Pack your snorkeling gear and get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget in The Golden State! California is known for its clear and diverse waters, which make it one of the world’s best destinations for snorkeling.
The state is home to a number of different ecosystems, ranging from rocky shorelines to sheltered bays, and these environments offer a wide variety of underwater landscapes for snorkelers to explore, as well as plenty of marine life to encounter.
Below, you’ll find recommendations straight from our experienced professional divers at Santa Barbara Aquatics, who know all the best spots in California and are happy to share their secrets with you!
La Jolla Cove is known for its crystal clear water and ecologically-protected underwater environment. To get there, take the La Jolla Cove exit off of I-5 and park in the nearby public parking lot. Visibility here reaches up to 30 feet on a clear day—and underwater, you can see a variety of colorful fish, sea anemones, and kelp forests.
San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park
Located just a few miles north of La Jolla Cove, the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park is another popular snorkeling destination for snorkeling. To get there, simply take the La Jolla Cove exit off of I-5 and park in the nearby public parking lot.
The water is clear and has good visibility, making it ideal for snorkeling. Underwater, you'll find rocky reefs, kelp beds, submarine canyons, and sand flats. You might even see whales, which are known to frequent the area!
Catalina Island is located just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. To get there, take a ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro. The clear water here is home to abundant marine life including sea urchins, colorful fish, and even seals.
Lovers Cove is located on the east end of Catalina Island and is a protected marine reserve, making it a serene and secluded snorkeling location. You’ll likely spot rockfish, garibaldi, kelp bass, and maybe even an octopus or two!
Casino Point Dive Park is located on the southern end of Catalina Island To get there, take a short boat ride from the city of Avalon. Enter via stairs that wind down into the water to explore a rich underwater garden teeming with sea life and populated by at least a few shipwrecks as well.
For those who want to snorkel closer to LA proper, Venice Beach is a great option. To get there, take the Venice Beach exit off of I-10 and follow the road to the beach. Often called Southern California’s playground by the sea, you’ll be able to enjoy plenty of other activities besides world-class snorkeling here—sunbathing, restaurants, and shopping on nearby Abbot Kinney Boulevard (to name just a few).
C’mon—you knew we were going to include a few Santa Barbara destination on this list, didn’t you? After all, it’s in the name! Leadbetter Beach is located right in Santa Barbara itself—to get there, just take the Leadbetter Beach exit off of Highway 101 and follow the road until you arrive. The water offers excellent visibility here and plays host to a number of sea creatures (this is a particularly good spot to see starfish).
Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach is a small, secluded beach located in Montecito. It also has its own exit off Highway 101, so you can’t miss it! There’s also free parking, which is a huge plus when you’re traveling in a car full of snorkeling gear.
The average water temperature here is about 65 degrees in the summer, and the sunsets here are absolutely gorgeous. Definitely not a spot you want to miss.
Point Lobos State Reserve is located on the Monterey Peninsula and is known as one of the most picturesque regions in the Caramel area. Boasting one of the most diverse marine habitats in the state, this is far and away one of the most unforgettable snorkeling spots around and also features a museum in the historic Whalers Cabin built in the 1800s by fishermen from China.
Garrapata State Beach is located in Big Sur and is known for its incredible coastline. To get there, take the Garrapata State Beach exit off of Highway 1. Diverse coastal vegetation awaits you beneath the water’s surface, with sea lions and sea otters aplenty.
An amazing spot (albeit one with a somewhat vanilla name), Natural Bridges State Beach is located in Santa Cruz and is known for its stunning underwater environment. Named for the striking natural rockformations that rise out of the water, it’s also a thriving habitat for starfish, sea anemones, and various fish. To get there, take the Natural Bridges Drive exit off of Highway. The water is calm and offers fantastic visibility, making it ideal for snorkeling.
California is full of beautiful places to snorkel—including many unique locations near San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara.
Most of the snorkeling spots on this list feature calm waters, sea life (including sea lions), and stunning underwater landscapes.
