Aquarium Plans Underwater Ceremony to Launch Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service kicks off National Stamp Collecting Month Thursday at the Monterey Bay Aquarium by unveiling its new set of stamps ... underwater.

The Monterey Hearld reports the ceremony will be broadcast live at www.montereybayaquarium.org via two "kelp cams" at the kelp exhibit.

According to reporter Gwenyth Dickey, "During the ceremony, divers will speak with the audience and answer questions about the kelp forest habitat. Kelp, the largest seaweed, grows as tall as trees and forms a lush habitat for hundreds of marine animals."

The 10-stamp pane (shown above) is based on a painting by John D. Dawson of Hilo, Hawaii. It showcases 27 animals and fish from the kelp forest ecosystem, each of which is named and described on the back of the stamp's pane. All of the species are native to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

"This isn't the first aquatic stamp to be revealed at the aquarium from under water. In 2000, a remotely operated vehicle unveiled the 'Deep Sea Creatures' stamp series from 1,500 feet beneath the surface of Monterey Bay. Live video was beamed back to the aquarium," according to the paper.

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