This interesting fish is appropriately named the “crevice kelpfish”. I took this photograph in the Channel Islands, amongst the kelp forests it is named for. Where are the Channel Islands? The Channel Islands are an island archipelago located off the coast of southern California. It is a National Park, half of which is underwater. The total size of the Channel Islands National park is 249,000+ acres. The islands that are included in the National Park include Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Anacapa, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa. 

What is a kelp forest? Imagine an underwater forest. Similar to a typical forest, this environment houses large leafy green plants that grow in tight formation, rooting in the sand and growing towards the surface. This environment provides critical habitat for a variety of marine life. In my time exploring the kelp forests of the Channel Islands, I saw sharks, snails, seals, nudibranchs, and many fish species. Marine mammals also use the protection of the kelp forest, including sea otters, whales, and seals. Seals weave through the stalks of kelp with ease. Here is a video I took of a playful seal who approached me in the kelp forest.