For divers who have yet to experience the sheer magic kelp diving offers, the experience is often underrated - after all, why would you want to spend time in an area where visibility is limited, where hazards are evident, and where the water is often quite chilly? Some of our experts love kelp diving, and they'll tell you that the marine life in a kelp forest is magnificent, plus the kelp itself can be pretty amazing. For those of you who love kelp forests, and for those of you considering kelp diving, Just Gotta Dive (JGD) has compiled this list of seven of the world's best locales for experiencing the wonders kelp forests have to offer.
Channel Islands in California, USA
Dominated by majestic stands of giant kelp, splendid rocky reefs and walls covered in clusters of bright red algae and a carpet of palm frond kelp, many dive sites around California's Channel Islands provide divers with endless opportunities to explore some of America's most pristine kelp forests. Here, you'll find tiny sardines swimming in small fleets just beneath the surface, along with bright orange garibaldi and schooling perch, blacksmith, and bass. Horn sharks and lobsters hide beneath ledges and in holes, and occasionally, sea lions dive in to join barracudas in the quest for lunch consisting of unlucky members of the massive schools of jack mackerel that swirl past. Some of our favorite sites at the Channel Islands include:
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San Nicholas - Also known as San NIck, this island is at its best along the north and west sides, where thick forests of giant kelp host a diverse and abundant array of marine life, from invertebrates to sea lions.
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San Clemente Island - An 18 mile long island offering vertical walls and sunlit shallows, San Clemente Island's dive sites consist of canyons, walls, arches, and vast kelp forests. If you must select just one island to dive around, this just might be the one to choose.
Beagle Channel in South America
When you dive Patagonia's Beagle Channel, you'll find that more often than not, the sites you explore will depend more upon wind and weather conditions than on keeping to a set itinerary. The best time to dive is during the winter, since the colder the weather, the clearer the water. Here, the kelp forests are filled with king crabs, jellyfish, octopus, and lots of small fish. Some of our favorite Beagle Channel kelp diving sites include:
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Estancia Tunel Farm - An abandoned farm about 30 minutes from Ushuaia, Estancia Tunel Farm features a pebble beach and a fantastic bay with a wall and a plateau frequented by sea lions.
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Puerto Cucharita - Sometimes referred to by its English name, Little Spoon Harbor, Puerto Cucharita is a well-protected site with a stepped wall with kelp that forms huge tunnels to swim through.
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Isla Redonda - Also known as Round Island, Isla Redonda is located right off Tierra del Fuego National Park. The island's walls drop to meet the channel floor at a depth of 27 meters. The kelp forest is majestic, and the sea lion encounters are unforgettable.
Tasmania in Australia
Once described by National Geographic magazine as both bizarre and beautiful, Tasmania features some of the world's best temperate diving. The Southern Ocean's kelp forests are vast, and during the winter, visibility is sometimes 40 meters or better. In addition, this destination offers something for everyone - novice to expert. Some sites to try include:
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Munro Bight - Here, you'll find stands of giant kelp measuring 20 meters tall, all filled with marine life small and large.
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Shark Point, Clovelly - Wobbegong sharks, bull rays, giant cuttlefish, and blue gropers are just some of the creatures inhabiting this region's kelp forests. Look for nudibranchs and weedy sea dragons, too.
Cape Town in South Africa
Off South Africa's Cape Town, there is an almost endless kelp forest just begging to be explored. Between the rocks and in the gullies, you'll find octopus and cuttlefish, lobsters, and lots of little sharks, including Cat Sharks, Pyjama Sharks, and Gully Sharks; in addition, this is one of the world's best places to encounter rare 7 Gill sharks. Some great kelp forest dive sites around Cape Town include:
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Stonehenge - This multi-level site is renowned for its seal and dolphin encounters, and for its colorful soft corals, which add an extra touch of magic to the massive kelp forest.
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The Ocean Basket Kelp Forest Exhibit - Located at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, this site is home to rock lobsters, sea urchins, an abundance of fish, and of course, massive kelp! This unique site is a must for anyone who enjoys kelp diving; there are not just one, but three species of giant kelp here, all swaying hypnotically with the motion of the surrounding water.
Tutukaka in New Zealand
At Tutukaka, you'll find something different - tropical fish living in kelp forests. These annual visitors inhabit the rocky reefs and kelp forests, thanks to a constant current that streams into the area from the tropics to the north. Look for yellow banded perch, spotted black grouper, rainbow wrasse and blue wrasse, and even banded coral shrimp, among others. Their colors really stand out against the muted greens of the kelp strands. While there are countless kelp sites to explore in this area, some do stand out. One of our favorites is Brady's Corner. A huge pinnacle with an arcing wall covered in kelp, this site is just about 17 meters deep and is simply fantastic. Bring your camera, move slowly, and prepare to be astonished!
Fernando de Noronha in Brazil
One of South America's best places to dive, Fernando de Noronha offers exceptional visibility that sometimes exceeds 40 meters, plus it is home to an amazing and never-ending parade of marine life, large and small. Spinner dolphins, rays, sea turtles, reef sharks, and tropical fish larger than those you may be accustomed to encountering live here; so do spotted eagle rays, moray eels, spiny lobsters, huge nurse sharks, and many other creatures. Picking favorite kelp dive sites at Fernando de Noronha was a bit of a challenge; here are a few to help you get started:
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Buraco do Caraco - Besides the kelp, there are huge colorful sponges decorating the rocky seabed here; this site is well known for nurse shark and turtle encounters.
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Cabeco Submarino - This site is best known for its sea turtles; they come here to rest and to graze on the yellow sponges that alternate with the kelp. Look under the rocks - there are huge lobsters and lots of little creatures hiding everywhere!
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Naufragio do Leao - A shallow wreck site with a flattened shipwreck spread over the sea floor, this site also features splendid kelp. The abundance of shelter available here attracts an amazing amount of sea life; in addition, the site is located in a sheltered bay. At just 10 meters deep, it's suitable for all divers.
Saltstraumen in Norway
Norway's Saltstraumen is the site of the world's strongest maelstrom; but it's not just the incredible natural phenomenon that attracts divers from all over the planet. Here, you'll find an abundance of cod, wolf fish, coalfish, halibut, and others, all enjoying life among brilliant green strands of kelp. Located just a short distance from the Arctic Circle, its waters are cold, and the site is definitely not for the uninitiated or the easily intimidated. White tail eagles, eider ducks, and other birds are also seen, as are loads of invertebrates. If you love the idea of flying along with the current and seeing some of the biggest northern fish species all in one place, then this is definitely for you. Diving here is an incredible experience you will never forget.
If you love kelp diving, you'll find plenty of other sites to explore at Scuba Divers Travel Network, in addition to these, our favorites. If you are new to diving or if you've never been kelp diving, be sure to check out our kelp diving and kelp forest articles for even more information about the marine life that occupies these magnificent underwater forests, and for diving tips to increase your safety and enjoyment.