A Channel Islands Diving Retrospective

by Peter Liu on September 28, 2009

Peter Liu on the swimstep of the Vision after a dive. Photo by Kathy Becklin.

Peter Liu on the swimstep of the Vision after a dive. Photo by Kathy Becklin.

Before my wife and I moved to Maui from California’s Bay Area, I did a lot of scuba diving trips on the Truth Aquatics boats with my friends the Finstads in the majestic kelp forests of the Channel Islands. I thought it might be fun to share some photographs from those years, many of which were made with early, low resolution digital cameras.

I’ll never forget the feeling of awe I would get as I looked up through the tall stalks of kelp at the sunlight streaming through the canopies. No matter how many times I did the trip, each time was like the first.

On many occasions, I would simply hover with my camera in shallow water just under a thick kelp canopy and watch as the sun’s rays filtered through it. More often than not, if I stayed in one spot long enough, a group of sea lions would come by, or perhaps a reef shark. It’s a truly magical experience. I hope to get back there soon.


Foggy Sunrise Vision Sunrise Sunrise On Deck Sunlight Through Kelp Kelpscape Sunlight Through Kelp Kelpscape Kelpscape Gorgonian and Kelpscape Gorgonian Under A Canopy Sea Pen Surrounded By Brittle Stars Brittle Stars Gorgonians Gorgonians Kelp In Surge Kelp In Surge Kelp and Sea Grass Kelp and Sea Grass Kelpfish Garibaldi Blue-banded Goby Garibaldi Protecting His Nest Juvenile Garibaldi Juvenile Garibaldi Horned Nudibranch Spanish Shawl Kelp Kelp In Sunlight Safety Stop Diver In Kelp Truth Sunset San Clemente Sunrise

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

A Maui Blog September 28, 2009 at 08:03

Awesome! I do not dive (I know I should), and this slide show with wonderful photos took me where I have not been yet – deep in the ocean. Thanks for sharing these Peter.

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Craig September 28, 2009 at 08:52

Aloha Peter,
Awesome pictures. I am missing out on a lot by not diving. Mahalo for sharing the beauty below the surface.

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