La Jolla Cove is widely known to have some of the clearest water anywhere. Water here tends to be warmer and clearer because of its protected cove, with underwater visibility extending up to 30 feet.
With over 120 kilometers (75 miles) of coastline and over 100 beaches, Los Angeles is the perfect place to get your toes wet. The city features plenty of island, coastal, and inland swimming spots.
Scuba diving, remarkable beaches and whale watching abound, the coast of California is cherished by swimmers, divers and boaters alike. Catalina Island also has some of the most coveted beaches off the Southern Californian coast.
It's about what's in the waterAlong certain coasts, finer particles like sand and silt can add to the water's murkiness since they're easily agitated and stay afloat for long periods. On the other hand, the sediments off clearer coasts may be heavier and coarser.
Santa Monica is a city, filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and lots of people all about (think Brighton on a sunny day). Malibu is a laid back, locals only, small town - not much to see except to take pictures at the Pier and watch surfers - enjoy the 27 miles of Malibu coastline on your drive up to SB.
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.
Water & WeatherThe late summer and early fall months from August, September and October are invariably the best, while the late winter and spring (February to April) are the least predictable.