Kelp Forest
Cool green water, tall kelp and animals that look straight at you. The vertical lines of the kelp stalks are a gift for puzzlers: follow a stalk and the pieces line up.
6 pictures · 24 dives · on average 20% of each frame has little detail
Sunbeams in the kelp forest
Golden-brown kelp rises in tall columns from a dark rocky floor towards the light. Bright sunbeams slant between the stalks, and small fish drift in the blue gaps.
Main colours: charcoal (37%), kelp green (15%), teal (15%) and brown (13%). Plain area: 9% of the frame.
Sea otter resting in kelp
A sea otter floats on its back on calm grey-blue water, its paws on its chest and strands of brown kelp draped across its belly. Loose bits of kelp drift on the surface around it.
Main colours: grey (48%), brown (14%), sky blue (13%) and white (13%). Plain area: 32% of the frame.
Orange damselfish in the kelp
A bright orange damselfish swims among swaying kelp fronds. A rock crusted with pink algae and small orange anemones fills the lower right, and green-blue water glows behind the kelp.
Main colours: kelp green (30%), brown (24%), sea green (23%) and olive (12%). Plain area: 22% of the frame.
Harbour seal in the kelp
A spotted grey harbour seal swims between kelp stalks and looks straight at the viewer. Golden kelp leaves frame the right side; the water behind is a soft green haze.
Main colours: charcoal (39%), sea green (39%), brown (13%) and kelp green (9%). Plain area: 14% of the frame.
Urchins on the kelp floor
Dozens of purple sea urchins cover a rocky seabed between tufts of red algae, and an orange sea star lies in the middle. Kelp stalks rise into teal water in the background.
Main colours: brown (38%), charcoal (26%), grey (20%) and slate grey (15%). Plain area: 3% of the frame.
Sea lion and a ring of bubbles
A young sea lion twists head-down through the water, trailing a loop of silver bubbles. Sunbeams fall from the surface at the top, and a band of kelp grows along the bottom.
Main colours: teal (38%), sky blue (15%), slate grey (13%) and white (12%). Plain area: 38% of the frame.
Kelp pictures mix strong shapes with soft, hazy water. The urchin-covered floor is packed with detail; the seal and the sea lion float in open green water that needs more patience. The otter is the only picture here taken above the surface, with calm grey water all around it.
On turn puzzles, the kelp helps again: stalks grow upwards and the light comes from the top, so most tiles have a clear right way up.