Scuba diving San Diego by boat, with all the creature comforts. Heated shower, hot soup, warm crew.

Set sail from the closest commercial dock to the ocean with our friendly, safety-first crew. Whether you're avoiding shore dives or seeking a community-focused, cost-effective dive, we got you covered: scuba diving San Diego with us brings all the warmth you need for cold-water dives. Enjoy weekly trips to Wreck Alley, La Jolla Ecological Reserve, Point Loma giant kelp forest, and the sea lion-filled Coronado Islands.

Included

Captain and deckhand

Tanks + weights

Hot soup, snacks, bevs

Sea sickness help

Self-guided dives, tour guide optional.
Advanced certification required on some trips.
Complimentary tanks vary (AL80 or LP Steel 85).

Ammenities

Hot shower

Galley + second deck

Full marine bathroom

Low-hanging ladders

Price (per diver)

$175 - $319ย  (public trip)

$88 - $233ย  (private charter)

All fees included
Solo, freedivers, and non-divers welcome

Paul Laybourn
Paul Laybourn
My dive guide, Shane was knowledgeable, resourceful and personable. My daughter and I had two awesome dives at the Old Ingraham Bridge site and Yucon Wreck capturing several nice pictures. I highly recommend Waterhorse Charters for San Diego boat and shore diving.
Katie Deodat
Katie Deodat
Waterhorse is our favorite scuba dive charter company in San Diego! My family and I have booked with them several times over the years and they consistently have friendly and professional staff, safe and clean boats, and always provide a comfortable and fun experience all around! I highly recommend Waterhorse to any local or visiting divers to San Diego!
Stetson Davis
Stetson Davis
Once again whaterhorse charters put together a fantastic trip to dive the HMCS Yukon! Very helpful getting in and out of the water, hits and tricks to find cool things, and a huge supply of snacks on boat! i will ALWAYS use Waterhorse Charters when diving out of Mission Beach!
Darrin Kloostra
Darrin Kloostra
Loved the dives. The crew is very knowledgeable about all the dives sites and does a greaet predive briefing to maximize your dive.
Flo Li
Flo Li
My mono-fin free diving buddy found Waterhorse Charters when I told him I wanted to free-dive the Point Loma Kelp Forest. I have since gone several times with this charter and each time I'm so grateful for the level of service and attention to details they provide. I feel safe and taken care of from booking, to check-in, loading, putting on my gear, feeling safe in the water to come back getting my camera soaked in the fresh water bucket, hot shower on board, and hot coffee/cocoa/soup they provide. Truly exceptional. Highly recommend for Scuba and Free-diving.
Ariana Silva
Ariana Silva
I had an absolutely fantastic experience with Waterhorse Charters on Sunday, February 2nd, for a scuba diving trip to the Yukon with Bernard. From start to finish, everything was smooth, professional, and well-organized. The nitrox tanks were prepared and ready for analysis upon arrival, making the process seamless. Brendon and Brandon were an incredible crewโ€”knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. They provided an excellent briefing on the wreck, the marine life weโ€™d encounter, and the best way to navigate the dive. Their passion for diving and customer service really stood out. They were also more than willing to assist with gear whenever needed, making the experience even more enjoyable. The highlight of the dive was the fantastic visibilityโ€”20 to 30 feet on the Yukon! It made exploring the wreck even more exciting, allowing for some amazing underwater views. Overall, this was an outstanding trip, and I highly recommend Waterhorse Charters to anyone looking for a top-tier dive experience in San Diego. Canโ€™t wait to book my next trip with them!
Zachary Hupp
Zachary Hupp
My first time diving in California, and the crew at Waterhorse made is so great! So much so, that I booked TWO days of diving with them during my trip to San Diego. Zach made sure we had everything we needed before and during the dives. We had hot soup waiting for us during our surface intervals, with a lot of other snacks for the taking. I will absolutely be booking more charters with Waterhorse the next time I get back to San Diego!
John George
John George
This is the best dive company in San Diego hands down. I have been diving with Waterhorse charters for almost three years now and every trip it never ceases to amaze me how helpful, kind, and attentive the crew is. Zack helped out last week to get lobster season rolling and I came home with four of them! Donโ€™t look anywhere else if you are wanting to dive in San Diego. Update: Just had another great trip with out to the Ruby E and Yukon with Capt. Zach and Capt. Brandon. Everything was discussed prior to entering the water which made for safe and fantastic diving! Always recommend diving with Waterhorse over any other company out there.
Markus Sturkey
Markus Sturkey
Waterhorse Charters truly exceeded my expectations and provided the best dive charter experience Iโ€™ve ever had. From the owners to the crew, everyone is top-tier. I had the pleasure of meeting Zach, one of the owners, at the Scuba Show, and I corresponded with his wife Karina over email to make changes. The entire booking process was seamless and professional. My spouse, who often accompanies me on dive trips, mentioned that Captain Charles was the nicest captain sheโ€™s ever met. The divemasters I had, Brandon and Jon, are probably the best dive guides Iโ€™ve ever had. I can confidently say they gave me my favorite dives of all time so far. I had heard nothing but good things from multiple people, so my expectations were highโ€”and they met or exceeded every one of them. If youโ€™re looking to dive in the San Diego area, Waterhorse Charters is the way to go.

