Freediving the cool, blue waters surrounding Santa Cruz Island, California. While kelp forests are some of the world’s most important ocean ecosystems in terms of carbon sequestration & oxygen production, they are also some of the most magical to explore. These days in Australia, I’m diving lots of coral reefs, but I find myself missing the sensation of cold water & diving these majestic forests.
Low tide on the Lord Howe Island lagoon. Lord Howe Island boasts the world’s southern most coral reef, created by the bending of warm water from the East Australian current outwards into the Tasman Sea. Due to its southerly location & cooler water temperatures, Lord Howe Island has withstood severe coral bleaching events that have afflicted northern reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef. However, nowhere is immune to the effects of a changing climate & action needs to be taken to protect reef systems like this one, before it’s too late.