Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
$150; reserve at least a day in advance. To dabble in diving, ask about beginner scuba
courses that include basic instruction, followed by a shallow beach or boat dive, for around
$150. A multiday open-water certificate course costs anywhere from $250 to $600.
Snorkel kits (including mask, snorkel, fins and maybe a wet suit) can be rented from
beach concessionaires and many dive shops for around $20 to $45 per day. If you're going
to be taking the plunge more than once or twice, it's probably worth buying your own
mask and fins. Remember not to touch anything while you're out snorkeling, don't snorkel
alone and always wear a T-shirt or sunblock on your back.
Resources
Lonely Planet's Diving & Snorkeling Southern California & the Channel Islands
David
Krival's hands-on guide to happy encounters with coastal California's marine critters.
LA Diver
(
www.ladiver.com
) Although it's not updated regularly, this site has encyclopedic
listings of dive sites and shops, certification programs, safety resources and weather condi-
tions for the LA area, with links to sister sites for Southern, Central and Northern California.
Scuba Diving
(
www.scubadiving.com
) and
Sport Diver
(
www.sportdiver.com
) Published
by PADI, these magazines have comprehensive websites dedicated to underwater adven-
tures.
Windsurfing & Kiteboarding
Experienced windsurfers tear up the waves along the coast, while newbies or those who
want a mellower ride skim along calm bays and protected beaches. There's almost always
a breeze, but the best winds blow from September through November. Wet suits are a good
idea year-round, especially in Northern California.
Best Places to Windsurf & Kiteboard
Usually any place that has good windsurfing also has good kiteboarding. Look for the
people doing aerial acrobatics as their parachute-like kites yank them from the water. In
wide-open spaces devoid of obstacles like piers and power lines, you won't have to worry
about unexpected flights that could slam you into concrete.
In San Diego, novices should check out
Santa Clara Point
in Mission Bay.
