Best Places To Snorkel In San Diego
San Diego is the best place to snorkel in all of Southern California. The ocean, bay and river waters that surround the city are teeming with marine life.
The best time to snorkel in San Diego is during the summer months when the water is warmest, but you can also try it any time of year if you’re not afraid of cold water. If you don’t have a wetsuit, consider renting one before you go out on your first expedition.
There are several places around San Diego where you can go snorkeling: SeaWorld, Mission Bay and La Jolla Shores among them.
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Best Time To Snorkel In San Diego
It’s never a bad time to snorkel in San Diego.
Seriously, this is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and whether you’re looking to get up close with some of the local marine life or just want to see some fish without having to swim too far out, there are plenty of opportunities for snorkeling.
The best time to go snorkeling depends on what you’re looking for—if you want to see seals or sea lions, summer is probably your best bet. If you’re interested in seeing sharks or other large fish, spring or fall will give you better weather conditions (and fewer crowds). And if you want to see lots of different kinds of fish in one place, any time between May and October will work well.
Snorkeling is a fun activity for all ages, and it’s a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the beauty of San Diego’s underwater world.
If you’re looking to snorkel in San Diego, make sure you do it during the day. The best time for snorkeling is usually between 9 am and 3 pm. That’s when the water is at its warmest, which makes it more comfortable for you and better for the fish! And if there was any unrest in the waters overnight, it usually settles down by this time as well.
Places To Snorkel San Diego
San Diego is known for its great beaches, but did you know that it’s also a haven for snorkelers? The waters off San Diego are filled with marine life and beautiful scenery, making it the perfect place to take a dip. If you’re looking for places to snorkel in San Diego, look no further—here are the best spots!
1. La Jolla Cove
The cove is hands-down the best place to snorkel at San Diego. It is accessible through a small beach located at the sea cliffs. When the waters are clear, you can see hundreds of orange garibaldi and many more fishes swimming around. The sea lions from the shores occasionally accompany the snorkelers on their adventures as well!
2. Marine room
The beach is located to the south of the LA Jolla shores towards the east of the La Jolla ecological reserve. Only a few feet away from the shore you can see beautiful leopard sharks swimming underneath. Around the rocks and reefs at the bottom, you can also spot California spiny lobsters, beware of the eels who also love hiding around the nooks of the reefs.
3. Mission bay
The extremely calm and shallow waters of Mission Bay are ideal for kids and beginners. Mission bay also has a beach for over 20 miles where the whole family can relax and enjoy. Here you can spot a variety of small fishes and also invertebrates like sea urchins, slugs, octopus and starfishes
4. La Jolla Shore
The location is on the same beach stretch as La Jolla Cove. Approximately 30 meters in from the beach are few of the best snorkelling spots. It is the best spot for swimmers of all levels. The spot is a host to leopard sharks but the sandy floor is host to stingrays, black bat rays, sand crabs, hermit crabs and sea snails too so be sure to check before you put your foot down!
5. Devil’s slide and sea lion caves
The spot is located off the coast of the seven sea caves. The location is maybe slightly difficult for inexperienced and first-time snorkelers to get to. If you look just below the surface of the water you’d see sea lions playing and swimming around. Rays, octopus and zebra perch are also a common sight. If you are lucky you just might spot a horn shark around the rock hedges.
6. Turtle Town
If you are a turtle lover, this is a must-explore spot! The spot is a little difficult to find as it is located at the centre of the marine sanctuary. For most of the year, the location is home to multiple varieties of colourful fish. At less than ten metres ocean depth you can spot the red and green kelp plants which are home to adult and juvenile turtles alike.
7. Shell Beach and boomers
This beach attracts lesser crowds than the others in San Diego but it is a beautiful place to collect shells and snorkel of course! Entering the waters here can be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers. The snorkel heads and swimmers are up for a treat as the location is home to majestic sea lions and grey whales as well! It is definitely one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets.
Turtle Town San Diego
Turtle Town is one of the coolest spots for snorkeling in San Diego, and it is somewhat of a hidden gem. The area is located in the center of the marine sanctuary, and has an ocean depth of around ten meters. Once you reach the area, you will be greeted by some of the coolest marine life out there – Sea turtles!
The most common species you will see are green sea turtles. They are very easy to spot because they are large and have a distinctive shell shape. They also have a darker green color than other sea turtles, which makes them easy to identify. The green sea turtle is also known as “honu”. Honu can live up to 80 years old! You may also see some hawksbill sea turtles, which are smaller than green sea turtles but have a similar shell shape.
You can visit Turtle Town any time during summer months (May through October) or winter months (November through April).
We’re Turtle Town snorkeling San Diego, and we want to help you experience the best that Southern California has to offer!
Our goal is to make sure that every one of our guests gets a fantastic experience every time they come out with us—whether they’re experienced snorkelers or just trying it out for the first time. We’ll work with you to find the right location and time for your group, and we’ll even help you figure out what kind of equipment you need before you head out on the water.
From there, all we ask is that you follow a few simple guidelines:
- Make sure to bring your own mask, fins, and snorkel—we provide everything else (a mask/fins set can typically be found at any sporting goods store).
- We recommend wearing a t-shirt or rash guard over your bathing suit when you get in the water—it will help protect against cuts from coral or shells. You can rent them from us if needed!
- We also recommend bringing sunscreen and plenty of drinking water with you on your trip!
Mission Bay Snorkeling
Mission Bay snorkeling is a great way to see the wildlife of Mission Bay without getting in the water. The bay is full of fish, sea turtles, and other sea creatures that you can see with a pair of binoculars or your own eyes.
The best part about snorkeling in Mission Bay is that it’s so easy! You don’t even need to put on a wetsuit—just throw on some flip flops and grab a mask and snorkel from home before you head out, then hit the water when you get there.
There are plenty of different spots around Mission Bay where you can go snorkeling: from Fiesta Island to Fiesta Island Pier, from Belmont Park to the bridge near Sea World, or even from Black’s Beach if you’re feeling adventurous enough!
Mission Bay is the perfect place for families to enjoy the water. The extremely calm and shallow waters are ideal for kids and beginners, and you’ll also find a beach for over 20 miles where the whole family can relax and enjoy. You can spot a variety of small fishes and invertebrates like sea urchins, slugs, octopus and starfishes.
Mission Point Park/Mission Point Beach in the southwest corner of Mission Bay is the place for snorkeling. This is a great area for beginners as snorkeling can be done in waist deep water. The snorkeling is done along the rocks that form the point from the beach.
The best places to snorkel in San Diego are La Jolla Cove, Spanish Landing Park, and Torrey Pines State Beach.
There are many beautiful places to snorkel in San Diego, but these three have been ranked among the top spots by locals and visitors alike. The great thing about all of these locations is that they are easy to get to, so you can spend more time enjoying yourself and less time trying to find a parking spot!