SeeCalifornia.com

3 Ways to celebrate California Underwater Parks Day: 1. Go scuba diving or snorkeling at Channel Islands National Park (left photo); 2. visit a California beach; 3. see exhibits and learn about the ocean at an aquarium such as Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro (right photo)  or at a nature attraction such as Elkhorn Slough in Santa Cruz County.

For most of us who didn’t know that there’s an annual Underwater Parks Day, the event is celebrating its 5th anniversary in 2013. A series of new laws and regulations went into effect in December 2012, creating more California coastal areas protected from fishing, removing sea life, and other activities that may be harmful to fragile habitats. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have specific regulation banning certain activities, as spelled out by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (dfg.ca.gov).

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, events to celebrate underwater parks include special activities at California aquariums, beaches and coastal attractions. Though not even close to the size and scale of Earth Day events, Underwater Parks Day is likely to grow. Here are 10 species you might notice at California’s Underwater Parks.