Monday May 12, 2025
The Guardian —
Just 14 miles (23km) off the southern California coast lies a vast underwater paradise.
Giant sea bass the size of grizzly bears and schools of sardines glide together through swirling strands of golden kelp, whose long stalks preside over a world exploding with life and color. Playful harbor seals dance into the depths of undulating pink, green and orange plants, alongside spiny crustaceans and vibrant sea stars that embrace the volcanic rock that slopes to the sandy seafloor.
Often called California’s Galapagos, the immersed cliffsides and caves of the Channel Islands are home to thousands of species that thrive on the rugged, pristine and isolated federal parklands and the state-protected waters that surround them.
A lure for research and recreation alike, the 13 designated marine protected areas (MPAs) around the island preserve roughly 21% of their waters as refuge for the species that live there. While the public can access these areas near the cities of Santa Barbara and Ventura to swim, surf and dive, fishing and other activities that could result in harm or habitat loss are prohibited.