Don't know exactly where you are which makes it hard to help. If you fill out your profile with a bit more information, then we can put you into context so to speak.
From your Lake Millerton comment, it would appear you are in the FRESNO area, or only about a 150 mile drive from the fabulous diving in Monterey. Beach diving is both fun and inexpensive. Monterey hotels are not inexpensive however. But still there is some great diving in the area. Beach diving, great fun, and not too expensive.
Now about safe, like anything in diving it can be dangerous depending location, day and conditions. What may be a safe location at 8:00 a.m. on Monday may be deadly at 9:30 a.m. Monday. So you have to learn how to read conditions, check forecast and know how to handle "interesting" situations when they develop. Monterey's Monastery Beach for example. Great place to dive, but potentially dangerous if you dive at the wrong place or time or try to walk out instead of crawl out. There is a reason the Monestery Crawl was invented. Hook up with the folks in the NoCAL section (Monterey is more closely aligned there) and have fun. Dive with someone who has been to the site more than once and has lots of beach diving experience.
Good luck to you and good diving.