The Majestic Kelp Forests Of Catalina

Not many people realize that one of the most beautiful forests in California is the one under the water, just off shore. -That’s right, the pacific coast is home to one of the most beautiful kelp forests on the planet, and most people watch those beautiful sunsets without the slightest idea that the sun is setting on a whole new world under there.

I just got back from a three-day live-aboard dive trip near Catalina, an island off the coast of Los Angeles. I was aboard The Sand Dollar, a dive boat that provides live-aboard diving excursions nearly 365 days a year.

Before I get to the sights, let me tell you about The Sand Dollar, and ‘live-aboard’ diving. If you are into scuba, or even if you are not, a live-aboard trip should be on your list. Think of it as the ‘cruise’ of the diving world; you live aboard the boat, and almost everything is taken care of for you; food, air in your tanks, and guidance.

The Sand Dollar is by no means the largest boat you can find, but there is plenty of space. I slept in a double bunk, but there are single bunks on board, too. Sleeping on a bunk aboard a small boat is as close to ‘camping’ as you can get; I brought my own sleeping bag and pillow. There isn’t much privacy on the boat, either, which is part of the fun.

Don’t get me wrong: There are bathrooms aboard, each of which offers enough room to shower and change in, and the bunks each have a privacy curtain for sleeping or even changing, if you are dexterous, or have experience as a contortionist.

On our excursion we had 16 divers and five crew, which gave us plenty of opportunity for engaging conversation and friend-making between dives. The galley stays fairly busy, with the cook serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner with plenty of delicious snacks in between. Diving burns more energy than you realize, and it is nice to come out of the water to a nice warm bowl of chicken soup.

Most of us attempted at least three dives each day, which makes a pretty full schedule of diving, resting, eating, and diving some more. Night dives were plentiful, too, and after the first few minutes of fright become one of the more amazing opportunities a live-aboard can offer.

Diving in the kelp is an amazing experience. From the surface, kelp can look like a giant pile of salad, but below the surface, the kelp becomes an amazing, tall forest of wonder. Diving in kelp gives you the sensation of floating through a forest canopy; it literally feels like flying. The long strands of kelp reach from the bottom to the top, often more than 80 feet tall.

Among the kelp I was able to find a number of beautiful creatures. Among my favorite was an octopus that I caught and played with for a few minutes. I also saw Leopard Sharks, and at one time was surrounded by at least six of them! I also found a few Horn Shark, some rays, eel, seals and plenty of lobster. In fact, I caught a lobster as did many of our fellow divers; it was lobster season and many of us had a license to hunt and keep them.

It was a wonderful trip, and well worth the reasonable cost. If you are out in the California area and are certified to dive, check with Captain George of The Sand Dollar for the trip of a lifetime. If you are walking along the beach, watching the sun go down, take a moment to wonder what it’s like to fly through the forest under the waves; it’s incredible!