Virtual Snorkel at Whalers Cove

‘I can only compare these great aquatic forests ... with the terrestrial ones in the intertropical regions. Yet if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of the kelp. Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter; with their destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoise, would soon perish also’--Charles Darwin, 1 June 1834, Tierra del Fuego, Chile (Darwin 1909, pp. 256–257). Kelp forests are relied upon by almost 1,000 different animal species, owing its abundance of life to strong NW winds that prevail during the summer, driving the surface water seaward. Near the coast cold, nutrient-rich water from deep below the surface moves up to fill the void. Kelp and phytoplankton absorb these nutrients; providing the base for an incredible aquatic food web. Point Lobos been a leader in marine protection, achieving marine reserve status in 1960, making it one of the oldest marine protected areas in the nation. What this means is this is a no-take zone, everything natural must remain here and not taken by humans, i.e. no fishing or shell collecting, etc.