CALIFORNIA-MONTEREY
Monterey bay is considered by many to be one of the best diving regions on the west coast of the United States. The cold, plankton-rich waters, combined with the close proximity to the Monterey submarine canyon supports one of the richest ecosystems known. When I dove here in 2010, I dove in lush kelp forests, rocky reefs, shale beds, and sandy bottoms. For me, the main attraction is the kelp forest. While the kelp is itself a beautiful sight, it also provides shelter for many fishes that hover motionless among the fronds. As you explore the rocky bottom that the kelp is anchored to, you will discover colorful anemones, nudibranchs, algae, sponges, and many other organisms.
Returning to Monterey in September 2020, I was shocked to see most of the lush kelp forests gone, with only a remainder of the once thick kelp forest remaining at Point Pinos, Del Monte, Point Lobos State Park, and Ocean Pinnacles. Also noticeable was a strong population of purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) that was busily easting all the kelp. This excessive deforestation was especially apparent at Lovers Beach near Monterey. The explosion of the purple urchin population the destruction of the kelp forest and associated ecosystem was a cause of much concern during my trip, and was a foreboding of what was to come later when I went back home to Oregon and observed if for myself while diving there.
