Kelp Forest off Catalina Island [HD Video]

[Rainer]

Thirteen of us hopped on the Sea Bass out of San Pedro for a three dive charter out to Catalina Island two weekends ago. I brought along the camera and shot video for the first two dives at Ship Rock. This large pinnacle often sees some of the best dive conditions on the front-side of the island. We were not to be disappointed. We were greeted with blue water, good visibility, large schools of reef fish, lobsters, horn sharks, diving cormorants, and moray eels. For me, though, the highlight here is the healthy and large kelp forest. This is quintessential SoCal diving.

[vimeo]47820089[/vimeo]

If you have a fast internet connection, choose "HD" for much better quality (in which case just let the video load for a moment before playing it).

We finished up the trip with a third dive over at Blue Caverns. I traded the camera for a scooter, and we had a blast exploring the several small lobster-infested caverns in this area.

Sadly, this was our final charter on the Sea Bass, as the boat has been sold. Lots of great memories with Richard and Earle over the past three years. Wishing them both the best of luck in their future endeavors.

 

[FrankPro1]

You weren't kidding! That's the one thing we've missed at Santa Cruz these last few years. A healthy kelp forest Damn those urchins.

Excellent video!

 

[Thiad]

Thank you for making me really sad that I had a work emergency that made me miss my dives yesterday. Beautiful video and this is why I think we have some of the world's best diving here!

 

[Rainer]

Sargassum and urchins are two things I hate seeing in abundance here.

Thanks for watching. Your SC report reminded me I need to schedule a trip back out there soon.

You weren't kidding! That's the one thing we've missed at Santa Cruz these last few years. A healthy kelp forest Damn those urchins.

Excellent video!

---------- Post Merged at 01:05 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 01:02 PM ----------

I totally agree. We have world-class diving here. SoCal diving encompasses amazing and varied reefs, loads of real and artificial wrecks, oil rigs, lush kelp forests, great marine life (sea lions, seals, sharks, reef fish galore, pelagics, tons of nudibranchs, etc), and honestly, the water isn't *that* cold. We had 68F on this very Catalina trip!

Thank you for making me really sad that I had a work emergency that made me miss my dives yesterday. Beautiful video and this is why I think we have some of the world's best diving here!

 

[geoff w]

Great video (as all yours are)! We have friendsw ho live in Saudi Arabia visiting for a while, and are hoping to get to Catalina on Friday if we can get them into drysuits so they can dive in kelp forests. After watching your video, I think we'll go diving with or without them.

 

[Rainer]

Definitely take them! Conditions recently have been quite nice and the water is rather warm at the moment.

I wish we'd been able to join you in Malibu that Saturday, but knowing we had this charter the following day, we just got lazy. Hopefully another time soon!

Great video (as all yours are)! We have friends who live in Saudi Arabia visiting for a while, and are hoping to get to Catalina on Friday if we can get them into drysuits so they can dive in kelp forests. After watching your video, I think we'll go diving with or without them.

 

[drbill]

Given the extremely warm surface temps lately (one tech diver got 77 F surface temp in the dive park a few days ago), it is amazing the kelp is still as healthy as it is this late in the season. The past week or two we've seen a lot of senescence in the upper layers of the water column, but it has been nice to have it around due to the periodic pulses of cool water this summer.

Next to Farnsworth Banks, Ship Rock is my favorite Catalina dive site. Not much Sargassum horneri at the dive park this year due to healthy giant kelp, but UI noticed it was abundant and healthy at Sea Fan Grotto two weeks ago.

Glad you had a great three days of diving. Saw the boat off the island as I put-putted by in a 13 ft dinghy after visiting Jean-Michel up at Howland's Landing.

 

[Rainer]

I'd also rank Ship Rock the second best Catalina dive, right behind Farnsworth. They're actually pretty different dives (geology, vegetation, marine life, etc), and both are great.

Glad to hear the dive park has generally been Sargassum free. It is a bit surprising with the warm temperatures. Need to make a trip over to the dive park soon. It's been too long.

Given the extremely warm surface temps lately (one tech diver got 77 F surface temp in the dive park a few days ago), it is amazing the kelp is still as healthy as it is this late in the season. The past week or two we've seen a lot of senescence in the upper layers of the water column, but it has been nice to have it around due to the periodic pulses of cool water this summer.

Next to Farnsworth Banks, Ship Rock is my favorite Catalina dive site. Not much Sargassum horneri at the dive park this year due to healthy giant kelp, but UI noticed it was abundant and healthy at Sea Fan Grotto two weeks ago.

Glad you had a great three days of diving. Saw the boat off the island as I put-putted by in a 13 ft dinghy after visiting Jean-Michel up at Howland's Landing.

 

[promocop]

What camera? Nice stuff!

 

[Thiad]

I really enjoy Little Farnsworth, too!