Scuba & Snorkelling • Surfing & Windsurfing
Scuba & Snorkeling in San Diego
THE 10 BEST San Diego Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Scuba & Snorkeling in San Diego
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Travelers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travelers across the globe.
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Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours
Mission Bay Park
Scuba & Snorkelling • Nature & Wildlife Tours
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Scuba & Snorkelling • Shark Diving
Ocean Beach
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Pacific Beach
Scuba & Snorkelling • Gear Rentals
Scuba & Snorkelling
Mission Bay Park
Scuba & Snorkelling • Shark Diving
Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Rentals
Scuba & Snorkelling • Shark Diving
Sports Camps & Clinics • Scuba & Snorkelling
Multi-day Tours • Sports Camps & Clinics
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Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins
Scuba & Snorkelling • Surfing & Windsurfing
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What travelers are saying
- karishmasundaramMumbai, India10 contributionsThe kayaking and snorkelling tour was by far the most humiliating experience I have ever had. I think I puked as well. Definitely went back to the hotel dazed and confused, unsure of the ground under my feet.
However, 100% my fault. And I should start from the beginning. Buckle up, this is a journey.
I flew into San Diego after 38 hours of travelling on Saturday night. In my infinite hubris/optimism/stupidity (take your pick), I scheduled this tour for Sunday afternoon. It was.. not a good idea.
Severely jet lagged, zero sleep, and with a cocktail event I was meant to attend an HOUR after this tour wrapped, I went for the tour after spending the morning in a nearby aquarium.
It was doomed to failure. And fail it did.
I was too exhausted (and out of shape) to kayak properly. You know how there is always the one person who is woefully out of their depth on any tour, and is looked upon pityingly by all the others? Yeah that chump was me. Of the two tour (amazing, spectacular) tour guides, one was forced to babysit me. They even hooked up my kayak to theirs because I was SO behind.
So the kayaking part was bad. But the snorkelling part was great? HAHA NOPE.
It was so much worse. I was able to get out of the kayak, but couldn't clamp down on my nausea long enough to stomach the snorkel in my mouth. Lost cause. Time for everyone to clamber back onto their kayaks. Could I do it? Of course not. The guides had to haul me on like dead weight. I immediately started feeling even sicker. I leaned over to puke (sorry to the Pacific), and fell into the water.
The tour guide had to tow me into the beach Baywatch-style. She got me my bearings, and I slithered miserably back the dive shop.
Did I mention this was my first time ever?
Now, you can reasonably ask why am I putting this out on the internet; that too in a review. Tangent, much?
BECAUSE THE TOUR GUIDES WERE AWESOME.
It was my first time. They never for a moment made me feel like failure. I mean, I was definitely a 100% failure, but they were positive the whole time.
I always felt safe. It was terrifying to do something so out of my comfort zone on my own, but Niko and Kaya were incredible the whole time. They take their jobs really seriously, and they were exceptional in every way.
Again, my first time so I didn't know what to do, what to wear, how to do anything. They walked me through all of it super patiently. There was zero judgement (even though I deserved it) and they were incredible.
Even though I was very humiliated that I had to be hauled onto a kayak because of my negligible upper body strength and considerable body weight, I am totally going to doing this again. I will get into shape, find a way to conquer the gag reflex, and go back to Everyday California to do this tour again.
This time though, I will not puke in the Pacific.Written November 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Stetson D2 contributionsOnce 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!Written March 10, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Brian JAberdeen, MD1 contributionI used Islander Charters 4 times in the past. Sadly a planned 5th trip was postponed due to COVID then cancelled due to the Mexican government changing policies. Every time I went the trip was memorable. And for the cancelled trip the Islander returned my money in full within a reasonable amount of time. I am satisfied with their service and communication.
If the Mexican government ever changes policies again, I will be sure to use the Islander.Written April 28, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - mattykwinSan Francisco, CA22 contributionsCam and Lando are amazing instructors. They were incredibly patient and flexible while teaching us the basics of scuba diving. Highly recommend using them no matter what level of experience you have with scuba diving.Written January 21, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Alex B1 contributionIn November, I had an incredible experience on a snorkeling tour with Davor at La Jolla Underwater Park. Accompanied by four family members, it was the highlight of our trip. Davor was patient, knowledgeable, and accommodating. He taught us about the local marine life, and we had the opportunity to see horn sharks, birds, sea lions, garibaldi, sheephead, and cormorants, among others. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Davor.Written December 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- justin517Las Vegas, NV1 contributionThis shop is amazing, everyone there is super nice and patient, which is good because I ask 100 million noob questions! They have full service from gear, to fills, to instructing and the best guides!Written September 11, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Joshua J1 contributionMy wife and I had a great experience exploring La Jolla Cove with Matt! He was super communicative right from the start and make it very easy to have the right equipment and locate him on an otherwise very busy Labor Day weekend.