Most of these locations are easily accessible from major towns or cities, but provide enough seclusion that you can explore them without feeling crowded by tourists. For more advice on planning your California snorkeling adventure, contact Santa Barbara Aquatics for more information and gear recommendations.
Andrew Bolling
Pack your snorkeling gear and get ready for an adventure you'll never forget in The Golden State! California is known for its clear and diverse wat...
No scuba diving experience is complete without a dive computer—the device that provides critical insights about your depth, dive time, ascent profile, and more in real time. But with so many different dive computers on the market in 2026, how can you make sure you buy one that will meet your needs on your next scuba adventure?
Santa Barbara Aquatics is run by experienced professional divers, so we know all about how to find a dive computer that’s worth your money—we’ve even got a list of suggested models! Find recommendations for all budgets below, and purchase the best dive computer for you by trusting our in-depth knowledge.
Entry Level Dive Computers ($500 or Less)
If you’re still getting your feet wet with scuba diving or are on a budget, these dive computers make great options:
Cressi Leonardo Dive Computer
Cressi has been around since 1946, so you can count on their products to be backed up by generations of research and development. The Leonardo dive computer is no exception—it uses an elegant one-button design to make setting Air, Nitrox, and Gauge modes as simple as possible.
Key Features:
FO2-adjustable (21% to 50%)
Three levels of user-adjustable conservatism
User-selectable deep stop function
Cressi Goa Dive Computer
Cressi’s Goa is a different take on the dive computer entirely. You’ll get the same high-end Italian design, but the unit itself has been designed entirely from scratch. A high-contrast display in a surprisingly streamlined case with two-button control for everything makes this a sleek and user-friendly module, while the brand new CPU means you get data updates faster than ever.
Key Features:
Larger battery with longer life
Programs for free diving as well as scuba
Data acquired every five seconds during scuba and every two while free diving
Mid-Range Dive Computers ($300 to $1000)
Best-suited for people who want to invest a bit more in their scuba diving experience.
Shearwater Research Peregrine
A simple and accessible dive computer with a full-color display, the Peregrine also comes with multiple diving modes. This makes it ideal for divers at all experience levels—especially those who want a high-value device with a streamlined feature set for Air and Nitrox diving. It also includes a USB wireless charging station.
Key Features:
5.59 cm LED screen with vivid color range
Four modes: Air, Nitrox, 3 Gas Nitrox, and Gauge
Quick NDL and intuitive DECO dive planner features
Oceanic Pro Plus 4.0 Console Computer
The ProPlus 4.0 is a dive computer that features the latest Bluetooth 4.0 technology, allowing divers to adjust and customize dive features on the go. Its display is also extremely clear and easy to read, thanks to a new display area, wider font size, and 22% larger digits than the previous model.
Key Features:
Automatic altitude adjustment
Decompression capability of 10 to 60 feet
Three modes of operation: Air, Nitrox, and Gauge
Mares Puck 4 Wrist Computer
The Mares Puck 4 dive computer is a versatile and user-friendly device that offers a variety of features to enhance the diving experience. Its single, one-button interface is easy to use allowing you to focus on exploring. This device also boasts wireless connectivity to the Mares app, allowing you to relive and share adventures with friends and diving community.
Key Features:
Simple, crystal-clear segment display
Share dive logs and more via the Mares app
User-replaceable battery
Premium Dive Computers (Over $1000)
If you’re looking to invest in a top-of-the-line dive computer, these are the ones for you.
Shearwater Research Teric Wrist Dive Computer
Designed for recreational diving, the Teric includes advanced features like multi-gas functionality and a three-axis tilt-compensated digital compass. It has Recreational, Gauge, Freediving, Open-Circuit Tech, and Closed-Circuit/Bail-Out modes, and is configurable with a button that provides single-press access to different tools like compass, stopwatch, a countdown timer, and more.
