Have you always wanted to experience a safari but never had the chance to travel to Africa? Well, in order to see exotic wildlife in their native environment, you need travel no farther than the oceans off the coast of San Diego. A new documentary, “Liquid Safari: The Fishes of Southern California,” provides an exhilarating taste of the amazing diversity of sea life residing right here in our backyard, er…ocean.
All of the footage in the film was shot, edited and narrated by Kevin Scully, a San Diego native and longtime diver. The idea first came to him about five years ago, after several trips to the African bush. While there, he captured footage of the wildlife and thought of making a documentary. Instead, said Scully, “I thought it would be easier to make a video on the local fish of Southern California using the same African safari style. I thought it would take a few months to capture the footage, do the research and edit the video. Well, a few years later, here we are!”
Most people living in Southern California are probably unaware of the wide variety of marine life and different marine environments found in the shallow coastal waters nearby. The film covers an area exceeding 600 square miles of ocean near Southern California, stretching from the Channel Islands north of L.A. to northern Baja California.
Scully’s fascination with the ocean was the main motivating force behind creating the documentary.
“The goal for the video was to try to compile the largest archive of fish for this area, break it up by region and then present it with some good information to give everyone a good, fundamental introduction to fish and the environment,” he said.
The film is both entertaining and informing, with interesting tidbits of information packed between engrossing scenes of marine life. Examples include information about the food chain that supports the huge array of sea life and how commercial fishing has impacted fish populations in the last century.
The safari begins in shallow coastal waters. Most San Diego residents are probably familiar with the sandy beaches that make up the majority of Southern California’s coast. Although sand kicked up by wind and waves often results in poor visibility and the flat bottom has little shelter to attract fish, during the summer, the waters less than 6 feet deep are often teeming with fish, sharks and rays. Leopard sharks, which usually grow to about 4 feet in length, often congregate at the south end of La Jolla Shores, swirling around each other in an intricate dance.
The most impressive environments found in the near-coastal area are the kelp forests, composed of giant bladder kelp. Growing up to two feet per day, giant bladder kelp are the fastest growing plant found on the planet and can reach lengths of up to 200 feet. The forests are as dense as South American rain forests and can harbor almost as much diversity of life.
Particularly intriguing are the kelp bass, the chameleons of the kelp forest that can change the color of their skin to blend in with their surroundings. Giant black sea bass, a star of the movie, also inhabit the kelp forests. Reaching sizes in excess of 200 pounds, these docile fish have few natural predators and often allow divers to swim very close.
The second half of the safari is devoted to the offshore marine environment, including the Channel Islands off the coast of Los Angeles; the smaller Los Coronados Islands near the border with Baja; and the Tanner and Cortez banks. Farther out to sea, this area often contains much less plankton and sand, creating crystal-clear blue waters perfect for diving.
Within these offshore areas, unique environments are also found, including open water, kelp forests, kelp paddies and rocky ledges. Huge schools of bait and predatory fish often travel through open waters, including schools of yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin travel so fast, it’s hard to catch them on film. When a school is found, the 50-pound fish dominate the view for a few moments, and then disappear into the blue abyss.
Mobile kelp paddies, kelp forests that have been torn off the bottom, float in these waters, providing habitats for fish and sharks, such as the blue sharks caught on camera cruising through the water with sleek, streamlined ease. Although very aggressive and curious, blue sharks are rarely dangerous, allowing Scully to capture several close-up shots.
Rocky ledges, pinnacles and drop-offs form another popular habitat in the offshore areas. The waters above these structures are often bristling with throngs of different fish. Hundreds of shimmering bodies swimming in different directions create a dizzying composite of movement until a glimpse of a sea lion transforms the chaotic swirl into a uniform dash to the safety of the rocks.
Accompanying the visually stunning footage is carefully selected music as ethereal as the fleeting schools of fish. The end product is a work of art, obviously crafted with love, which captures some of the wonder and thrill of the ocean. After seeing this video, everyone will want to experience the safari that is available right here in San Diego.
Liquid Safari is available on the Internet at www.LiquidSafari.com, and can be found in several local dive and fishing shops.