The 70 miles of coastline in the San Diego county can be divided into three distinct areas: the North County coastal region, the central coast, and the South Bay coast. Each has its own well-known beaches and breaks that offer unique experiences for surfers of all abilities. The North County coastal region stretches from Del Mar up to Trestles. The majority of the beaches are south or southwest facing and spots like Swami’s, Tabletops, Lower, and Oceanside Harbor benefit from off-shore reefs, river mouths, and man-made jetties which allow for incredible breaks.
These beaches are especially popular when a south swell comes in and combines with an offshore Santa Ana wind.The central coast, stretching from Point Loma to Torrey Pines offers the most diversity in its breaks. For example, you may want to head out to the jetties in South Mission or Ocean Beach where fast walls benefit those with short boards and better agility. Long waves at Tourmaline provide a slower ride for longboarders while the rocky coast at Sunset Cliffs and La Jolla have numerous right and left breaks that make good surf possible during swells of different directions, tidal conditions, and sizes. Those looking for bigger waves can head out toward the submarine canyons at Black’s Beach for big winter waves.
San Diego Surf Spots
The South Bay, from Imperial Beach north to Coronado, is another area worth checking out. The low sand beaches in this area can have formless waves which can be blown out by onshore wind, but when the surf is good it can be amazing. This is especially true in the south-facing north end of Coronado during the summer months.
Your Best Summer
Of course, finding the best surf spot is a matter of personal opinion. There are plenty of other breaks to choose from and some are far more crowded than others. Visit as many as you can and talk it over with more experienced friends to find your favorite. Be sure to also check the surf report before heading out to find out the direction of the swells and the times of high and low tide, as these factors can greatly affect the surf. Before long you will have a handful of favorite San Diego surf spots of your own.
