Kelpscape

Infant Navanax Grazing on Bryozoans

Navanax are fierce predators of other nudibranchs. However, this youngster appears to be grazing on bryozoans on a kelp frond.

Octopus on Kelp Holdfast

Octopus on a kelp holdfast. It's interesting how they can change the texture of their skins, as well as the colors.

Kelp

Macrocystis Kelp off the Southeast End of Santa Rosa Island.
 

The Hidden Giant Kelpfish

Giant kelpfish can be tiny; but they can also be big.  Quite a few big ones have been around lately, although they are shy, and expert at disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Stream of Silversides

Silversides formed streams and rivers amid the kelp.  But when I moved, the streams shifted instantly.

Sardines with Kelp

Sardines swirled at Tajiguas yesterday. They seemed to rest amid the kelp, and emerge from time to time to feed below the surface in large, loose schools. When I approached their resting place, they would at first recoil, then come over and circle a few times, closer and closer, to investigate. Thanks to El Nino it was 72 F even at 40 feet depth. I dived in a 3mm wetsuit without a hood. I saw a Pacific Barracuda: I'd never seen this off the coast, or this far north. The kelp appears to be holding up for the time being, although I saw quite a few dead sheep crabs.

Kelp Bass at Tajiguas

Kelp bass follow me around in a big school. I think they are waiting for me to cause trouble, so that they can find something to eat. Whenever I turn around, they act all innocent: "Who, me? Just passing through!"

Kelp Rockfish at Tajiguas

This Kelp Rockfish was curious and followed me around through his area of kelp before approaching to examine the camera lens.  This image is from March 2015, a couple of months before the oil spill at Refugio Beach.

Kelp Maze at Tajiguas

Thick kelp at Tajiguas, before the Refugio Oil Spill, in January 2015.  Tajiguas is just to the west of the spill site, and the beach is still blocked off. If it's similar to Refugio, the ocean creatures and plants may be enjoying the respite from human visitors!

 

Kelp in Potato Harbor

 

Opposed wind and swell drove the dive boat Raptor into the sheltered anchorage of Potato Harbor on Saturday. It was 52 F, with quite a bit of sure even in this sheltered anchorage. Sand, urchin-covered rocks and a few patches of kelp were about all there was to see. And, abundant sunlight.