San Diego Beaches
with Tide Pools
BY BEACH TOWN
SAN ONOFRE
San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre State Beach Tide Pools is small rocky area that consists of a fascinating formation of steeply tilted sedimentary rocks exposed at low tide. Hermit crabs are common, and in the mid-intertidal zone there is a dense mussel bed. With some luck, you may observe an Ochre Starfish.
ENCINITAS
Swami's Beach
Swami's Tide Pools is a popular destination for school children field trips. During a good low tide, the tide pools are revealed on an extensive flat area, and you have a good chance of seeing sea hares, brittle stars, and octopi.
CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA
South Cardiff State Beach
The rocks at Cardiff State Beach Tide Pools are interesting sedimentary rocks about 45 million years old that contain fossil clams firmly embedded within.
LA JOLLA
La Jolla Shores
Just north of of Scripps Pier, Dike Rocks Tide Pools is part of the La Jolla Underwater Park marine reserve. You'll have a good chance of spotting a star fish or an octopus on a good minus tide.
Between Children's Pool and Hospitality Point
The big attraction of Shell Beach Tide Pools is Seal Rock Reserve, a big rock offshore where seals and sea lions come to rest and sun themselves.
PACIFIC BEACH
Tourmaline Surfing Park
Tourmaline Surfing Park Tide Pools is
a favorite spot for classes of biology students. Hermit crabs and sea snails are very common here. On a good low tide, you will have a chance to see sea urchins and brittle stars, or an octopus if you are lucky.
OCEAN BEACH
Ocean Beach Park
Ocean Beach Tide Pools is small tide pool area at the foot of Newport Ave under the Ocean Beach Pier, just south of the beach. There is relatively little to see during the average low tide. However, there are shore crabs, hermit crabs, and sea anemones, and lots of small chitons in depressions in the sandstone rocks.
POINT LOMA
A rocky beach at foot of Sunset Cliffs
Point Loma Tide Pools is the most extensive and visited of all tide pools, Point Loma Tide Pools is located at the southwest end of Point Loma next to the New Point Loma Lighthouse. Docents are available to answer questions.
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