Marine Megatropolis

Built for oil and gas extraction, the offshore oil platforms of the Santa Barbara Channel are a unique vertical habitat, offering marine life shadows and shelter from predators, and structure on which to anchor. Open ocean water flows by. Food is abundant. Life optimized for different depths, deep water through tidal zones, aggregates and propagates to create a Marine Megatroplis.

Marine Megatropolis - Inter-tidal zone community, Platform Hondo, 5 feet
Marine Megatropolis - Inter-tidal zone community, Platform Hondo, 5 feet
California Marine Associates’ Abalone Cage Suspended Below Platform Holly 40 feet
California Marine Associates’ Abalone Cage Suspended Below Platform Holly 40 feet
Interior of John McMulllen’s AbLab Below Platform B 30 feet
Interior of John McMulllen’s AbLab Below Platform B 30 feet
California Sea Farms’ Habitat of Glass Suspended Below Platform Hope (Decommissioned) 45 feet
California Sea Farms’ Habitat of Glass Suspended Below Platform Hope (Decommissioned) 45 feet
Andy Inspects Algae Growth Before Introduction of Baby Abalone Platform Hope (Decommissioned) 45 feet
Andy Inspects Algae Growth Before Introduction of Baby Abalone Platform Hope (Decommissioned) 45 feet
Pair of Sea Clown Nudibranch (Triopha catalinae) Platform Hondo, 40 feet
Pair of Sea Clown Nudibranch (Triopha catalinae) Platform Hondo, 40 feet
Hillary Hauser Reveals Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) Camouflaged on a Bed of Mussels and Plumrose Anemones (Metridium senile), Platform Holly, 65 feet
Hillary Hauser Reveals Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) Camouflaged on a Bed of Mussels and Plumrose Anemones (Metridium senile), Platform Holly, 65 feet
Barnacle Nestled Among Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile), Platform B, 100 feet
Barnacle Nestled Among Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile), Platform B, 100 feet
Sharp-nosed Crab (Scyra acutifrons) only 2” in size, Photographed with a Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm/F3.5 Camera Lens, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 75 feet
Sharp-nosed Crab (Scyra acutifrons) only 2” in size, Photographed with a Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm/F3.5 Camera Lens, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 75 feet
Filming Schooling Fish, Platform Hope (Decommissioned), 45 feet
Filming Schooling Fish, Platform Hope (Decommissioned), 45 feet
Documenting Ochre Seastars (Pisaster ochraceus) Feeding on Mussels: Divers record density, movement and survivability of sea stars, as well as their predation rates of mussels. Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 30 feet
Documenting Ochre Seastars (Pisaster ochraceus) Feeding on Mussels: Divers record density, movement and survivability of sea stars, as well as their predation rates of mussels. Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 30 feet
Purple-hinge Rock Scallop (Crassadoma gigantea), Surrounded by Club Anemone (Corynactis californica), Platform Hilda (Decommissioned)65 feet
Purple-hinge Rock Scallop (Crassadoma gigantea), Surrounded by Club Anemone (Corynactis californica), Platform Hilda (Decommissioned)65 feet
Sea Stars Feeding in Mussel Mound: Marine life accumulated on the structure is broken loose by large waves, currents or just by its biomass weight. It drops down to the sea floor, creating mounds rich in food resources for the organisms living within the complex benthic community. Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 65 feet
Sea Stars Feeding in Mussel Mound: Marine life accumulated on the structure is broken loose by large waves, currents or just by its biomass weight. It drops down to the sea floor, creating mounds rich in food resources for the organisms living within the complex benthic community. Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 65 feet
Juvenile Calico Rockfish (Sebastes dalli) 4” in length Seeks Protection Amongst Club Anemone (Corynactis californica), Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 75 feet
Juvenile Calico Rockfish (Sebastes dalli) 4” in length Seeks Protection Amongst Club Anemone (Corynactis californica), Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 75 feet
Juvenile Treefish (Sebastes serriceps) 3” in length hides amongst Plumose Anemone, Platform Hondo, 40 feet
Juvenile Treefish (Sebastes serriceps) 3” in length hides amongst Plumose Anemone, Platform Hondo, 40 feet
Juvenile Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), size of a dime, hides amongst mussels and anemone, brown blob is a Brooding Anemone (Epiactis prolifera), Platform Hondo, 30 feet30 feet
Juvenile Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), size of a dime, hides amongst mussels and anemone, brown blob is a Brooding Anemone (Epiactis prolifera), Platform Hondo, 30 feet30 feet
The Time is Now: Andy clocking a 30 foot decompression safety stop on his Doxa watch after a 100 foot dive, Platform Hondo
The Time is Now: Andy clocking a 30 foot decompression safety stop on his Doxa watch after a 100 foot dive, Platform Hondo
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) Drifts into Platform Community to be Cleaned of Parasites by Small Perch, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 80 feet
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) Drifts into Platform Community to be Cleaned of Parasites by Small Perch, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 80 feet
Photo Documenting Sea Star Migration: From Seafloor to Inter Tidal Zone as Part of Natural Biofouling Project. Andy films with a camera system designed by Bob Evans. John Hodges holds lights, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 60 feet
Photo Documenting Sea Star Migration: From Seafloor to Inter Tidal Zone as Part of Natural Biofouling Project. Andy films with a camera system designed by Bob Evans. John Hodges holds lights, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned) 60 feet
Erica Murray Holds Giant Seastar (Pisaster giganteus): The largest live on the offshore oil platforms of the Santa Barbara Channel, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 60 feet
Erica Murray Holds Giant Seastar (Pisaster giganteus): The largest live on the offshore oil platforms of the Santa Barbara Channel, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 60 feet
Rare Albino California Mussel (Mytilus californianus), Platform A, 70 feet
Rare Albino California Mussel (Mytilus californianus), Platform A, 70 feet
Strawberry Anemone (Urticina lofotensis) Attached to a Mussel and Surrounded by Spiny Brittle Stars, 40 feet, Platform Hondo
Strawberry Anemone (Urticina lofotensis) Attached to a Mussel and Surrounded by Spiny Brittle Stars, 40 feet, Platform Hondo
Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen) estimated to be around 3’ high Attached to Mussels that Blanket the Oil Rig Jacket, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 75 feet
Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen) estimated to be around 3’ high Attached to Mussels that Blanket the Oil Rig Jacket, Platform Hilda (Decommissioned), 75 feet