Monday, April 28, 2014

Help Kelp!




This place brings back memories to my pre-children days :).   The kelp forest off of Catalina Island in California USA.  Macrocystis Pyrifera (sounds a bit like a disease) is the giant kept of large brown algae. Unbelievably,  it can grow 2 feet per day and as high as about 160 feet.  The kelp grows densely creating "kelp forests".  It is one of the fastest growing organisms on Earth.  The kelp attaches itself to rocks on the bottom of the ocean floor then grows to the surface creating an amazing canopy. As light passes through the canopy, one might feel as if they are hiking though the redwoods.  Scuba diving allows you to explore this magical land.  It's pretty easy to get tangled if you get nervous and don't move smoothly, the key, don't panic.  There are many kelp forests on the world, but I've only been to the one off the coast of Catalina Island.  The experience is worth learning to SCUBA.


 

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