CREW-RIER SERVICE: We'll help you with your gear, proper weighting, yolk and DIN valves, and pairing you up with a buddy

WELCOME TO BRING: Personal tanks (fills up to 3000psi), CCRs, doubles, scooters, camera gear, backpacks, extra snacks

ADD-ONS AT CHECKOUT: Tour guides, 7mm wetsuits, rental gear, Nitrox tanks, GoPro rental

Scuba Diving San Diego Hot Highlights

Shark Safari

Shark Breeding Grounds

Embark on a kelp and reef diving journey, where we'll visit sevengill, swell, and tope sharks in their breeding habitats.

$185/diver (2 dives, 5 hours)

Summer Diving

June, July, August

One of our favorite times of the year is here: with warmer days and water temps, and a fresh wave of traveling dive friends coming aboard.

$175 - $319/diver

Requires valid passport

Scuba Diving San Diego Dive Sites

Scuba Diving San Diego Sites

  • Lobster Shack < 60 ft
  • Middle Grounds < 60 ft
  • Keyhole < 60 ft
  • Toilet Bowl < 60ft

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โœˆ๏ธ Crew tip: The best time to visit the islands is from September through December when sea lion diving is world-class!

  • Kelp Beds < 60 ft
  • Ancient Cliffs 65 - 100 ft
  • Train Wheels 65 - 100 ft

๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿผโ€โœˆ๏ธ Crew tip: Point Loma is home to prime sevengill shark diving from February through May, and lobster diving from October through March.

  • HMCS Yukon 60 - 100 ft
  • Ruby E. 65 - 80 ft
  • El Rey 65 - 80 ft
  • Old Ingraham 60 ft

๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿปโ€โœˆ๏ธ Crew tip: The HMCS Yukon, our top wreck choice, is the largest and most advanced wreck we visit (bring lights for a top-notch experience).

  • Kelp Beds/Reefs < 60 ft
  • Pinnacles 60 - 90 ft
  • Scripps Canyon 70 - 130 ft

๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿพโ€โœˆ๏ธ Crew tip: Diving La Jolla by boat is so different! It's effortless, less crowded, and goes way beyond La Jolla Coves and La Jolla Shores.

All in one Mission Bay shop
Check-in, rental gear fitting, boat boarding

advanced-padi-certification-san-diego

We'll keep you safe
Crew trained with quarterly drills and safety debriefs

We'll treat you right
Kindness is contagiousย is our life and work essence

We'll make it easy
Help with gear, tanks, weights, and finding a buddy

OPEN WATER SITES
Mexico: Coronado Islands (3 dives)
Point Loma: Kelp Forest (2 dives)
La Jolla: Reefs (2 dives)
Shallow Kelp & Wreck (2 dives)

ADVANCED/DEEP SITES
Wreck Alley: Yukon + Ruby E. (2 dives)
Wreck Alley: Yukon + El Rey (2 dives)
Wreck Alley: Yukon Double Dip (2 dives)
Point Loma: Ancient Cliffs (2 dives)
La Jolla: Rocks & Pinnacles (2 dives)
La Jolla: Scripps Canyon (2 dives)

MULTIDAY 10% off, only pay for 1 day of gear contact us
MEMBERSHIP 25% off public dive trips, 1 year enroll
CERTIFICATIONS private, no shore diving learn more

Destinations

Fleet

Humboldt

21 divers

Comfortable and safe, our Newton 46' Dive Special flagship is a local favorite that ensures easy entry and exit.
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san-diego-scuba-diving
humboldt-dive-deck

Orion

12 divers

Cozy and private, our Newton 38' provides for an intimate dive experience and indoor comfort.
Learn more +

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2
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Min. guest reached or money back
Public trips: Full refund up to 7 days

"So professional and easy to work with, not used to that."

Todd Thumpson
Veteran Programs