New with a goal to dive in Kelp Forest

[NorCalDM]

I've never dived those forests and only kelp I've seen is brown and maybe 4-5 feet long. Is there ever any real danger of getting seriously entangled in those giant kelps?

It’s more of an issue on the surface once you’ve done the kelp crawl your navigation skills will get better or you are going to get in really good shape and don’t spin! Underwater it’s literally like diving in a forest pretty amazing. Streamline your gear so less catch points if you wear a knife on your leg put it to the inside so it doesn’t catch. Also when jumping off a boat into kelp let the big guy go first and punch a hole just saying! or go in deflated and when surfacing in heavy kelp hang just below the surface and push your purge and blow some bubbles and it will make a hole that you can surface through and then crawl back up on the boat. You learn ways to deal with it.

 

[stretchthepenn]

I've never dived those forests and only kelp I've seen is brown and maybe 4-5 feet long. Is there ever any real danger of getting seriously entangled in those giant kelps?

The short answer is "no." The long answer is "no, not really."

You can get snagged, but avoiding snags is pretty simple. Streamline your gear (e.g., ditch your snorkel, use spring straps instead of fin buckles, put your computer on the inside of your wrist), aim for the holes between individual plants, fin slowly, and let yourself wash back and forth in the surge.

If you do get snagged, chill out. Find the offending kelp stalk and bend it. Kelp has immense longitudinal strength, but it has about zero lateral strength, so it'll snap and set you free.

At worst, inflate and ascend. You'll end up on the surface amid a patch of kelp, and you'll do the "kelp crawl" to a clear spot. 'Tain't no big whoop.

 

[george_austin]

You won't find many California divers without a snorkel. It's almost a point of honor to have one - if not on your mask, at least in a pocket. About 99% of instructors teach with that and the first time you get turned around, and find yourself a quarter mile away from the boat on the surface - you'll be glad you have it. We tend to look askance at back kickers here.

There are a couple techniques specific to kelp diving but really, after you've gotten over the somewhat disconcerting nature of having thick obstructions in your way on the surface and during the actual dive, there is no better diving anywhere in the world than southern / northern California when the kelp is healthy and prolific.

Needed equipment I carry after 47 years actively diving southern California: 10 inch minimum dive knife. Put it on you leg or waist strap. Not only to cut kelp (rarely needed) but there can be monofilament and a lot of it in places. As well, I've come across newbs completely wrapped up in it due to spinning and needed to quickly cut them out of it. Back up 4-5 inch knife - in case you drop the bigun.
Snorkel: If you need to kelp crawl, you cant do it back kicking because the kelp with attach itself to your first stage and tank valve.
Couple of good lights because it can get pretty dark even in daytime if the kelp is really thick and its a day with not much ambient light (cloudy) poor vis, etc.
Have fun. I think you'll like it most times

 

[kelemvor]

Hi All

I have no diving experience at all, but I have a dream of scuba diving in a kelp forest. I know this will take work to get up to,but my question is where do I start and how do I work up to that? I currently live in Australia is that changes anything.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome! Many of us develop a diving "bucket list". Kelp forest has been #2 on my list for several years now (after Silfra). Start with a certification class, then it's just a matter of getting to the right spots to dive.

 

[Chavodel8en]

One note for those seeking kelp dives in the Monterey CA area. Unfortunately, for the last few years, a disease has spread among sea stars. Less sea stars eating urchins means more urchins munching on kelp holdfasts, and less kelp -- at least for Monterey & Carmel area shore dives.

There's still kelp, its just not as thick as before. Makes diving easier, but a little less beautiful.

 

[Brian Smith]

I always have a dive knife attached to the inside of my calf, not on the outside where it can get hung up. This is for any potential situation of danger, entanglement, etc.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

You won't find many California divers without a snorkel. It's almost a point of honor to have one - if not on your mask, at least in a pocket. About 99% of instructors teach with that and the first time you get turned around, and find yourself a quarter mile away from the boat on the surface - you'll be glad you have it. We tend to look askance at back kickers here.

I've only been diving California for thirty years but my experience has been the complete opposite. The only divers I see with snorkels are free divers or new scuba divers. It's a lot easier to kick on your back because you have more air to breathe and your fins stay in the water with each kick.
I avoid kelp crawls, but when I have made them it was much easier without a snorkel catching on kelp, pulling my mask.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Needed equipment I carry after 47 years actively diving southern California: 10 inch minimum dive knife. Put it on you leg or waist strap. Not only to cut kelp (rarely needed) but there can be monofilament and a lot of it in places.

(to OP): At some point they started telling us to wear our big knife on the inside of our leg to help prevent it getting tangled in the kelp but personally I think it looks much more cool to have it on the outside. Occasionally I have to reach down and move the kelp away from my knife handle.

I remember one time when Mike Nelson got tangled in kelp and the tide was coming in and he had to cut the hose from his regulator and use it as a snorkel. Let this be a warning to always carry a big knife and use a double-hose regulator Or just carry a snorkel.

But seriously, I think it would take considerable effort to get tangled in kelp. Aside from that, yes, it is incredible and beautiful and I made sure my newly certified girlfriend got to experience it because she was mainly familiar with coral reefs in the Caribbean. They both have their own good points.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I've only been diving California for thirty years but my experience has been the complete opposite. The only divers I see with snorkels are free divers or new scuba divers. It's a lot easier to kick on your back because you have more air to breathe and your fins stay in the water with each kick.
I avoid kelp crawls, but when I have made them it was much easier without a snorkel catching on kelp, pulling my mask.

Do you scuba when swimming out from the beach? I always snorkel out and then go down, once I get to the right spot.

Personally I find it easier to crawl over kelp than to crawl through a school of jelly fish.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Do you scuba when swimming out from the beach? I always snorkel out and then go down, once I get to the right spot.

Personally I find it easier to crawl over kelp than to crawl through a school of jelly fish.

I haven't used a snorkel with scuba gear in more than 25 years. I kick on my back until I get to the drop point. It's much easier. If I need or want to look down along the way I either hold my breath or use my reg. At Marineland, my typical beach dive involved a quarter mile surface swim from the cove to Long Point. I have more than 375 dives there, 350 of them without a snorkel.