There is nothing as peaceful as floating through the muted light of a
kelp forest on a summer afternoon. The tall stalks tower to the
surface. Above you, the shafts of sunlight are broken and scattered
in penetrating beams by the fronds as they spread out on the
surface.
If you love kelp you are in for a treat diving the Northern Channel Islands this summer. The kelp is thick and lush. In many spots it is at its peak. One of these locations are the reefs that extend off Sandstone Point on Santa Cruz Island. This is kelp diving deluxe.
Giant kelp (macrocystis pyrifera) is the fastest growing plant in the world. It can lengthen by as much as two feet per day! Much of California's nearshore ecosystem is based on this incredible plant. The tall stalks, often over 100 feet in length and reaching down 70 feet or more, are supported by tiny gas filled bladders with "leaves" or "fronds" attached. Cool, nutrient rich waters with plenty of sunlight spurs on the fantastic growth. An entire host of marine animals feed on the plant and other animals, in turn, feed on them. Still even more animals simply find shelter in the labyrinth of kelp forest.
Sandstone Point is an excellent example of this ecosystem. Much of
the bottom extending off the point is rock, either in the form of
flat rock or rocky ridges interspersed with sand. Kelp lacks roots,
per se, but rather rely on a "holdfast" for anchoring to the sea
floor. The rocks at this location are good for gripping by the
underwater plant. The holdfasts are mini-environments in of
themselves. Look for little snails, tiny kelpfish and gobies, and
small crabs inside of the intertwining tendrils.
The better diving at Sandstone Point is on the deeper reefs (50-70 feet) that run in a series of ridges. Visibility is better here and larger animals, like bat rays and halibut, move onto the sand fingers between the reefs. The ridges are not particularly large, usually only a few feet tall, but sometimes have overhangs or broken slabs containing small caves. A good dive charter boat captain will put you on the right location. This is lobster territory. While Sandstone Point is not one of the best lobster hunting areas at Santa Cruz Island, you will probably find at least one or two "bugs."
The sightseer and photographer will not only enjoy the towering kelp forests by little critters as well. Stars are abundant with your choices of bat, brittle, giant-spined, and blood. I liked this spot for photographing anemones. Anemone variety included strawberry and rose.
This is a bit of an open location and subject to adverse effects of a strong southerly swell which is, unfortunately, common during the late summer. This is another reason to stay deep as the shallows can be surgy. Staying away from the island will give you better visibility with clean ocean-born currents blowing through, but just be aware that these currents are almost always present and sometimes quite strong. Do not dive here if the kelp is laying on the bottom - a clear indication that the current is beyond your (or anybody's) capacity to swim against it.
If your looking for a kelp forest to explore this summer, Santa Cruz Island has a big one for you to explore at Sandstone Point.
Location:
Large reef area off Sandstone Point on the Southeast end of Santa
Cruz Island.
Access: Boat only.
Skill Level: Intermediate (kelp and current experience recommended).
Depths: 40 to 70 feet.
Visibility: Fair to good. 30-40 feet average.
Snorkeling: None. Reefs too deep and nearshore usually too rough.
Photography: Good wide angle in beautiful kelp. Good macro on deeper reefs for abundant invertebrates.
Hunting: Fair for lobster when in season. Some halibut, calico bass.
Suggested Dive Charter Boats Serving This Area:
Spectre - (805) 483-6612
Peace - (805) 984-2025
Truth/Conception/Vision - (805) 962-1127
Liberty - (805) 642-6655
or see the California Scuba Calendar section of this issue for trips to Santa Cruz Island
