question about Beaches in Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego: live, moving, beach)

[Robertwiz]

Hello,

Of all the beaches in California, which one in Los Angeles would be most similar to Waikkii beach in Hawaii in terms of

1. Relatively warm water.

2. Gentle waves hitting the shore for boogie boarding or body surfing.

I know that most beaches in California have cold water, but are there any beaches in Los Angeles or San Diego where the water gets relatively warm during at any time during the year.

Thanks

[Charles]

My experience has been the beaches with the flatter approach (doesn't get deep quick when you walk out) seem a little (not much) warmer, maybe because water has a chance to warm a little in the sun - still it is barely noticeable - might even be my imagination. From Santa Monica south to Torrance seems sort of flat.
Zuma is a nice clean beach with lots of boogie boarders.

But none are relatively warm compared to FL or HI.

[ferretkona]

Long Beach has a break water that removes almost any trace of a wave.

[esmith143]

The warmest you can expect north of the border is 70 F.

If you want water temps closer to Hawaii, look at southern Baja (e.g. Los Cabos) or even Puerto Vallarta / Acapulco.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Robertwiz

Hello,

Of all the beaches in California, which one in Los Angeles would be most similar to Waikkii beach in Hawaii in terms of

1. Relatively warm water.

2. Gentle waves hitting the shore for boogie boarding or body surfing.

I know that most beaches in California have cold water, but are there any beaches in Los Angeles or San Diego where the water gets relatively warm during at any time during the year.

Thanks

The answer to these two questions is mostly dependant on the time of the year and swells which form. Summer is obviously the warmest time and best for body boarding or body surfing without a wetsuit. No place in California is like Hawaii. But I have given surfing lessons to people in LA and a good spot for that is South Redondo as one gets closer to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The reason is that the Peninula blocks the larger, rougher waves most of the time. So a lot of biginners and kids like that area.





Most of the year you will need a wetsuit in Ca. But a Spring Suit (short arms/legs) is fine for ~ 4 months out of the year.




Derek

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

North Pacific Currents


(Source: Biodiversity Institute of Ontario)


A clockwise circulation of water, known as the North Pacific Gyre generally dominates the North Pacific. This pattern of circulation is comprised of several smaller – but no less important – currents, the Kuroshio Current, the Alaskan Current, the Californian Current and the North Equatorial Current. The North Equatorial Current moves northeastward along the Philippine Islands, and eventually forms the Kuroshio Current (also called the Japan Current). This warm, saline current warms the shores of the western Pacific, and eventually moves eastward beyond Japan. Some branches of the Kuroshio pass north of the Hawaiian Islands, while others come to within 1000 kilometres of North America. These branches of the Kuroshio are moved by strong westerly winds that push the water into one large current, the North Pacific. This current heads towards North America from the Sea of Japan, and branches into the northward moving Alaskan Current, while the remainder forms the southward moving California Current. The California Current flows southeast off the British Columbia coast towards the Baja Penninsula, and brings cold water to these southern shores. Once it reaches this region of Mexico, it turns sharply west, and forms part of the North Equatorial Current.

Basicly, we only have cold water. The further south you go the warmer the water is.

[Hawk J]

Lustrums ago i did some surf fishing along the coast. The waters around San Diego felt pretty comfortable to me.

[MattClyde]

The Water in SoCal is cold, especially because the south swell dominates most of the year and most beaches don't have gentle waves.
The warmest part of the year though is in October when it is mostly a southwest/west swell. that is also when you will have the more gentle waves. There are occasional moments where the water goes to or above 75. but that is not common.
I have lived here all of my life(so far) and trust me there is nothing that is consistently comparable to Hawaii.

[BacktoBlue]

it isn't that cold! It's cold when you first get in but after a few minutes, it isn't bad!

[MattClyde]

but there is still nothing comparable to hawaii