The water was clear and the sky was cloudless, so illumination was good underwater. The ocean was warm: 71F, too warm for kelp. El Niño is having an effect.

Kelp Perch (Brachyistius frenatus) Kelp perch are like little gold coins, glittering as they dart and hover in schools, just below the kelp canopy. They are skittish, and reflect light well; it's tricky to capture their golden color. This kelp perch was enjoying a small stand of kelp off Sea Lion Beach, on the South (or "back") side of Anacapa Island. It seems like just about every group of fish has a species that begins with "kelp": kelp perch, kelp bass, kelp rockfish, kelp

A Norris' Topsnail climbs a gas bladder on giant kelp It might look like this Norris' topsnail is a bubble dancer. But, he or she is doing the unending task of these snails, climbing a giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and feeding off the tiny animals that live on its surface. This shot was made looking straight down. These snails usually clamp their shells onto the kelp surface when approached. Perhaps this one was consumed with getting around this particular large kelp bla