Kelp & Fish, Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2008.

Ocean Horizon with Kelp, Monterey Bay, 2009.

Ocean Surface with Kelp & Sea Grass, 2009.

Arc of Tangled Kelp, Asilomar, 2009.

Kelps, Asilomar, 2009.

Rock Face & Kelp, Asilomar, 2009.

Wedge of Green Seaweed, Asilomar, 2009.

Bull Kelp & Rocks, Asilomar, 2009.

Bull Kelp, Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Bull Kelp with Red Algae (Series), Pacific Grove, 2009.

Bull Kelp with Red Algae (Series), Pacific Grove, 2009.

Bull Kelp with Red Algae (Series), Pacific Grove, 2009.

Bull Kelp with Red Algae, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Kelp Tangle, Sand Dollar Beach, Big Sur, 2009.

Kelp Forest, Big Sur, 2009.

Near shore kelp forest

The kelp forests just off the coast here in central California not only provide a unique ecosystem for a huge variety of animals and diatoms (single-cell algae), and help protect the coast during storms, they are also beautiful. The rocks provide an anchoring point for giant kelp, as well as various brown and red kelps. The combination of colors can be gorgeous. In these photos, taken just off the deck behind a fancy hotel on Cannery Row, Monterey, the gentle movement of the tide swirls the kelp and sea grass in a kind of mesmerizing ballet of sorts. It is soothing and lovely to watch. 

Giant kelp (Macrocystis) looks like debris when seen from the shore; it kind of interrupts the beautiful blue of the ocean surface. However, kelp forests are amazing ecosystems, and kelp is quite beautiful up close. Here is some Macrocystis being washed up in shallow water on a sandy beach near our place, tangled up with some sea grass.