Diving California
Coastal Diving in the South: http://diver.net/seahunt/d_cal1.htm
Coastal Diving in the North: http://diver.net/seahunt/d_cal3.htm
Coastal Diving in Central California: http://diver.net/seahunt/d_cal2.htm
Best time to dive
The summer months bring warmer water temperatures and calmer conditions, but diving can be done year-round.
Visibility
Visibility ranges from 5 to 50+ feet depending on where and when you’re diving.
Water temperatures
Water temperature ranges from 50 to 75 °F depending on where you’re diving and what time of year you’re diving.
Weather and climate
The climate varies significantly from one location to another. Basically, it is semi-tropical along the southern coast with arid desert in most of the southern and eastern extremities. In the north, it is mildly temperate with colder alpine climates at the higher altitudes. The temperature is pleasant the entire year in most of the coastal areas. Cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean moderate the summer heat and keep the winters very mild. Expect temperatures around the 80s during the summer and the 60s during the winter. San Francisco and the northern part of the state are cooler. At the higher altitudes, especially in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it can become very cold with extensive snowfalls (up to 40 feet deep). The desert areas are intensely hot during the summer with temperatures in some areas often rising above 120 °F and during the winter months, temperatures are no more than 70 degrees.
Language
English
Passport/Visa requirements
Canadians do not require a visa, only a valid passport or a birth certificate or citizenship certificate if arriving directly from Canada. Valid passports are required for all other nationalities. Visas are required for many nationalities. You should check current requirements before traveling as requirements can change very quickly. Visitors must have return or onward tickets and the necessary documents for further travel.
Currency
U.S. Dollar – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 volts AC, 50 cycles. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter, which can be purchased in most major departure airports.
Capital
Sacramento
General information
California is situated on the western coast of the United States of America. The state is approximately 800 miles long from north to south and about 200 miles wide from east to west. It has almost 800 miles of Pacific coast that varies from warm sandy beaches in the south to rugged rocky shores in the north. About midway up the coast, mountains plunge directly into the sea.
Map
Get a map of California from WorldAtlas.com.