Catalina Island photos

Red gorgonian Leptogorgia chilensis, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island, California.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37272  

Pacific torpedo ray Tetronarce californica, amidst huge schools of fish and baitfish, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island. This electric ray will shock the hell out of you if you are not careful.
Species: Pacific torpedo ray, Tetronarce californica, Torpedo californica
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37283  

Hydrocoral, Farnsworth Banks.
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 04704  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37134  

Golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, amid kelp forest, near Eagle Rock, Catalina Island. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica
Image ID: 37135  

Garibaldi in kelp forest, near Eagle Rock, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Garibaldi, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hypsypops rubicundus
Image ID: 37136  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37139  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37140  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37141  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37142  

Kelp forest near Eagle Rock, West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37143  

Kelp fronds showing pneumatocysts, bouyant gas-filled bubble-like structures which float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface, where it will spread to form a roof-like canopy.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37146  

Kelp forest at West End, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37147  

Garibaldi in kelp forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Garibaldi, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hypsypops rubicundus
Image ID: 37148  

Garibaldi maintains a patch of algae (just in front of the fish) to entice a female to lay a clutch of eggs.
Species: Giant Kelp, Garibaldi, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hypsypops rubicundus
Image ID: 37149  

Kelp fronds showing pneumatocysts, bouyant gas-filled bubble-like structures which float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface, where it will spread to form a roof-like canopy.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37150  

Diver and Kelp Forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 37152  

Golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, amid kelp forest, Catalina Island. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37155  

Brown Gorgonian Muricea fruticosa on underwater rocky reef, amid kelp forest, Catalina Island. The brown gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37158  

Garibaldi in kelp forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Garibaldi, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37159  

Pyrosome drifting through a kelp forest, Catalina Island. Pyrosomes are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies made up of hundreds to thousands of individuals, known as zooids.
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37163  

California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica).
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37172  

California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica).
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37173  

Farnsworth Bank reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), clusters of orange bryozoans, gorgonians and kelp, Catalina Island.
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37176  

Red gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) on Farnsworth Banks reef.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37182  

California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica).
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37183  

Fisheye view of a Giant Kelp Forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37190  

Fisheye view of a Giant Kelp Forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37191  

Kelp fronds and pneumatocysts, giant kelp forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37195  

Giant Kelp Forest, West End Catalina Island.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37280