Sea Horse spotted at Catalina

[muddiver]

A scientific diver class spent the day at Catalina and the lead instructor reports seeing a sea horse. Me thinks the environment is changing.


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[tc]

We've had a long period of warm water. Creates a long opportunity for migration into the area.

Be be interesting to see what happens if we get things cooled off enough to get a good regrowth of kelp next winter.

 

[muddiver]

The Giant Kelp is going to have to fight it out with the Japanese sargassum that has spread throughout So. Cal. and Catalina first.

 

[abmyers]

I saw one in PV. In the MPA. Several seen at Vets Park (not me on those)


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[Beatlejuice]

Yep, on New Years Day we saw 3 different ones at Vets (some else said they say 4).

 

[drbill]

Yep, a number of interesting critters have been appearing in our far too toasty waters the past 18-20 months. Of course there have been sea horses down in Sandy Eggo for several years so it may not have been that much of a leap.

Waters are cooling (down 16 degrees from peak highs at 100 ft). Kelp is struggling to break through the Sargassum... but increased nutrients are also causing spurts in Sargassum growth as well.

 

[2ndjetty]

Wow, seahorses at vets?! That sounds like enough to dust off the dive gear!

 

[keithbt]

I also saw the 3 on new years day...

 

[undrwater]

They're still there:


Forgive my poor videography.

 

[undrwater]

Thanks for the dive Lee!