San Diego
Snorkeling Guide

Everything you need to know before snorkeling in San Diego

San Diego Snorkeling

Main Snorkeling Areas

La Jolla
Point Loma
Coronado Islands
(in Mexico)

Mission Bay

When to Go

Snorkeable Months: Year-round
Best Conditions: Fall & Winter

Snorkeling Access

Boat Snorkeling: All snorkeling areas
Shore Snorkeling: La Jolla only

Cost

Boat Snorkeling: avg. $120 - $290
Shore Snorkeling: free - $120

Visibility

Average: 15 to 30 ft
Best: 50 ft - 100 ft

Water Temperature

Imperial: 58° to 70°F
Metric: 14° to 21°C

Bottom Water Temp

Imperial: 48° to 65°F
Metric: 8° to 18°C

Gear Required

Summer: 5mm wetsuit
Winter: 7mm wetsuit (hood recommended)

Marine Life

Leopard, sevengill, horn, tope sharks
Stingray, bat ray, guitarfish
Halfmoon, blacksmith
Garibaldi, sheephead
California spiny lobster
Giant spinned sea star
Sea lion, harbor seal
Green sea turtle
Giant sea bass

Snorkeling Boat Tours

Waterhorse Charters (us!) ⭐️

Full-day trip to Coronado Islands
All snorkeling levels welcome, ages 8+

What to expect

Despite visibility and water temperature being on the lower scale when compared to tropical destinations, snorkeling in San Diego packs the whole punch of cold-water snorkeling.

When snorkeling in San Diego, you'll have the chance to encounter:

  • Sea Lions: a day trip to Coronado Islands' local rookery
  • Sharks: leopard sharks are guaranteed in the summer months
  • Rays: in La Jolla and Mission Bay, common in the summer
  • Sea Turtles: although rare, they inhabit La Jolla year round
YouTube video

Video by Justin MacRae

Snorkeling conditions

Visibility changes hourly, from site to site. These are San Diego snorkeling averages:

  • Average: 15 to 30 ft
  • Best: 50 ft+ locally & 100 ft+ at the Coronado Islands (fall & winter)
  • Worst: 5 ft (usually during algae blooms)*

Water temperatures vary with the seasons and range between:

  • May - October: 62° to 70°F
  • November - April: 58° to 61°F

LOCAL TIP: Water conditions here change hourly. We keep a running Conditions Report spreadsheet to better forecast future visibility for our boat charters.

san-diego-snorkeling-tour

Photo by Frankie Grant

snorkeling-in-san-diego-la-jolla

Photo by Frankie Grant

Coronado Islands, a day trip to Mexico away, tend to have 1 to 3°F higher surface and bottom temperatures. Every bit counts!

San Diego waters are nutrient-rich, which helps kelp forests and cold-water species like sea lions and some shark species to flourish.

Gear requirements

If you plan to snorkel in San Diego, exposure protection is a must.

We recommend wearing a full 5mm wetsuit during the summer and a full 7mm wetsuit and a hood in the winter. If you don't have your own gear, keep on reading for some San Diego snorkel gear rental recommendations.

Snorkeling conditions here change hourly. We keep a running Conditions Report spreadsheet to better forecast future visibility for our boat charters.

GEAR TIP: When snorkeling off the beach, keep your mask around your neck (not your forehead!) and your fins securely in your hands. The waves may look unassuming, but gear is lost in the surf all the time.

San Diego marine life

San Diego’s rugged topography and its Marine Protected Areas create the perfect home for creatures unique to the Pacific Coast.

Although you can’t expect to see every creature on your first snorkel tour, there’s a good chance of finding kelp bass, sheephead, garibaldi, and blacksmiths almost every time you get in the water!

For those either lucky enough or patient enough, you may find giant sea bass, horn sharks, green sea turtles, sevengill sharks, sea lions or our curious harbor seals.

snorkeling-la-jolla

Photo by Michael Wimmer

san-diego-snorkeling

Photo by Frankie Grant

Accessing snorkeling sites

All San Diego snorkeling spots are public access. Some are easy to access, some require a strenuous workout, and some are only accessible by boat. See our next section for details on the main snorkeling spots in San Diego.

If you've never snorkeled before, we highly recommend joining a snorkel charter or a guided snorkel tour so you can easily find entry points and species of interest.

We are the only commercial boat running snorkel charters in San Diego and to the Coronado Islands.

LOCAL TIP: The early bird gets the worm! Get into the water and start snorkeling early in the morning when the reef is coming to life and activity is high.

Only San Diego snorkeling boat tour
Access to wildlife without the workout

Main San Diego snorkeling sites

The San Diego snorkeling map below includes our selection of best San Diego snorkeling spots dive sites from La Jolla, Point Loma, Mission Bay, and Coronado Islands.

Green icons represent easy-to-access spots, red icons represent spots that require a strenuous workout, and blue icons represent spots accessible only by boat.

La Jolla Shores

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Sandy Flats
  • Highlight: Leopard Sharks, Rays
  • Access: Boat & Shore

Marine Room

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Abundant Fish
  • Access: Boat & Shore

Turtle Town

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Sea Turtles
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

Devil's Slide Reef

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Horn Sharks
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

La Jolla Sea Caves

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Sea Caves
  • Highlight: Lighting Contrast
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

La Jolla cove

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Easiest Access
  • Access: Boat & Shore

Boomer's Kelp Beds

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Kelp Forest
  • Highlight: Sea Lion Colony
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

Bird Rock

  • Level:Advanced
  • Formation: Kelp Forest
  • Highlight: Giant Sea Bass
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

Mission Point Park

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Always Calm
  • Access: Boat & Shore

Sunset Cliffs

  • Level: Advanced
  • Formation: Kelp Forest
  • Highlight: Dramatic Seascape
  • Access: Boat & Shore (strenuous)

Lobster Shack

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Sea Lion Colony
  • Access: Boat (Coronado Islands)

Middle Grounds

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Harbor Seals
  • Access: Boat (Coronado Islands)

Keyhole

  • Level: All levels
  • Formation: Rocky Reef
  • Highlight: Underwater Archway
  • Access: Boat (Coronado Islands)

Public charters to Coronado Islands
Private charters to La Jolla and Point Loma

Main San Diego Snorkeling (and Diving) Areas

San Diego Snorkeling Shops

Waterhorse Charters

Zach Scuba Shack

  • Shore snorkel tours

La Jolla Kayak

  • Shore snorkel tours
  • Kayak snorkel tours
  • Snorkel gear rental

scuba diver girls

  • Shore snorkel tours

Everyday California

  • Shore snorkel tours
  • Kayak snorkel tours
  • Snorkel gear rental

La Jolla Watersports

  • Shore snorkel tours
  • Snorkel gear rental

Dive In Scuba

  • Shore snorkel tours

San Diego Scuba Guide

  • Shore snorkel tours

Scuba Diving San Diego

  • Shore snorkel tours

Snorkel San Diego

  • Shore snorkel tours

Snorkel San Diego Scuba

  • Shore snorkel tours

La Jolla Caves Snorkel and Paddleboard Rentals

  • Shore snorkel tours

Weekly trips on two boats
Friendly crew and creature comforts

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 crew—knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. They provided an excellent briefing on the wreck, the marine life we’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 visibility—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. Can’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! Don’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 I’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 she’s ever met. The divemasters I had, Brandon and Jon, are probably the best dive guides I’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 high—and they met or exceeded every one of them. If you’re looking to dive in the San Diego area, Waterhorse Charters is the way to go.