A SCUBA diver swims through a giant kelp forest which is tilted back by strong ocean currents. Giant kelp, the fastest plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky bottom to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

A SCUBA diver swims through a giant kelp forest which is tilted back by strong ocean currents. Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky bottom to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest.

 2006 Mavericks surf contest champion Grant Twiggy Baker of South Africa. Final round, Mavericks surf contest, February 7, 2006, Half Moon Bay, California

Twiggy Baker, finals, Mavericks Surf Contest, 2006, Half Moon Bay, California.

 Atlantic spotted dolphin and Olympic champion swimmer Matt Biondi, Stenella frontalis

Atlantic spotted dolphin with Olympic champion swimmer Matt Biondi, Bahamas. Stenella frontalis.
A SCUBA diver swimming over a rocky reef covered with kelp, watches a brightly colored orange garibaldi fish, Hypsypops rubicundus, San Clemente Island

Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus, San Clemente Island, California.

 Carson Smith, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf

Morning surf, Ponto, Carlsbad, California.

 Brock Little, final round, Mavericks surf contest (third place), February 7, 2006, Half Moon Bay, California

Brock Little, Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California.
Kirk Blackman, Newport Beach

Surf, Newport Beach, California.

 Salt Creek surf, pretty big day, winter, morning, Laguna Niguel, California

Salt Creek surf, cresting wave, Laguna Niguel, California.

 Mike Thomas, Cardiff, morning surf, Cardiff by the Sea, California

Tubed, Cardiff, California.
Diver silhouette, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

SCUBA diver, Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico.

 Divers and kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Giant Kelp, San Clemente Island

 Diver amid kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

SCUBA diver swimming through a giant kelp forest, San Clemente Island.
Diver amidst kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Diver amidst kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, California.

 Diver amidst kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Underwater photographer amid a giant kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, California.

 Paul W. Gabrielson, Ph.D, collecting algae and coral samples, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Scientist surveying reef damage, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, American Samoa.
Diver in kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Diver in kelp forest, Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, California.

 Diver and sheephead amidst giant palm kelp, Eisenia arborea, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

Diver Amidst Palm Kelp, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, Guadalupe Island

 A freediving spearfisherman glides quietly through the kelp forest in search of game fish to hunt. The most skilled spearfishermen forego the use of SCUBA, which is noisy underwater and scares away fish. Instead, they practice breathhold techniques to move silently through the water. San Clemente Island

Freediving spearfisherman, San Clemente Island, California.
Tiger shark and photographer Keith Grundy, Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) and underwater photographer, Bahamas.

 Surf check. Three guys check the surf from atop a bluff overlooking the waves at the end of the day, at sunset, north of South Carlsbad State Beach

Surf check, Terramar, Carlsbad, California.

 Child on the beach, Ponto, Carlsbad, California

Child on the beach, Ponto, Carlsbad, California.
A SCUBA diver is immersed in an enormous school of Pacific creolefish, black and white / grainy, Paranthias colonus, Darwin Island

A SCUBA diver is immersed in an enormous school of Pacific creolefish, Darwin Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

 Jetties, Carlsbad, morning surf, Warm Water Jetties

Warm water jetties, Carlsbad, California.

 Diver amidst kelp, San Benito Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Benito Islands (Islas San Benito)

Diver amidst giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Benito Islands (lslas San Benito), Mexico.
Freediver and monofin

Freediver and monofin, Little Bahama Sand Banks, Bahamas.

 Diver and sunburst, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

Diver And Sunburst, Guadalupe Island

 Beta camera housing and cameraman

Underwater Beta videocamera housing and cameraman, Tokyo Broadcasting System. Bahamas.
Diver and alcyonarian soft coral, Northern Red Sea, Egyptian Red Sea

Diver and alcyonarian soft coral, Northern Red Sea, Egypt.

 Diver and reef, San Clemente Island

Diver, San Clemente Island, California.

 Diver and school of salema, Xenistius californiensis, Catalina Island

Diver and enormous school of salema, Xenistius californiensis, Catalina, California.
Diver and whip coral, Roatan

Diver and whip coral, Roatan, Honduras.

 Diver, reef and kelp, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

Diver and kelp covered reef, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

 El Secreto del Vicki cavern, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

Cave Diver, Isla Guadalupe, Guadalupe Island
Diver and camera, Roatan

Diver and underwater camera, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras.