Scuba Diving in San Diego: The Essential Guide
May 30, 2025
San Diego is one of the best scuba diving destinations in California. With lush kelp forests, wreck dives, abundant marine life, and year-round diving conditions, it offers something for every diver. Whether you are interested in exploring historic shipwrecks, gliding through kelp forests, or encountering sea lions and sharks, scuba diving in San Diego is an unforgettable experience. This guide covers everything you need to know, from the best dive sites and seasons to travel tips and ways to dive.
The Main Diving Areas and Who They Are Best For
Scuba diving in San Diego boasts a diverse range of dive sites and is suitable for all dive experience levels. Here are the main diving areas and what they are best for:
La Jolla – Best for Kelp Forests and Marine Life Encounters
La Jolla is the city’s premier shore diving destination, featuring vast kelp forests, deep canyons, and vibrant marine life. Divers of all experience levels can explore this area, from shallow reefs to deeper canyon walls.
La Jolla Cove, part of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, is famous for its towering kelp forests where garibaldi, sea lions, leopard sharks, and even sevengill sharks can be seen. Nearby, La Jolla Shores provides easy beach entry to an underwater canyon, known for its unique marine life and fantastic night diving opportunities.
Wreck Alley – Best for Wreck Diving
Wreck Alley is the top location for wreck diving, with several sunken vessels creating thriving artificial reefs. Advanced and technical divers can explore the HMCS Yukon, a massive Canadian destroyer resting at around 30 meters (100 feet) with vibrant marine life. The Ruby E, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter, is covered in colorful anemones and attracts schools of fish.
Point Loma – Best for Kelp Forest and Deep Reefs
Point Loma offers some of the most stunning kelp forests in California, with deep reefs and rocky ledges teeming with life. It is primarily accessible via boat diving, making it best suited for intermediate and advanced divers.
Sites like New Hope Rock and 3 Fingers Reef provide excellent visibility, encounters with giant sea bass and bat rays, and breathtaking kelp canopies swaying in the currents.
Coronado Islands (Mexico) – Best for Big Marine Life
For those looking for big marine life encounters, the Coronado Islands off the northwest coast of Baja California, Mexico, are a short boat ride away. Known for their crystal-clear water and diverse marine species, these islands often feature on lists of the best scuba diving in San Diego. They boast thrilling drift dives with sea lions, schools of baitfish, and the chance to spot rays and sharks.
The Best Dive Sites in San Diego
Scuba diving in San Diego offers an incredible variety of dive sites, from dramatic underwater canyons to marine reserves teeming with diverse sea life and unique ecosystems. Whether you prefer shore diving with easy access or venturing offshore by boat, there are options for all experience levels. With excellent visibility in many areas and seasonal wildlife encounters, San Diego’s dive sites provide unforgettable adventures year-round.
1. La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is one of the most famous features of scuba diving in southern California. This protected marine area features towering kelp forests that provide shelter for diverse marine life. Garibaldi, California’s bright orange state fish, are commonly seen darting between the kelp stalks. Divers may also encounter sea lions and occasional sevengill sharks cruising through the kelp.
2. La Jolla Shores & Canyon
La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Canyon offer a sandy beach entry leading to a deep underwater canyon. The canyon walls are home to octopuses, stingrays, and various nudibranchs, making it an excellent site for macro photography. During winter months, divers can witness the incredible squid runs, where thousands of squid gather to spawn, attracting a variety of predators.
3. Scripps Canyon
A deep, advanced dive site, Scripps Canyon features steep canyon walls, dramatic drop-offs, and diverse marine life, making it one of the most unique spots for scuba diving in San Diego.
This vast canyon is approximately 1 mile long and joins La Jolla Canyon offshore. Most recreational dives at Scripps Canyon occur at depths between 21 and 30 meters (70 and 100 feet), though the canyon’s walls descend to 274 meters (900 feet).
The unique geological formations provide a habitat for deep-sea creatures, including poacher fish, lizardfish, rockfish, and even occasional sevengill sharks. Due to the site’s depth and complex topography, Scripps Canyon is best suited for experienced divers with deep diving training.
4. HMCS Yukon, Wreck Alley
San Diego’s most famous wreck, the HMCS Yukon, is a massive 110-meter (366 feet) Canadian destroyer sitting on her port side at a maximum depth of around 30 meters (100 feet), making it a must-visit feature of scuba diving in San Diego.
This site is best for advanced divers due to its depth and penetration opportunities. Over the years, the wreck has become home to soft corals, schools of rockfish, and playful sea lions that occasionally visit.
