The Last Abalone Divers of Monterey Bay

A dwindling community of free-divers keeps a century-old coastal harvest alive amid changing kelp forests.

By Oceanic Cities EditorialAugust 1st, 2026320 viewsMonterey, California

Before dawn, the harbor is quiet except for the slap of water against hulls. A handful of divers still harvest abalone by hand, holding to a tradition older than the state itself...