Image by Clay Wiseman

If you live along the coastline of California, chances are there's some diving nearby. This state has one giant blue-water playground off its shores, and it also has fairly good sized population living along the coast, so parking at the better sites is generally at a high premium. When you venture off on a drive and dive excursion, go prepared to be self-sufficient. Here's a few tips.

Rules of the Road
Drive and Dive Tips

  1. Always have plenty of quarters for parking meters if the shore dive is in a city
  2. Take good sturdy booties for surf entries, especially over rocks.
  3. A beach blanket or better yet a tarp is necessary to keep your gear and wet feet out of the sand.
  4. Save-a-dive kit and a first aid kit.
  5. Most beaches do not have a changing facility, so bring a changing robe or extra-large towel for discretion.
  6. Water. You'll need to rehydrate between dives, so take bottled water, or a 2.5 gallon dispenser (found at most grocers) to give gear and salty faces a fresh water rinse.
  7. Use a tank stabilization device in your trunk or the back of your truck to keep tanks from rolling around.
  8. Get to the site early for the best parking. There's nothing worse than having to lug your gear farther than you need to.
  9. A sea kayak is great for getting to sites farther offshore that would otherwise necessitate a long surface swim
  10. Sunscreen. Not too many big shade trees grow on beaches.