Key Features:
Multi-gas functionality (including open-circuit and closed-circuit Air, Nitrox and Trimix)
Three-axis tilt-compensated digital compass for navigation and safety
Hoseless gas pressure integration allows for monitoring of up to two tank pressures
Shearwater Research Perdix 2
A full-size, high-performance device designed for serious recreational divers, the Perdix 2 features a rugged armored casing with a precision titanium surround bezel to protect its performance-enhanced electronics. The aluminosilicate glass lens guards a fantastic 2.2" bright screen, offering improved clarity, impact, and damage resistance. The device also has a customizable alert system to draw your attention at critical moments.
Key Features:
3 gas nitrox computer for the serious recreational diver
User-customisable display layout
Optional air integration via Swift transmitters
Scubapro G2 Wrist Dive Computer w/ Transmitter
The G2 has the same three-button control, intuitive menu structure, and diver-friendly functions that earned Scubapro’s earlier Galileo model its reputation as the easiest computer to use. This bundle includes a transmitter for wireless air integration and supports up to 11 transmitters when all features are activated.
Key Features:
Easy to read and use with a choice of four colorful screens and user-friendly menu
Designed to go anywhere with multiple dive modes including Scuba, Freediving, Gauge, CCR and Sidemount
Wireless airintegration with hoseless monitoring of tank pressure and true remaining bottom time (RBT)
Dive Deeper with Santa Barbara Aquatics
Buying a reliable dive computer with the features you need makes you safer and more aware, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your underwater experience. For more information about these products or any of the others we sell, contact Santa Barbara Aquatics. One of our team members will be happy to help you make sure you’re completely prepared for your next dive.
In this post, we will review the best dive computers on the market.
Scuba diving is an incredible way to see marine life, explore underwater environments, and enjoy the sensation of moving weightlessly underwater. But safety should always be priority number one for divers, which means you need to understand both the risks and best practices for this popular aquatic pastime before you begin.
We’re here to help. Santa Barbara Aquatics is run by professional divers with countless years of combined experience. In the article below, we’ll teach you all about the diving safety equipment you’ll need and the protocol you’ll have to follow if you want to dive safely and responsibly.
Taking the proper safety precautions can make the difference between life and death for scuba divers. Following proper protocols and guidelines helps ensure that you’re able to safely explore the underwater world.
Potential Hazards for Scuba Divers
Scuba diving comes with a lot of risks, but that doesn’t mean you should be scared to try it. Still, it’s vital to know what the potential dangers of scuba diving are so you can take steps to avoid them. The following list, while not exhaustive, covers many of the hazards divers can face:
Decompression sickness (DCS), a condition caused by dissolved gasses coming out of solution in the body while ascending quickly from a dive.
Barotrauma, a physical injury caused by changes in pressure, such as during a rapid ascent or descent.
Ear and sinus squeeze, a condition caused by pressure changes during descent or ascent that can cause pain or injury to the ears or sinuses.
Hypoxia, a condition that occurs when the body’s tissues do not receive enough oxygen.
Hyperventilation (breathing too rapidly), which can lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the body and can cause unconsciousness.
Shallow water blackout, a condition that can occur when a diver holds their breath for too long and loses consciousness.
Carbon monoxide poisoning, a condition caused by inhaling carbon monoxide gas, which can occur if a diver's air supply becomes contaminated.
Nitrogen narcosis, a condition caused by the effects of inhaling too much nitrogen at depth, which can cause hallucinations and disorientation.
Equipment failure caused by dive gear such as masks, cylinders, or dive computers malfunctioning.
Marine life injuries, which may occur when divers accidentally touch or harm marine animals.
Drowning, which occurs when a diver is unable to surface for air.
Cold water immersion, which can cause hypothermia and impact on the body functions.
Severe sunburn, which can happen when divers spend a lot of time on or near the surface of the water.
Motion sickness can happen when divers feel ill from the motion of the water.
Altitude sickness can happen to divers who dive at high elevations (such as in mountain lakes).
The maximum depth for recreational scuba diving is generally considered to be 130 ft (40 m). However, the maximum depth recommended for individual divers varies depending on the diver's experience, training, and the type of diving they are doing.
