San Clemente Island photos

Kelp fronds and pneumatocysts. Pneumatocysts, gas-filled bladders, float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface and sunlight, where the leaf-like blades and stipes of the kelp plant grow fastest. Giant kelp can grow up to 2' in a single day given optimal conditions. Epic submarine forests of kelp grow throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25412  

Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25413  

A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25432  

Kelp beds adorn the coastline of San Clemente Island, aerial photograph.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25984  

Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00250  

Jack mackerel schooling amid kelp forest.
Species: Pacific jack mackerel, Macrocystis pyrifera, Trachurus symmetricus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00256  

Jack mackerel schooling.
Species: Pacific jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00293  

Jack mackerel and kelp.
Species: Pacific jack mackerel, Macrocystis pyrifera, Trachurus symmetricus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00380  

Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00600  

Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00601  

Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00602  

Red gorgonian clings to a vertical undersea reef at San Clemente Island, California.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00616  

Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00617  

Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00628  

Garibaldi.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00635  

Jack mackerel schooling in kelp.
Species: Pacific jack mackerel, Macrocystis pyrifera, Trachurus symmetricus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01019  

Kelp plants with fronds extended in current.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01050  

Garibaldi.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01060  

Horn shark.
Species: Horn shark, Heterodontus francisci
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01071  

Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01273  

Kelp plants growing toward surface and spreading to form a canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01293  

Kelp fronds and forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01497  

Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01498  

California bat ray.
Species: California bat ray, Myliobatis californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01917  

Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02118  

Kelp forest canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02121  

Kelp spread over ocean surface to form a canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02129  

Blacksmith in motion, San Clemente island.
Species: Blacksmith, Chromis punctipinnis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02345  

Kelp forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02409  

Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts (air bladders).
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02497