Kelp Diving 101

KELP DIVING PRIMER

by Walt Conklin

Instructor LA County 5302

Kelp beds are common features along the Southern California coastline, although not as dense as they used to be, caution and special considerations are still necessary, most divers will encounter situations involving entering and exiting the water through the surface kelp canopy. The broad flat leaves of the kelp are capable of entangling a diver who becomes upset and struggles, but a diver who remains calm can slowly work their way out and avoid any problem. Divers should consider the following when planning or executing a kelp bed dive:

· Look for clearance through the canopy before diving; wait for the boat to swing clear of the canopy before entry and exit.

· Entry through kelp is best accomplished by making a feet-first, feet-together entry, rather than a headfirst or back roll entry that could result in entanglement.

· Exiting through kelp is best accomplished by swimming under the canopy rather than over the top. Plan your dive so that you will have enough air to do this, save that 500 psi for the exit

· Slates, tapes, bags and other hanging equipment should be held close to the diver’s body to avoid getting
hung up in the canopy.

· Carrying a dive knife strapped to the inner calf can reduce the chances of entanglement.

· By entering without an inflated BC and regulator in, a diver can avoid entanglement and begin descent as soon as he or she enters the water.

· Divers should expect a darker dive as the result of a thick surface canopy.

· By remaining in one place during ascent, a diver can make an exit hole by allowing exhaled bubbles to move kelp fronds. Look up and keep a visual on the surface for the thinnest part and extend your hands over your head for parting the kelp.

Once at the surface, a diver has three choices to reach the boat or shore:

1. Move in steps toward the shore. Get a visual of the exit site and head toward it by continuously sub-surface swimming towards the area and popping up in holes in the canopy.

2. Get a visual on the exit area, take a compass heading and make a sub-surface swim toward it.

3. “Kelp Crawl”. Keep your body on the surface of the kelp canopy and push it down with your forearm and crawl on your hands and knees, similar to a Dog Paddle technique, use a shallow flutter kick, to make your way across the surface and move with the greatest of ease.

~Inflated BCs, Cameras, Game bags, tools, dive knife, gauges and slates should be organized to minimize interference.

~When getting into a boat the diver should clear any kelp from equipment and tanks so they are not pulled back into the water as they pull themselves up onto the boat.

~If you do become entangled, stop & think, back up slightly, don’t turn around, which may wrap the stalk around you. Chances are only a strand or two is hanging on you, reach back, remove each strand slowly and carefully, keep your buoyancy.

~ Kelp can be broken in half, or easily bitten through, removed with the help of your buddy, and lastly cut with a knife and free yourself.

In an extreme situation you may need to remove your tank to free it from the kelp. This is a good exercise to learn and practice in a pool first, try to stay mid water column, buoyancy control is everything to being a good diver.

01/02/10 This is a small addendum due to a couple of regrettable deaths this last year where the divers were found with their weight belts attached and their equipment entangled in the kelp:

I must stress tank removal in only an "extreme situation". I wouldn't recommend doing this without proper practicing in the pool or shallow waters.

In our LA County UICC program we practice a complete U/W equipment exchange with our buddies mid water column in the pool (10 ft deep), not breaking the surface nor touching bottom. This does require that we have the same weighted systems (belt preferred) and fin size, (rock boots vs. booties). In our ADP program we have our student’s practice Tank/BC remove and replace at the surface.

When "removing" the tank or cylinder that is caught, be mindful that the BC is what keeps you afloat if you have a weight belt on, this is also your life support system, so don't let it float away from you or else you'll likely sink to the bottom of the ocean and your regulator will be pulled out of your mouth! Practice a one hand weight belt release, hold it out and away from your body so that it doesn’t wrap around one of your fins and be cautious of divers below.

Remember, if you are in trouble; keep your regulator in, don’t hold your breath, breathe normally and “DROP THAT WEIGHT BELT” your life is worth more than all your gear.

In conclusion remember: Always remain calm. Take your time. Do not turn in circles in kelp; you will only become more entangled.