NOAA National Marine Sanctuary vessel FULMAR off the Big Sur coastline. Note the catamaran hull of the vessel giving it added stability.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute research vessel WESTERN FLYER on the search for the airship MACON expedition.

Recovering the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Tiburon on the WESTERN FLYER.

Recovering the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Tiburon on the WESTERN FLYER.

NOAA Ship McARTHUR II conducting research in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It was searching for the airship MACON.

Klein sidescan 3000 on deck of the NOAA Ship McARTHUR II during the search for the airship MACON.

Northern elephant seal at San Simeon.

Kayaking in Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Kayaking off Cannery Row in the kelp bed.

Kayaking off Cannery Row on the Monterey waterfront.

Scientific diver Lisa Wooninck prepares for a dive at Point Lobos State Reserve.

A curious seal inspects diver Kevin Stierhoff in a kelp forest off Pacific Grove .

This otter investigated Kevin Stierhoff prior to a dive in the kelp forest at Point Lobos State Reserve.

Scientific diver Kevin Stierhoff prepares to descend into a kelp forest at Point Lobos State Reserve.

Diver Brian Wells preparing to dive in the kelp forest at Point Lobos State Reserve.

Remains of an anchor at Cape Alava

Remains of an anchor at Cape Alava

Fuca Pillar at Cape Flattery, the northwest extremity of the Olympic Peninsula

Fuca Pillar at Cape Flattery, the northwest extremity of the Olympic Peninsula An aerial view.

Tatoosh Lighthouse from offshore.

Tskawahyah Island at sunset

Sunset along an Olympic Coast beach

Sunset along the Olympic Coast

Aerial view of Teahwhit Head and James Island

California mussel bed along the Olympic Coast

The rocky intertidal zone

A pair of Tufted Puffins on a cliff

A Black Oystercatcher.

A Murre colony up close

Tidal current patterns in the sand and sea grass at low tide

Mary Sue Brancato, Resource Protection Specialist for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is setting a trap to monitor for green crab, an invasive species.

Mary Sue Brancato, Resource Protection Specialist for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is tagging a dead bird as part of the COASST (Coastal Observation and Seatbird Survey Team) monthly survey of dead birds on area beaches.

Greg McCormack, Naturalist and Education Specialist for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is talking to a group of volunteer docents about plants and animals found in tide pools. 15 miles west of Port Angeles.

Greg McCormack, Naturalist and Education Specialist for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is talking to a group of volunteer docents about the structure and life cycle of a purple sea urchin. 15 miles west of Port Angeles.

Seabird observers Barbara Blackie and Scott Mills are searching for birds from the NOAA Ship McARTHUR II while it was operating in sanctuary waters.

Oceanographer Liz Zele prepares to deploy the CTD from the deck of the NOAA Ship McARTHUR II with the help of technician Lacey O'Neal.

Mary Sue Brancato, Resource Protection Specialist for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is setting a trap to monitor for green crab, an invasive species.

Ed Bowlby, Research Coordinator for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, photographing humpback whales feeding just off the bow of the NOAA Ship McARTHUR II.

A squid - Illex illecebrosus - cruising over a sandy area of the bank

School of fish

A humpback whale breaching

A Northern Right Whale on the surface

A Wolf Fish - Anarhichas lupus - hiding in the rocks

A Sea Raven - Hemitripterus americanus

Divers Benjamin Cowie-Haskell and Deborah Marx climb back onboard the R/V Gannet after an investigation of the shipwreck Paul Palmer

Divers Benjamin Cowie-Haskell and Deborah Marx are buzzed by a large mola mola or ocean sunfish while documenting the shipwreck of the coal schooner Paul Palmer

Divers Benjamin Cowie-Haskell and Deborah Marx wait to be picked by the R/V Auk after a dive to the shipwreck of the coal schooner Paul Palmer

Marine archaeology dive team after return to surface from the shipwreck of the NORTHERN LIGHT.

Upside-down rudder of the NORTHERN LIGHT, a shipwreck in 190 feet water depth. The NORTHERN LIGHT sank in 1930. It had been a Great Lakes freighter but had been converted to a barge in 1927.

Upside-down rudder of the NORTHERN LIGHT, a shipwreck in 190 feet water depth. The NORTHERN LIGHT sank in 1930. It had been a Great Lakes freighter but had been converted to a barge in 1927.