Kelp

Dick Nachtsheim, left, and Chris Ingram rest on their flotation tubes while hunting for abalone in the kelp-filled waters of Van Damme State Park on the Northern California coast. Nachtsheim and Ingram, both Reno firefighters, make an annual trip to the coast with a group of co-workers, diving for abalone and camping with their families. They noticed kelp being much thicker this year than in the past, making the diving harder and more dangerous. More photos >>>