where in so cal? Channel Islands, Catalina, Redondo Beach, actually a butt load of beaches! Old Marine Land, San Diego, damn near anywhere! Where in LA are you?
If you want to hang out and talk/listen (ok type/read) with several local hard core divers check out
http://www.divematrix.com/ It is not a huge board, but there is not as much crap going on there. If you just want mass amounts of info check out scubaboard. But like here on RC you get the BS Bare Bottom VS DSB, only there its jacket bcs and snorkle VS DIR
So Cal can be some challenging dives, There are some hard core guys that go diving almost every week (actually I know some people that go a couple times a week) I try to go every week or two on Friday mornings with a few buddies. Most of these people are in dry suits, double large steel tanks and ridiculously expensive flashlights (in SCUBA they're called HID, in reef keeping they're called MH
with a big battery pack that is strapped to your belt and the light is mounted on the back of your hand) If you are not worried about being seen with a bunch of geeks/ techies I'd be happy to show you around. Do you have any gear? I would guess that where you certified you could even rent the mask and fins. Not so here, you need your own personal gear(mask, fins, booties, gloves), you can rent the wetsuit, bc, tank, reg, and hood. Yes you want/need the gloves and hood! I may even have some gear you can try out like a large steel tank, back plate and wing, regs(with the long hose) depending on your foot size I even have a few different fins you might be able to try and compare.