Do you have advanced and rescue diver certifications? Do you live in the Los Angeles area? The Santa Monica Baykeeper needs your help! Our Kelp Restoration Project needs divers to participate in monitoring, research, and kelp restoration in the Santa Monica Bay.

You can check out our website at www.smbaykeeper.org for a background on the diving program, but our basic goal is to bring kelp beds back to where they were historically in the bay. While some year to year fluctuation is normal, more than half of the forests have disappeared in the past fifty years. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn about local marine ecology and kelp biology. Our boat trips are free and many local dive shops provide free air fills and/or tank rentals.

Our requirements, set by AAUS, are that divers hold at least rescue and advanced certifications, have a current dive medical, and DAN or other dive insurance, as well as current CPR, first aid and oxygen administration certifications.

You can make a difference! If you are interested in volunteering and helping the kelp, please check out the web site (www.smbaykeeper.org) and e-mail me (kelpgirl@smbaykeeper.org) with any questions.

Thanks and I hope to dive with you soon!

Laura Bodensteiner
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Kelp Restoration Project Assistant