arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

Kelp Forest Diving in San Diego

An underwater adventure is waiting to be discovered

Whether you're an expert diver or just starting out, San Diego's rich and diverse kelp beds are teeming with life and waiting to be explored. 

By: Todd Lynch

San Diego's kelp forest is a thriving underwater ecosystem, supporting hundreds of species, and providing a unique undersea experience for divers. Kelp (an algae, not a plant) typically grows at depths of 30 to 80 feet, with narrow stalks rising vertically toward the surface by means of air filled bulbs at the base of their leaves. At the surface, these floating treetops form an overhead canopy. Rays of sunlight filter down through the leaves, illuminating the complex interactions of life.

What You Might See While Kelp Forest Diving

Near the surface, schools of baitfish move in cyclonic patterns, stalked by barracuda and yellowtail tuna. In the rocky reef below, sea stars and sea urchins scour the bottom, as lobsters, morey eels and octopus hide in cracks and caves, waiting for night to feed. Pastel-hued sea fans sway in the surge and gregarious Garibaldi fish guard their nests. Lucky divers are often visited by curious sea lions, soaring and spinning through the kelp stalks, or encounter bat rays resting in the sand.

Best Places to Go Kelp Forest Diving in San Diego

The best way to dive the kelp may be from one of the specialized charter dive boats that offer trips to the kelp beds off Point Loma and La Jolla, but the easiest is a shore dive starting and finishing at La Jolla Cove. The Cove is part of a long-standing ecological reserve and, as a result, the marine life is especially healthy and exceptionally trusting. With its north-facing orientation, the Cove is reliably calm and clear during the prime summer diving season. A swim of 100 yards or so will take divers to the inner fringe of the kelp forest, where it's not uncommon to encounter large sea bass, or the prehistoric-looking seven gill shark. Snorkelers will enjoy exploring the grassy shallows within the Cove itself or, on a calm day, the sea caves and sea lion colony just around the corner.

Other fine shore dives, conditions permitting, can be found along the reefs extending south of La Jolla Cove to Bird Rock, or on the wall of the submarine canyon that begins just off the south end of La Jolla Shores Beach. Spearfishing enthusiasts and lobster hunters should check with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine locations, seasons, size and catch limits for the different game they plan to hunt. Fishing, diving and specialty spearfishing shops can help get you outfitted and on the right track.

Further Afield

To experience the kelp forest and California diving at its best, consider an all-day boat trip to the nearby Coronado Islands, or a live-aboard adventure to the Southern Channel Islands, where the water visibility can exceed 100 feet and the animal life always seems to be wilder and woolier. Or, for the adventure of a lifetime, take a five-day expedition to Baja's Guadalupe Island, where you can cage dive with great white sharks (no scuba certification required)!

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Accommodation

Bayside Booze & Bites 

Humphreys Half Moon Inn
Valid: Nov 13, 2023 - ongoing

Join us for some Booze & Bites at Humphreys Half Moon Inn! Treat yourself to a tasty appetizer, enjoy delicious sips, and soak up beautiful bay views at Humphreys SoCAL Dining &...

Restaurants

Show Your Ticket & Save

Bronze Bird - The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Valid: Apr 17 - ongoing

Make it a memorable night of culinary and performing arts!  Enjoy 20% off food and non-alcoholic drinks for pre or post show dining at Bronze Bird, located only 1 block to the Balboa...

Camping & RV Parks

Active Duty Military Special

San Diego RV Resort
Valid: Mar 19, 2024 - ongoing

San Diego RV Resort is the preferred location for the Military to call home while on assignment. We offer all active military members our best-extended stay rates all year long so they can rest...

Events to check out

Event

USA Ultimate National Championships

Oct 24 - Oct 27, 2024

The USA Ultimate National Championships represent the pinnacle of elite ultimate in North America and crowns champions in three divisions: men’s, mixed and women’s. 

Event

Fleet Week San Diego 2024

Nov 1 - Nov 11, 2024

Experience one of San Diego’s largest Military events featuring Military Displays, High Tech equipment in the Innovation Zone, Active Navy & Coast Guard Ship Tours, Live Music, Food, and Fun...

Event

Father Joe's Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Walk

Nov 28, 2024

Welcome to the 23nd Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K at Balboa Park! San Diego's original and longest-standing Thanksgiving Day "turkey trot" is back, and it's critical mission remains the same: To...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish