slowly. Staying on the edge of a kelp bed might be a good way to get a further introduction.
-If you get caught up on something, and eventually you will, slowly move your arm back and disengage the piece that has caught you. Don't try to turn around to see what is going on, as that might further entangle you. I've never needed a knife to cut kelp. Most kelp can just be removed, or in the worst case, the kelp can be broken by snapping it in your hands.
-Carry a compass, set a bearing going in, and swim the reciprocal coming back out.
-Lights are nice if the natural lighting is a bit dim.
-Save enough air at the end of the dive, so that you can traverse out of the kelp field, or back to the boat without having to resort to the "Kelp crawl" on the surface. Come up, get a bearing on where you need to go, then drop back down to 10-15 feet, and swim in the direction that you need to go. Be cautious not to overswim...I've done that one before.
-If the kelp is forming an overhead environment, you can gently purge your reg, or else stay in one place breathing normally for a couple of minutes (ie, safety stop), and the air bubbles will push the kelp away at the surface, forming a window that you can ascend into, to then get your bearing.
-A tall kelp stalk can be used as an upline for guidance for ascending to your safety stop and to the surface. Being closer to neutrally buoyant is good, as if you are negative, you can pull the kelp down with you.
-Look around. There are plenty of small fish that will stay close to the kelp, and there are always intresting snails or invertibrates to find while doing your safety stop.
Just my two cents. Have fun, -Todd.
