San Diego, California Snorkeling - Mission Point

by Phillip Roullard
(San Diego, CA, USA)

Navanax inermis sea slug we saw snorkeling at Mission Point

Navanax inermis sea slug we saw snorkeling at Mission Point

One of the best places to snorkel in San Diego, California is Mission Point. There are no crowds and the parking is good, even in summer as long as you get there by 8AM, and there is lots to see. Plus it is a shallow entry and the water is typically calm because it is a protected cove.

My wife and I snorkel there at Mission Point often during the summer. We also go night snorkeling and see even more sea creatures.

Typically at Mission Point we will see navanax, sea stars, kelp fish, senoritas, moray eels, octopus and abalone, just to name a few. We see way more stuff here than at La Jolla Cove or La Jolla Shores.

Comments for San Diego, California Snorkeling - Mission Point

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Nov 26, 2018
 Thank You!
by: Nicole & Galen

Hi Phil, thanks for the information and picture about snorkeling in San Diego. It looks like it is Mission Point Park, run by the city. Here is a link to a map.

We assume you stay inside the protected cove as it looks like there could be boat traffic outside? Is there boat traffic inside as well? Is there a certain area of the cove you like best?
Nov 29, 2018
 Answers about boat traffic, etc.
by: Phillip

There is some boat traffic in the cove, but as long as you "hug" the riprap, you will be fine as boats don't get that close to the rocks, for a good reason. If you wander over into the eel grass which is farther away from the riprap and in to the cove, do be cautious and on the alert for boats entering the cove.

Also be careful entering the cove from the sandy beach as there can be sting rays there which are another neat thing to see as you snorkel along the rocks.

You can also round the point in to the boat channel which is safe as long you continue to stay next to the rocks. Typically there is kelp there which can shelter fish, but that depends upon the water temperature. The high water temperature this past summer was hard on the kelp and much of it died.

As you snorkel along the rocks in the boat channel, watch for fisherman's lines and go underneath them as a courtesy. Just raise your head up out of the water as you approach a fisherman's line so you can see where to go around the line.

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