Australian-born, California-raised, pro surfer Rob Machado has spent most of his life atop a surfboard. Still one of surfing’s most iconic and beloved figures, he never strays too far from his favorite San Diego swells.

San Diego is a surfer’s dream, from easy beginner swells to challenging waves for the experts to rip. One of those experts is pro surfer Mele Saili. A San Diego local, she knows San Diego’s surf scene better than anyone, and she’s giving her take on the best of the best.

From the early days of action sports, San Diego was at the center of it. Surfing and skating both grew up in the streets and on the beaches of this destination, and it remains an awesome board-topia to this day. Action sports expert Chris Cote has spent his life in the thick of it, and is here to show you why San Diego is a true paradise of the surf and skate world.

Alana Nichols is the queen of aquatic adventures in San Diego. She's a multi-sport athlete and Gold Medalist in the Paralympic Games, training right here on the water in San Diego. When she's not training, you might find her kayaking, adaptive surfing, boating and being one of the destination's coolest beach bums. So, it's safe to say Alana knows her way around the water in San Diego. Here are her top spots.