Dive Into San Diego: Snorkeling & Scuba Hot Spots for Summer 2025
If you enjoy spending time in the water snorkeling and scuba diving, plan an underwater adventure in SoCal, where you can enjoy these popular San Diego activities in all the area’s hot spots.
If you love to explore the city of San Diego, just wait until you discover the vibrant underwater world waiting for you! Whether you are an experienced scuba diver or want to learn during your San Diego vacation, you will be impressed with the San Diego activities and hot spot diving locations available near your suite here at The Pacific Terrace Hotel.
Get ready for the underwater adventure you have been dreaming of with these popular scuba and snorkeling locations in San Diego. Bring your own equipment or let our Pacific Terrace Hotel concierge help you with all the details and arrange for you to rent the snorkeling and scuba equipment you will need for the experience!
Wreck Alley (4 Miles From Hotel)
One of the most interesting things to do in San Diego during your stay at The Pacific Beach Hotel is to visit Wreck Alley, located between La Jolla and Point Loma. The shipwreck site and artificial reef known as Wreck Alley sit a few miles off the coast of Mission Beach and are home to eight ships and other structures for divers to explore. This is a true scuba diving and snorkeling mecca and features the HCMS Yukon, a Canadian destroyer, and the Ruby E, a 165-foot Coast Guard cutter. The shipwrecks offer large entry and exit holes that are easy to maneuver and are great for experienced wreck divers. In addition, they offer lots of great exterior options to explore for those just learning to scuba dive or want to snorkel around the shipwrecks.
La Jolla Cove (4.7 Miles From Hotel)
A colorful underwater paradise waits for divers and snorkelers at La Jolla Cove to explore. One of the most popular activities in San Diego, La Jolla Cove is a true diving paradise. Follow the steps that lead straight out into the ocean to find crystal-clear water perfect for snorkeling and diving. You will also experience the sea lions lounging on the nearby rocks or swimming playfully along the shore. La Jolla Cove is a great place for a coastal adventure in San Diego.
Turtle Town (4.8 Miles From Hotel)
Divers and snorkelers should put Turtle Town at the top of their list of things to do in San Diego, as this is one of the area’s best-kept secrets! You may have to search a bit to find this hidden treasure, but it is definitely worth it! Turtle Town is located in the center of La Jolla’s marine park, which can be accessed via La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, or the Marine Room. Turtle Town is a great spot for watching sea turtles glide through the water, and it is also one of the most popular snorkeling hot spots due to the shallow ocean depth.
Marine Room Beach (4.8 Miles From Hotel)
Marine Room Beach is filled with fun summertime San Diego activities for those who enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving. This lively area is perfect for beginners as well as experienced divers and snorkelers, and is located right by the Marine Room Restaurant, which is how this popular beach got its name! The water here offers a rich ecosystem of sea life with locals such as spotted leopard sharks, spiny lobsters, sea turtles, and friendly calico bass that love to hang out in these shallow waters.
Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve (5.8 Miles From Hotel)
Home to unique kelp forests, several shipwrecks, and a gorgeous underwater canyon, Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve is a diver’s dream with over 6,000-acres of seemingly endless underwater magic. Matlahuayl is home to a variety of species of marine life, including seals, sea lions, clams, and horn sharks and is a unique place to visit and explore during your vacation in San Diego.
Point Loma (9.3 Miles From Hotel)
Due to its colder water temperature and ocean exposure, Point Loma offers a unique underwater landscape and a larger marine life population than nearby beaches. The water is deep, and divers can explore between 45 and 120 feet beneath the surface. In fact, a dive torch might be necessary to help with visibility in the deep, thick kelp waters. Look for kelp forests, bass, treefish, kelpfish, and Garibaldi, as well as lobsters, moray eels, and sea sponges along the ocean floor.
Plan Your Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Trip to San Diego
If you’re looking for an unforgettable underwater adventure, spend the weekend enjoying some of the most popular San Diego activities on and under the water – snorkeling and scuba diving!
With some of the best underwater hot spots just minutes from your suite at The Pacific Terrace Hotel, you won’t find a better San Diego hotel for your scuba and snorkeling adventure!
In addition to the amazing San Diego scaba and snorkeling experience, you’ll enjoy your stay at The Pacific Terrace Hotel, where you’ll be treated to beachfront resort-style amenities including an outdoor pool and hot tub with views of the ocean, onsite café, direct beach access, complimentary bike rentals, massage therapy services, fitness center, and more!
Book your stay at the Pacific Terrace Hotel and let our concierge help you plan the perfect day on the water - snorkeling and scuba diving in San Diego.