His knowledge and passion for marine biology was evident throughout the trip. He was more than happy to answer any questions we had and wanted to share little tidbits of knowledge as they came up. We walked away knowing much more about the local wildlife than we did at the start!
My wife and I had not snorkeled before and Matt was very perceptive to our abilities. He never pushed us too far outside our comfort zone and adapted the trip once he realized we were a little outmatched. He gave tips to feel more comfortable in the water and did everything in his power to give us a great experience.
We were so impressed with Matt’s experience and highly recommend for anyone to book with him if you are looking to get a taste of the native wildlife! We will be back (though probably to try the more beginner course lol)!Written September 3, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Benjamin W1 contributionMy dive with Joel in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve was hands down my best experience in the water, ever! Joel's expertise was evident throughout the experience, and his #1 priority is a safe dive. His dedication to educating and training others to dive safely and responsibly sets the standard for dive instruction. As a new diver who was quite nervous about my first dip into the Pacific, I can see myself enjoying the water in ways I’ve only imagined before. I felt safe and can’t wait to get back into the water! Thanks for sharing your expertise with me for a few hours, Joel!Written October 14, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ingrid OSioux Falls, SD4 contributionsHad an absolutely lovely dive with Julian at La Jolla Cove this morning!! Saw lots of sea lions, some fish and kelp. Julian was very calming, attentive, organized, and great with a fairly inexperienced diver (myself). Dive California was easy to book and is a great outfitter. i would recommend them to anyone looking to dive San Diego! As far as diving in December (I’m from the Midwest and am used to cold weather), i felt comfortable with a full wet suit, a hood, and gloves that Dive California provided. Everything on their website is as advertised!Written December 21, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Matt S7 contributionsMy son and I went spearfishing off of San Diego. I've been on a lot of guided boat trips (fishing and otherwise) and I really think this was the best and the most professional I've taken. Chris and Brittany were tremendously knowledgeable, patient, and informative. I can't imagine better guides. And they were great company too. They managed effortlessly the ambition of a 21-year-old (my son) and the more cautious approach of a 56-year-old (me). I will definitely hire them again next time I'm in town.Written August 13, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Coastal19152535525Los Angeles, CA1 contributionWonderful staff and experience. I had a great time and looking forward to going back. I also enjoyed the locations they took us to on tour.Written July 2, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lilfallgirl1Los Angeles, CA19 contributionsBrian Zach is the most experienced dive guide that I've ever encountered in Southern California where I have been diving since the late 90's. He is extremely knowledgeable and familiar with the San Diego coast. I've never felt safer and more comfortable while diving in an unfamiliar area with challenging visibility. I truly appreciate his respect for the marine life and his advocacy for their environment. After contacting several dive shops in search for a guide, I was referred to Zach's Scuba Shack which costs half of the price that everyone else quoted. But make no mistakes, his competitive prices are not a reflection of the quality of his services. I cannot wait to dive with him again, and again...and again!Written October 6, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- 俊慶 李Bellevue, WA3 contributionsGreat tours. I like it. Thanks for bringing me to dive in La Jolla. Highly recommend and wish you have nice experience as meWritten July 1, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SeekingClarity39 contributionsProfessional crew and an exceptionally well-run outfit. Captain Lora is on top of everything: from safety briefings to equipment management to helping divers in and out of the water. Chris did a great job of both captaining the boat and assisting divers, and Rod was incredibly helpful (thank you for fixing the strap on my new backplate and wing!) and he is clearly also a VERY knowledgeable divemaster. (California diving is always unguided unless you specifically choose to book a divemaster to accompany you, as one of the passengers today did.) It was a joy to have a crew that was incredibly competent and also personable, relaxed and good humored.Written October 19, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Priti N2 contributionsI went on a whale watch with Manolo and Stew on their zodiac. I was interested in Netzero because of their emphasis on eco-responsibility and dedication to honoring the ocean in their work as documentarians and as guides for us. The boat had a group - a mom and her 3 kiddos - and me, and our captains. I felt super comfortable and safe, and was treated with such respect, kindness and professionalism. We saw a glorious sunfish (mola mola) and several pods of dolphins who were all very curious about us! From the outstanding courtesy to the majestic experience of being on the water with people who truly appreciate sea life, my trip with NetZero will be among my most cherished memories. I also want to shoutout Manolo for making sure I got on a trip as a solo traveler. Paying for a private charter isn’t an option for me, so I asked them to let me know of any open seats, and they have twice now. Such incredible kindness! I am so thrilled and grateful to have spent time with Netzero in San Diego, and I encourage all to check them out. Can’t wait to bring my family for a trip.Written August 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
