Water temperatures range from the low 50s in winter to the low 70s in the summer. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the water during non-summer months, you'll want to wear a close-fitting wetsuit.
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Can you enjoy San Diego beaches during the winter? Yes! Remember that during the winter or when the ocean is cold (many local kids, including mine, run straight in, year-round), we still go to the beach, though a bit differently.
With 113 kilometers (70 miles) of gorgeous coastline and tons of beaches, you'll enjoy lots of great swimming spots in this city. San Diego has warm waters, sandy shores, and plenty of activities for water recreation enthusiasts.
The month of March is calmer compared to April's weather when the winds are at their highest. So, head out in the morning and swim during the warmest part of the day if you want to avoid being too cold. You can swim just about any time of year in San Diego.
It's no secret that San Diego has some of the best beaches on the West Coast and, by that token, in the entire United States. This is a wonderful attribute of America's Finest City, but we also know that it might make things a little overwhelming as you search for a spot to call your own go-to swimming location.
But on that same beach, it's not uncommon to see kids shivering as they run out of the water, or a surfer wearing a partial wetsuit as they jog out for a session. California's ocean water is pretty cold, even in the summer, and it often catches visitors off-guard.
The best time to visit San Diego is late fall and mid spring; shoulder season. You'll see the ideal mix of lower prices, have an easier time getting into restaurants, and you won't have to battle the rush of summer tourists. October through early November and April are the overall best months to visit San Diego.
According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with caution. Water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult to control your breathing, and anything lower than 40 degrees is painfully cold.
Thirty degrees and above is considered too warm for comfortable swimming by virtually all swimmers. Triathletes use a standard measurement of 24 degrees Celsius / 75 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature up to which they are allowed to wear wet-suits. By that standard, 24 degrees is the upper limit of cold water.