Scuba Diving in Los Angeles

Good to Know

• This is cold-water Pacific diving, not tropical diving — a 5–7mm wetsuit, hooded vest, or drysuit is standard even in summer, since water temperatures run roughly 60–70°F (16–21°C) in warm months and can drop into the mid-50s°F (13°C) in winter/spring.
• Visibility is variable and weather-dependent, often in the 15–30ft range, generally clearest in late summer/early fall before winter storms and plankton blooms reduce it.
• Kelp forests are a defining feature — great for photography and marine life, but divers should be comfortable navigating kelp and occasional surge.
• The Redondo Beach squid run (market squid spawning) is a bucket-list seasonal night dive for LA-area divers but only happens in years/periods when squid come in to spawn, so it's not guaranteed on any given trip.
• California spiny lobster and many fish species have specific open seasons and size/bag limits under California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules — a valid license and season awareness are required if taking any catch.
• Catalina Island diving does not require a liveaboard — day-boat charters and the passenger ferry from San Pedro/Long Beach/Redondo Beach make it a comfortable day trip or overnight from LA.
• Most Open Water certification programs in LA use boat trips to Catalina Island or the Channel Islands for the actual open-water dives rather than local beach entries, so budget extra time (courses typically run two full weekends) and expect an early-morning ferry or boat departure.
• If you're planning to travel soon, ask about a 'referral' program: you can complete the academic and pool portions in LA and finish your open-water dives at your travel destination instead of at Catalina/Channel Islands.
• Course price quotes can look deceptively low at first glance — enrollment fees, PADI-vs-SDI material upgrades, boat tickets, and personal gear are frequently line-itemed separately, so ask for an all-in total before committing.
• Water here is cold year-round compared to tropical destinations (roughly mid-50s°F in winter up to low-to-mid 70s°F in summer at nearby Catalina), so a thick wetsuit (commonly 7mm) is standard even for beginner training dives.