Technical divers, who receive special training, may go deeper than the recreational limit. However, it is highly recommended to get professional advice, training, and guidance before going deeper.
Going beyond the recommended recreational limit can increase your risk of decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis, while limiting your visibility and putting more pressure on your equipment— all of which can increase the likelihood of an incident.
Recommended Safe Maximum Depths for Different Levels of Divers
One of the best ways to stay safe underwater is by knowing your limits and going no further than the depths you’re comfortable with. Here’s what we suggest for divers at different experience levels:
Beginner Divers:
If you’re an Open Water diver, go no deeper than 60 ft (18 m). Not only will you need more training to handle the challenges of deeper dives, but you’ll also probably need more advanced gear than starter equipment.
Trained Recreational Divers:
Once you’ve completed Advanced Open Water scuba training and have considerable experience under your belt, you can start going down to the maximum recreational limit of 130 ft (40m). Advanced technical divers sometimes go below these depths, but this requires specialized training and equipment. Also, remember that the same risks exist no matter how much training you have had, and never try to dive below depths that make you afraid or uncomfortable.
Scuba gear plays a massive role in your safety, so you’ll need to invest carefully in your equipment. Below, we’ll break down what you need if you’re just starting out, and what you’ll want to add to your kit as you progress.
Essential Gear for Scuba Diving
Every scuba diver needs the following equipment:
Wetsuit or drysuit: exposure protection that helps regulate your body temperature when you’re underwater.
Hood and gloves: to keep your face and hands warm.
Mask and snorkel: to help you breathe when swimming near the surface. You’ll use a regulator hooked up to your tank to provide breathing gas when you’re underwater.
Scuba tanks and regulators: your tanks hold your air (or diving gas if you’re diving at depths that require nitrox). Your regulator lets you breathe it safely by adjusting its pressure to match that of the surrounding environment.
Buoyancy compensator: an adjustable vest or jacket that lets you create neutral buoyancy underwater so you can maintain your depth, and positive buoyancy at the surface so that you can float.
Fins: footwear that helps you propel yourself efficiently underwater.
Weights: you’ll attach these to your suit to compensate for the buoyancy added by your tanks and suit.
Additional Equipment for More Advanced Divers
Once you’ve mastered the basics of scuba diving, you might want to incorporate the following into your gear.
Dive computer: devices that provide key insights in real-time about your current dive—such as depth, dive time, and more. Some also contain a digital compass to help you navigate underwater.
Dive lines or reels: These can be used to mark points along your path so you can find your way back to the dive site. They’re often used for cave diving.
Dive alert systems: Emergency devices you can use to signal the surface for rescue if something goes wrong during your dive.
Stage tanks: Tanks that provide different decompression gasses at various depths during your ascent.
Importance of Proper Maintenance and Upkeep of Equipment
Proper maintenance of scuba equipment is vital to maintain its safety and performance. Get your scuba equipment inspected and serviced regularly by a certified technician, and make sure to clean and rinse it after each use. This includes checking for leaks, wear and tear, and proper functioning of all parts.
Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance, and keep detailed records of all inspections and services. This keeps your gear in good working order and ready for your next dive.
Now that you have an idea of scuba’s risks and required equipment, here are some tips to help you stay as safe as possible on your underwater adventures:
We strongly recommend diving with a partner for mutual support in case of an emergency. It’s best to stay visible to each other, and maintain communication through hand signals.
When using the buddy system, each diver monitors their partners air supply, dive computer, and overall well-being. This allows you to provide help for your partner quickly in case of an emergency. The buddy system also makes it easier to navigate while diving.
Plan Your Dive
The more you know about your environment before you dive, the easier it will be to anticipate and avoid hazards. You’ll also be able to explore more efficiently by reducing the risk of getting lost.
To plan a dive effectively, consider the following:
Your dive site: where will you be diving?
Dive conditions: what will the weather be like? What about the water temperature, tides, and visibility?
