If you love ocean life and diving adventures from around the world, this site is made for you !
Ocean Earth Green is ocean life appreciation through beautiful videos and photographs captured by passionate freedivers, scuba divers, snorkelers and ocean enthusiasts from around the world ! Explore my Videos , Photos & Articles sections. Explore featured ocean enthusiast’s photos and videos in the World section. Check back often for new additions !
Kelp Forests Importance
By Ana Carolina
Paradise on earth, Kelp forests are one of the most vital ecosystems along the Southern California coast, serving as underwater cities that support an extraordinary diversity of life. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) grows up to two feet per day, creating towering, multi-layered habitats where hundreds of species…from garibaldi fish and tope sharks, to harbor seals and countless invertebrates. They feed, shelter, and reproduce.
These forests also act as natural buffers, dampening wave energy that would otherwise accelerate coastal erosion. Beyond their ecological role, kelp forests are powerful carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ and helping regulate ocean chemistry. For Southern California in particular, they underpin commercial and recreational fisheries worth millions of dollars annually, and draw divers and researchers from around the world, making their health inseparable from both the region’s economy and its ecological identity.
See more of Ana Carolina’s ocean life photos and videos at Facebook.com/AnaCarolina
Kelp Forest Views of Laguna Beach, California
Exploring
See more Laguna Beach Kelp Forest pictures in the Diving Laguna Beach Photo Section
Best Locations
Kelp Forest of Seal Rock, Laguna Beach, California
One of my favorite kelp forest locations to dive is next to Seal Rock of Laguna Beach, California. This kelp forest starts at the north end of Crescent Bay, where the shore reef sticks out into the waves. It starts as shallow kelp patches over sea grass and a rocky algae covered reef. it’s also at this point you’ll notice all the diverse and thriving local fish going about their day without being terrified of your presence. Thanks to Laguna Beach’s strict ocean conservation laws, fishing and gathering of any kind is illegal here.
Now you turn north towards Seal Rock, which towers out of the water and waves in the near distance. The kelp patches turn into a dense kelp forest which becomes deep quick. At it’s southern end, it’s only a few feet deep in it’s shallow sections. Half way to Seal Rock, it’s 12 to 16’ deep. At it’s deepest end, right next to Seal Rock, it’s about 18 to 20’ deep pending the tide.
The space in between the kelp is enough to easily cruise the bottom and not get tangled up. In this Kelp Forest you’ll come across much beautiful ocean life. From Harbor Seals and Sea Lions to Tope Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Horn Sharks. Along with hundreds of large fish with the most common being Garibaldis, Calico Bass, Opal Eyes, Senorita Wrasse, Zebra Perch, Sheepheads along with many more.
The Kelp forest is an amazing ecosystem thriving with life. From the bottom, it feels like an entire different alien world. From the cold sensation of the water, the constant crackling and swooshing underwater sound to the back and forth current, forcefully moving everything. The deeper you go, the darker it gets, where very little of the ambient sunlight reaches. But when you look up from the bottom, you see the bright sun in the distance, dancing in the ocean waves.
Read more about the Kelp Forest at Seal Rock of Laguna Beach in the Articles Section
Snorkeling Diving beautiful Laguna Beach, California
Awesome Video Series
Laguna Beach, California
Heisler Park Reef
Laguna Beach, California
Crescent Bay to Seal Rock
Laguna Beach, California
Goff Island Reef
Watch more Laguna Beach diving videos in the Video Section
See more Laguna Beach ocean life pictures in the Photo Section
New Featured World Diver
Alejandro Topete of Mexico City, Mexico. Scuba dive instructor, underwater photographer and tour guide. Checkout his beautiful photos of Isla Cozumel, Mexico marine life in the World Section
Pelicans and Seagulls of La Jolla, San Diego
Exploring
Interesting Videos
Diving Wrecks of Caribbean Curacao Island by Tilo Kuehnast
Curacao Island
The Airplane Wreck
Curacao Island
Superior Producer Shipwreck
Curacao Island
Saba Tugboat Wreck
Checkout more of Tilo Kuehnast awesome ocean life videos in his featured section
Explore more world ocean life explorers in the World Section
Exploring
Low tide walk at Scripp’s Pier, La Jolla, San DIego
New Sunset Hike Article
Ladder Rock
Alien Rock
Sea Cave
Sunset Hike at Newport Beach, to Arches & Sea Caves ~ Beautiful rocky shore reefs along cliffs and sandy coves at sunset. Featuring secluded sea arches and caves.
Sunsets of Baja California, Mexico ~ Popular destination just south of the border famous for tourism, dining, partying and beautiful culture. There are miles of sandy beaches, shore reefs and ocean cliffs. We begin with sunset views from Las Rocas Resort, Old Calafia Resort and Chuy’s Camp and Surf.
New Photo Section
I’m Andre Navarro,
Southern California videographer and explorer of our beautiful ocean shores. I create ocean life adventure videos to connect viewers to our amazing underwater world to motivate stronger conservation and ocean life awareness.