Originally Posted by
ph-sbe
If you don't like to talk to Norcal Approach, then yes, your limit is 2,500 (or 2,300, or 1,500). But I believe out over the waters near Half Moon Bay it's 6,000. Either way, when flying under SFO's bravo I still talk to Norcal. Flight following is all you need.
Are you sure you are from San Jose? There is no way you can get a Class B entry through the airliner approach paths between the West bay and the East bay. So 2,500 is as high as you can go. Try the Instrument approach to Half Moon Bay: over the water on final below 2,000. Watsonville: 11 miles over water below 3,000. Enroute, you can get higher, of course. The point being, I don't know anyone who wears a life vest when practicing instrument approaches into Watsonville (but then, I don't know everyone).