Dive limits: what will your maximum depth be? What about your maximum dive time? Do not exceed your training or go out of your comfort zone.
Make sure to go over this information again immediately prior to your dive, in a dive briefing held with your partner or group. You should also take this opportunity to go over communication protocols (including any hand signals you might use while diving).
You and your partner should have a plan in place for how to handle any emergency situations that arise during your dive. This will help prevent you from panicking and give you a procedure to rely on if something goes wrong
Your emergency plan should include:
Emergency signals: the signs you’ll use to let your partner or group know something is wrong.
Rescue procedures: what you’ll do to rescue a diver in trouble or surface during an emergency (you’ll learn this in your training, but you should always make sure your dive group is on the same page)
Checking your emergency equipment to make sure it’s working properly.
Finding emergency support: make sure everyone knows where the nearest rescue teams are stationed and that they know where you’ll be before you dive.
Communication devices: make sure someone is able to contact emergency services if you need them.
Separation procedures: make sure everyone in your group knows what to do if you lose track of each other.
Get Proper Training Before You Dive
The tips in this article are a great summary of what to consider when you’re planning a scuba diving adventure, but they’re not a replacement for formal instruction and training. Remember, you need to get certified by a recognized training organization before you can legally dive in most countries.
Santa Barbara Aquatics offers dive classes for people at all experience levels. Our courses are approved by PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors), one of the largest and most widely-recognized training agencies in the world.
Scuba diving offers incredible rewards, but it also comes with many potential hazards. The more you know about scuba safety, the easier it will be to avoid emergencies and enjoy your time beneath the water’s surface.
Staying above your maximum recommended depth is an important part of scuba safety. The maximum recommended depth is 60 ft for newer recreational divers and 130 ft for trained recreational divers—but you should never dive to any depths you feel uncomfortable at or unprepared for.
Having the right safety gear is also critical for safe scuba diving. Essential gear includes a hood and gloves, a wetsuit or drysuit, a mask and snorkel, tanks and a regulator, fins, and weights. Advanced divers may use additional equipment such as dive watches and lines.
Planning and training is also required to scuba dive safely. Make sure to take dive classes approved by an agency like the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) before you start. Santa Barbara Aquatics provides these classes.
Immerse Yourself in Scuba Diving Safety
Now that you have an overview of why scuba safety matters, the necessary equipment and training, and some tips you can use to stay safe underwater, it’s time to start planning your next dive! To learn more about scuba training or get help finding the best gear for your needs, contact Santa Barbara Aquatics. One of our team members will be happy to help make sure you’re prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.
Scuba diving is an incredible way to see marine life, explore underwater environments, and enjoy the sensation of moving weightlessly underwater. B...
To get the most out of your next scuba diving experience, you’ll need gear you can trust—and perhaps the most important piece of your kit will be your mask. A great scuba mask should feel comfortable while you wear it, provide excellent visibility so you can enjoy the sights beneath the water’s surface, and have an effective seal to prevent leaking or coming loose.
With so many different scuba masks available, it can be difficult to know where to start shopping for one that meets all your needs—but we’re here to help. The experienced professional divers who run Santa Barbara Aquatics are deeply familiar with scuba gear of all kinds, and we’ve recommended several below that will let you go and soak your head with total confidence. Find our top picks for entry level, mid-range and premium scuba masks below.
Best Scuba Diving Masks
Entry Level Masks (Under $100)
If you’re still getting your feet wet with scuba diving or are on a budget, these scuba masks make great options:
Taking the basic design of their popular Liberator mask, Tusa has gone one step further by adding a smoother and more durable frame. Perfect for standard and narrow faces alike, this mask also has a double feather-edged silicone skirt to prevent leaking, and can accommodate prescription lenses to help you see clearly at every depth.
