It’s wintertime. And yes, despite the perception to the contrary we do experience winter in California, even along the coast in southern California. But even here, where our winters are usually relatively mild, the arrival of winter impacts the way a lot of us dive.
Some people dive less because water temperatures are cooler than in summer and fall, the surf is often higher swells are bigger, and the visibility can be reduced. But even if you are one that can be described as more hardcore, planning dives on your events calendar is more challenging, as our weather and water conditions are less predictable.
As a general rule, in California during summer and fall you can find a place to dive where the conditions will range between good and excellent.