San Diego
Snorkeling Guide
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
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.
Photo by Frankie Grant
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.
Photo by Michael Wimmer
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
Waterhorse Charters
- Boat snorkel tours
- Snorkel gear rental (boat only)
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