5. Point Loma Kelp Forests
Considered one of the best kelp diving locations on the West Coast, Point Loma’s kelp forests are a must-visit for divers. These towering underwater forests create a magical diving experience, where divers can glide through the kelp as sea bass, bat rays, and leopard sharks swim by. Visibility is often excellent, ranging from 10-30 meters (30-100 feet), making it perfect for underwater photography.
6. Coronado Islands, Mexico
A bucket-list dive destination, the Coronado Islands offer incredible marine life encounters in clear blue waters. Playful sea lions are the main attraction, often swirling around divers in a mesmerizing display of agility.
Depending on the season, sharks, mobula rays, and schools of barracuda may also be spotted in these nutrient-rich waters. Middle Grounds is an exhilarating site with plenty of large predators, while Lobster Shack is a shallower reef dive with excellent visibility and vibrant marine life.
Looking for a world-class dive spot? The Sea of Cortez is full of bucket-list marine life!
Best Time to Go Scuba Diving in San Diego
San Diego offers year-round diving, but conditions vary by season:
- Summer (June–September): Warmest water around 18-22°C (65-72°F), calmest conditions, and best visibility.
- Fall (October–November): Best overall diving conditions, with warm water and peak visibility of 15-30 meters (50-100 feet).
- Winter (December–February): Colder water around 13-16°C (55-60°F), but the best time for squid runs and sevengill shark sightings.
- Spring (March-May): Variable conditions with plankton blooms, but great kelp forest diving due to the robust growth and density of the kelp during this season.
Ways to Dive in San Diego
Scuba diving in San Diego has options for every certification level, from Open Water Diver to experienced technical divers. Shore diving is popular in locations like La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores, where easy beach entries lead to stunning kelp forests and deep canyons.
If you are new to shore diving and want to learn more, check out our top tips in 8 Top Ways to Make Shore Diving Easy.
Boat diving is essential for reaching sites like Wreck Alley, Point Loma, and the Coronado Islands. Several dive operators in San Diego run daily boat trips, making it easy to explore offshore sites.
If you are new to boat diving and want to enhance your skills, we recommend completing the SSI Boat Diver specialty before your trip.
While liveaboard trips are not common for local diving, some operators offer multi-day dive expeditions to Mexico’s remarkable Socorro Islands. If you love open-ocean diving with big marine life, the Socorro Islands are not to be missed.
Eco-Conscious Dive Centers in San Diego
When you go scuba diving in San Diego, make sure you choose an environmentally responsible dive center that helps protect San Diego’s marine ecosystems. Look for SSI-certified dive centers in California that prioritize conservation, use sustainable diving practices, and actively engage in marine conservation initiatives.
Many responsible dive centers participate in kelp restoration projects, marine debris cleanups, and diver education programs that contribute to the health of the local underwater environment.
What Else Can You Do in San Diego?
Beyond scuba diving in San Diego, there are a variety of activities for visitors. Explore the world-renowned San Diego Zoo, take a scenic stroll through Balboa Park, or visit the historic USS Midway Museum to learn about naval history.
You can go kayaking in La Jolla, hiking in Torrey Pines State Reserve, or surfing along the city’s iconic coastline. For a more relaxing experience, unwind at Coronado Beach or explore the vibrant nightlife and dining scene in the Gaslamp Quarter.
How to Get There
Scuba diving in San Diego is easily accessible by air and road. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located close to dive shops and marinas, making it a convenient gateway for traveling divers.
Those driving from within California can reach San Diego via Interstate 5 (from Los Angeles) or Interstate 8 (from Arizona). If you plan to dive the Coronado Islands in Mexico, ensure you have a valid passport and book with a dive operator that has the required permits for crossing the border by boat.
Useful Travel Information
- Visa: U.S. visitors do not need a visa; international divers should check entry requirements.
- Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD).
- Language: English is the primary language.
- Health & Safety: Water temperatures can be cold, so a 7mm wetsuit or drysuit is recommended in winter.
- Marine Protection: Many San Diego dive sites are within marine protected areas (MPAs)—divers should follow conservation guidelines.
- Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Protect marine life by using reef-safe sunscreen, especially when diving in sensitive marine environments. Popular brands include Raw Elements USA, Stream 2 Sea, and Badger.
Why Scuba Diving in San Diego is Worth It
San Diego is a diverse and exciting dive destination, offering something for every diver. From majestic kelp forests and thrilling wrecks to playful sea lions and deep canyons, it is an underwater playground that keeps divers coming back. Scuba diving in San Diego is perfect for those looking for a mix of adventure, marine life encounters, and world-class underwater scenery.
Plan Your San Diego Dive Trip Today
Ready to explore San Diego’s underwater world? Book your dive trip with an SSI dive center to experience the best diving the city has to offer!