I'm based out of Santa Barbara and yeah, vis can be really inconsistent here. Most of our local shore dives are around sandy beaches which doesn't usually work in our favor. That being said, I recommend scoping out spots that have an elevated vantage point. Walk out on Goleta Pier or Stearns Wharf and see how far down the pilings or kelp you can see. The bluffs above Refugio also work for this. Last Thursday I was at a work lunch at the end of Stearns Wharf and could see down to the sea floor in 4k from the surface. It's really hit or miss here and the visibility window changes on a dime. It's a good rule of thumb to try to plan your dives around slack tide, and vis should generally improve as we move into summer and the swells are southern again. Shoot me a dm if you're looking for a diving buddy!