Key Features:
2-window square form design creates a streamlined look
Designed for easy installation of optional corrective lenses
Highest grade crystal silicone used for double feather-edged skirt
With a compact shape to help divers cut through the water and Cressi’s patented Integrated Dual Frame Technology System, which locks the silicone skirt in place to prevent leaking, this mask was designed with serious deep sea use in mind. It also has the lowest internal volume of any scuba mask on the market, making it ideal for freediving as well as scuba diving. It’s not easy to find a mask this feature-rich for less than $100, but Cressi has done the trick.
Key Features:
Patented Dual Frame
Technology System holds skirt in place to prevent leaks
Lowest internal volume of any scuba mask currently in production
A single lens mask with an incredibly wide field of view, this mask also comes with a unique buckle system that allows it to fit a wider variety of different face sizes comfortably. However, despite its large frame, it also has a surprisingly low internal volume, making clearance more convenient.
Key Features:
Single lens construction with wide field of view
Large frame that still manages to offer minimal internal volume
180° rotational buckle system for easy fitting on a variety of faces
Mid-Range Masks ($100 to $170)
Best-suited for people who want to invest a bit more in their scuba diving experience.
With a unique (and patented) single lens design that transitions seamlessly into side windows to provide a panoramic view, this mask is designed to provide superior visibility. It also ultra-clear no-tint glass and a double-sealed silicone skirt, giving you a lot for your money.
Key Features:
Patented single lens design provides panoramic visibility
A two-frame mask so strong it’s practically indestructible, this mask even comes with a lifetime warranty against frame breakage. But that’s not all—it also has a wide field of view, distortion-free UltraClear lenses, and easy-to-use buckles that can be adjusted simply by squeezing them.
Offering outstanding peripheral vision via an oversize lens, this minimalist mask is excellent for both scuba diving and snorkeling. Stability ridges on the silicone skirt prevent fogging, while ultra-clear optical glass provides excellent visibility and a chlorine resistant goggle-style strap keeps it snug throughout years of use.
Key Features:
Chlorine-resistant goggle-style strap
Superior clarity provided by ultra-clear optical glass
Lightweight but extra-wide frame provides great peripheral vision
Premium Masks ($170 to $220)
If you’re looking to invest in a top-of-the-line scuba mask, these are the ones for you.
The carefully molded silicone frame of this mask provides extra softness around your face while offering stability and strength near the frame—resulting in a product that’s both comfortable and durable. The ultra-clear lens also provides excellent visibility, while the high-quality seal does an admirable job of resisting leakage. ScubaPro calls this “the most comfortable dive mask on the market”, and we agree.
Key Features:
Thicker and firmer outer silicone skirt provides superior strength
Thinner silicone contours the face for a more comfortable fit
ARC stands for Anti-Reflective Coating, and that’s what this high-end mask from Atomic Aquatics offers. This incredibly-durable double window mask uses an internal frame molded underneath the silicone skirt to provide superior rigidity without the bulky plastic found on many other masks. The lenses are also designed to provide clearer vision in low visibility conditions, making this an excellent mask for explorers and underwater photographers.
Key Features:
Subframe technology provides excellent durability without adding bulk
Low volume design and wide field of vision
Lens design provides superior clarity in low visibility environments
No less than three distinct layers make up the structure of this high-end diving mask. PuRiMax polyurethane bumpers protect a cross-beam metal structure bolted to a polycarbonate frame, creating a seriously tough product. On top of that, a special anti-reflective treatment for the CrystalView Optical Glass lenses offers protection from both UV and HEV light while providing some of the clearest vision you can get underwater. No wonder so many professional divers use these.
Key Features:
Three-layer frame structure is fantastically tough
Varied thickness throughout silicone skirt and stability ridges provide a world-class fit
Lenses protect against UV and HEV light
Dive Deeper with Santa Barbara Aquatics
The right scuba mask can empower you to explore the ocean’s depths with total confidence. To learn more about any of the masks above (or about diving in general), contact Santa Barbara Aquatics today. Our experienced professionals will be happy to help you learn everything you need to know for an ideal diving experience.
To get the most out of your next scuba diving experience, you’ll need gear you can trust—and perhaps the mos...
