Beach Cities Scuba - California
The team at Beach Cities Scuba really knows their stuff when it comes to Californian diving. We’ve always found their shop well-stocked and their instructors genuinely enthusiastic, which isn't always a given in busier dive centres. They’re a solid choice for anyone looking to get certified in Southern California, particularly if you’re aiming for a professional PADI rating – their IDC program is robust and respected. What we love most about Beach Cities Scuba is their commitment to local diving. They organise regular trips to Catalina Island, a real treat with its playful sea lions and colourful garibaldi darting through the kelp. On a good day, the visibility around Catalina can push past 20 metres, and seeing those giant kelp forests sway in the surge is just mesmerising. They also hit the local shore dives. For those colder days, getting properly geared up is key, and their rental equipment always feels well-maintained. We’d suggest checking their schedule for midweek dives; sometimes you get the sites almost to yourself, avoiding the weekend crowds, which makes a big difference when you’re navigating the entry at Shaw’s Cove or Laguna Beach.
- Location
- California, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 33.547108, -117.797140
- Phone
- +1 949-494-6965
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.beachcitiesscuba.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star IDC [padi:483]
- Address
- 925 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California 92651, United States
Dive Sites Near Beach Cities Scuba
Beach Cities Scuba provides access to 15 dive sites in California.
Other Dive Centres in California
- Adventure Sports Unlimited - PADI
- Adventure West Scuba - PADI
- Aloha Scuba
- Anderson's SCUBA diving
- Any Water Dive Center - PADI, DAN
- Aquanautics Dive, Inc - ["PADI"]
- Aquarius Dive Shop
- Aqua Safaris - EFR, DAN
- Aqua Sports
- ASD Scuba School
Best Time to Dive in California
The warmest water temperatures in California occur in August, averaging 20.6°C (up to 24.0°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 14.0°C.
The calmest sea conditions are typically in July with average wave heights of 0.60m.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 14.4°C (air: 14.0°C)
- February: 14.0°C (air: 13.8°C)
- March: 14.2°C (air: 13.3°C)
- April: 14.9°C (air: 14.3°C)
- May: 16.6°C (air: 15.4°C)
- June: 18.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- July: 20.4°C (air: 18.9°C)
- August: 20.6°C (air: 19.6°C)
- September: 20.4°C (air: 19.7°C)
- October: 18.8°C (air: 18.4°C)
- November: 16.3°C (air: 16.0°C)
- December: 15.6°C (air: 14.3°C)
Marine Life in California
Home to 10 recorded species including 8 reef fish, 1 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Marine Life
- Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Little post horn squid (Spirula spirula) - Octopus & Squid
- Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) - Reef Fish
- cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for California
Based on average water temperature of 17.1°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories