They start the day pale, perhaps a little neglected—hidden inside leather loafers or tangled in the laces of running shoes, shielded from the morning marine layer. But the destination is inevitable. The Pacific is calling, and the feet know the way.
| Region | Primary Hazards | Peak Season | Clinical Pearl | |--------|----------------|-------------|----------------| | | Cold water immersion foot (non-freezing cold injury), sharp rocks, kelp entanglement | Spring (high surf) | Footwear: neoprene booties essential | | Central Coast (Monterey to Santa Barbara) | Stingrays (sandy bottoms), sea bather’s eruption | July–September | Rinse feet with vinegar after water exit | | SoCal (LA to San Diego) | Broken glass, Vibrio , thermal burns, phytophotodermatitis | August–October | Check for puncture wounds; tetanus booster | | San Francisco Bay (enclosed) | High Vibrio counts, hypodermic needles, algal blooms | Warm, stagnant days (Sept) | Avoid if immunosuppressed |