Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
California is a great place to go snorkeling or diving!
With its coastal kelp forests, shallow reefs and vast underwater preserves, California is home to some great diving spots. A few of the best include Monterey, the Channel Islands (where you'll find gorgeous kelp forests and schools of fish), La Jolla Cove in San Diego, Redondo Beach (home to cool octopi at night), La Jolla Shores (where you'll find schools of leopard sharks during the late summer), the shallow reefs of Laguna Beach (home to bright orange garibaldi), and the Catalina Island Dive Park.
Expert divers swear that Monastery Beach, an advanced and potentially dangerous spot near Carmel, is one of the best diving areas on the West coast. One of my personal favorite spots for snorkeling is Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach. It's home to a wealth of sea life — from bright orange garibaldi to purple sea stars and octopi.
Southern California's ocean can be cold at times — certainly not the water you're accustomed to in the tropics. Be sure you have a wetsuit during the cooler months. You should be fine to snorkel in your swimsuit between August and September, when the ocean is at its warmest.
#California #CaliforniaTravelTips #cali #CaliforniaDayTrips #CaliforniaTravelGuide #californiaadventure #californiaattractions
California is a great place to go snorkeling or diving!
With its coastal kelp forests, shallow reefs and vast underwater preserves, California is home to some great diving spots. A few of the best include Monterey, the Channel Islands (where you'll find gorgeous kelp forests and schools of fish), La Jolla Cove in San Diego, Redondo Beach (home to cool octopi at night), La Jolla Shores (where you'll find schools of leopard sharks during the late summer), the shallow reefs of Laguna Beach (home to bright orange garibaldi), and the Catalina Island Dive Park.
Expert divers swear that Monastery Beach, an advanced and potentially dangerous spot near Carmel, is one of the best diving areas on the West coast. One of my personal favorite spots for snorkeling is Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach. It's home to a wealth of sea life — from bright orange garibaldi to purple sea stars and octopi.
Southern California's ocean can be cold at times — certainly not the water you're accustomed to in the tropics. Be sure you have a wetsuit during the cooler months. You should be fine to snorkel in your swimsuit between August and September, when the ocean is at its warmest.
#California #CaliforniaTravelTips #cali #CaliforniaDayTrips #CaliforniaTravelGuide #californiaadventure #californiaattractions
