Getting Around San Diego On the Water
Caption: Coronado Ferry Landing
Coronado Ferry
San Diego's location on the Pacific Ocean and it's picturesque natural harbor allows for fun ways to explore the region via the water. A ferry will take you across the bay to Coronado, a harbor cruise will tour the sights within San Diego Bay, or venture farther out aboard a whale watching, sportfishing or charter boat.
The Coronado Ferry, owned and operated by Flagship Cruises & Events, runs regularly across San Diego Bay, between the Broadway Pier and the Convention Center in downtown San Diego and the Coronado Ferry Landing. A 15-minute ride one way, the ferry provides gorgeous views of the downtown skyline and the Coronado Bridge. Purchase tickets online or at any of the departure locations.
Whale Watching
During winter and summer, witness the long annual migration of 10,000+ grey and blue whales along the coast between Mexico and Alaska aboard a daily whale watching trip, most of which include a naturalist to help identify whales, dolphins, seals and other wildlife.
Sportfishing
Take to the coastal waters of San Diego for a half-day, full-day or multi-day sportfishing excursion. Named one of the best sportfishing cities in America, San Diego's catch can include yellowtail, white sea bass, bonito, tuna, rockfish, sheephead, sculpin, and barracuda among others depending upon the time of year.
> Go Sportfishing in San Diego
San Diego Bay Tours
Experiencing San Diego from the water an absolute must.
For a slower-paced aquatic adventure, book passage on any number of harbor excursions, dinner cruises, tall ship sailing outings or private yachts adventures. All provide a water-level view at San Diego's skyline, sealife and bayfront landmarks.
Or pick up the pace aboard a speedboat, high-performance catamaran, rigid inflatable boat or even the Stars & Stripes USA-11, the same yacht raced by Dennis Conner during the 1992 America's Cup. Some offer the opportunity to navigate and captain the boat, plus friendly guides packed with interesting and entertaining San Diego lore.
> Embark on 7 Spectacular Water Tours
Charter Boats
Chart your own course on the water with a sailboat, speedboat or fishing boat charter, with or without a captain. Be it a romantic sunset sail along the San Diego skyline or a private sportfishing trip with friends and family, a day on the water is a fun and memorable way to enjoy San Diego.
Whale Watching in San Diego
Whale Watching in San Diego
Sportfishing in San Diego
Sportfishing in San Diego
With the Pacific Ocean as its front yard, San Diego is a Sportfishing paradise! If you have a taste for fresh seafood, there is no more exciting or engaging way to guarantee quality and sustainability than to catch a fish yourself. San Diego’s ideal climate allows year-round access to saltwater fishing.
7 Spectacular Boat Rides / Tours on the Water in San Diego
7 Spectacular Boat Rides / Tours on the Water in San Diego
San Diego does boats. Not only is it home to the third-largest harbor on the West Coast, but it also boasts the largest man-made aquatic park in the U.S., Mission Bay. With that acreage of bay and ocean on offer, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out on the water. Commune with whales. Charter a romantic sunset cruise. Relive history. Eat dinner afloat. Cast your line and fish until nighttime. Whatever your pleasure, there’s a salt-water adventure waiting for you.
Boating & Sailing
Boating & Sailing
A mild climate and steady winds make San Diego the ultimate playground for boating of all kinds. From sabots to super yachts, cruise ships to catamarans, recreation to racing, San Diego is the place to get out on the water. Adding sailing and boating to your vacation itinerary is a breeze with numerous charter, rental and instructional services, plus dinner cruises, sport fishing, scuba diving excursions, whale watching and other ocean-going outings.