DIVING THE LANDING COVE
The landing cove at Anacapa Island, in the northern Santa Barbara Channel Island chain off California, is more than the portal to the island. The normally calm, sheltered waters host a fabulous underwater world. From here its easy to access the aquatic microenvironment of the islands--kelp forest over rock reef with all the critters that call that ecosystem "home."
These residents include lobster, abalone, the ever-present and noticeably orange Garibaldi, octopi, sheep crabs, non-threatening species of shark, moray eels, and a host of invertebrates. They seem abundant, perhaps since this area is a marine reserve under the watchful eye of resident rangers. Transients into the cove include California sea lions from a nearby colony, sometimes chased by an occasional orca. Humans are the other visitors, most noticeably in the form of divers, kayakers, hordes of Junior lifeguards from nearby mainland beaches, school groups, and the adventurous travelers who visit the island. They all have looked at the islands from the mainland and wondered, "what's out there?" Then they go yondering to find the answer to that question. For others, the Channel Islands National Park offers an opportunity to find out though its underwater video program.
Twice a week during the summer, park rangers and volunteers bring the underwater world of the landing cove and its residents to visitors on the island and to people at the Park's visitor's center on the mainland at Ventura Harbor. A videocamera operator, a marine naturalist, and a line tender scuba dive in the cove to introduce the marine environment to the visitors who either watch dockside on one of three video monitors or via live broadcast on a projection screen back on the mainland. The naturalist's audio link with both locations makes the show truly interactive. Viewers see exactly what the underwater crew sees. The naturalists bring an infectious enthusiasm to the program. The videographer works closely with the naturalist to choreograph the show, while the line tender makes sure everything comes off without a hitch, or more accurately, without a snag.
In fact, the volunteers--usually the naturalist and line tender, but sometimes the videographer as well--help make this program a success. That's how I got the handle, Cover Diver. I go out to the island once a week during the summer on my day off and dive with the program. In the last two years, I have close to 100 dives in the area that is smaller than most high school football stadiums. You might think this is boring, but I wouldn't trade this experience for any dive resort in the world. Think of the advantages. You get to really study the area and see changes that occur over time. Some of the critters in the cove seem to vary with the time of year. Sheep crab are there only part of the summer. It seems formations of bat rays like to come in at other times. I get to work with a great bunch of people. I really enjoy diving with the park people and other volunteers, most of whom work for the island's transportation company, Island Packers, or IPCO as they are known by the acronym loving government agencies that manage the islands and the surrounding waters.
Me as line tender. A great job with great people in a great place!
But what makes the job most rewarding is the expression of the viewers who see the underwater world for the first time. Their reaction serves as a constant reminder of the excitement I felt on my first dive. It's why many of us take up diving. But after a while, we can get complacent. With the island visitors and viewers, it's up close and personal. We help them off the boat when they get to the island. We talk to them during the day. They see us preparing our gear, lowering the camera into the water from the dock, and then jumping in. They ask us questions before and after the show. Like performers, the dive crew lives for the applause of the crowd at the end of the show. And, they never fail to wave "so long" as their boat pulls away from the dock. I'm not sure who has a better time, them or me!
The landing cove program is unique. It couldn't happen without the quiet dedication of a lot of people working together. We work to bring the underwater world to the curious. The message is one of wonder, conservation, and the need for us to act as stewards of the ocean. As divers, we may only visit for a brief period. We're the lucky ones. Most people will go through their lives not being able to visit at all. I am pleased to work with a fine group of people dedicated to getting as many people as possible into cove waters and introduced to its residents. And we do it without getting them wet, every Tuesday and Thursday, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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