San Diego County, California
29 spots
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Windansea stands as San Diego's most consistent and iconic break, rated 9/10. This flat rock reef under La Jolla's wealthy neighborhood produces long rights (up to 150m) and short hollow lefts.
Big Rock is a heavy, hollow left-hand reef break at the foot of Palomar Avenue. It produces fast stand-up barrels on west swells and is best suited to advanced surfers due to the very shallow reef and powerful waves.
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Blacks Beach represents San Diego County's best beach break and California premier beach break overall, rated 9/10.
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Garbage at Sunset Cliffs is an exposed reef with left and right peaks. It lights up during winter west and northwest swells and is best surfed at low to mid tide. Access involves scrambling down a cliff to a rocky beach; the wave is powerful with strong currents and is better for experienced surfers.
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Beachbreak at South Mission with a jetty that creates wedging waves. Big parking lot fills with volleyball crowds mid-day. Mid tide steadies the wave shape. Onshores wreck afternoons so go early for best conditions. The jetty rip runs hard on overhead pulses - keep eyes on the current.
Pacific Beach (Crystal Pier) offers multiple peaks rated 5/10—always something but rarely truly good.
Silver Strand State Beach (Coronado) offers beginner-friendly gentle waves rated 4/10 for inconsistency.
Sunset Cliffs features multiple reef breaks along Point Loma rated 7/10 with numerous named spots (Luscomb's Point, Garbage Beach, New Break, Abs, Osprey).
Tourmaline (Old Man's) provides exceptional longboarding and best beginner spot in San Diego, rated 6/10.
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Powerful beachbreak near the OB Pier with shifting sandbars that can handle serious size. The pier creates banks that often produce the best waves in the area. Morning offshore winds during Santa Ana conditions make for epic sessions. Be mindful of the jetty and pier - both create strong rips when the swell is up.
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Luscombs Point is a left-handing reef at Sunset Cliffs that produces long, powerful walls during west swells. Access is via a fenced point where surfers climb down the rocks and jump off a ledge; timing your entry with the incoming waves is critical. The wave is fast and shallow, so it's suited to advanced surfers.
Tijuana Sloughs represents legendary big-wave spot rated 5/10 for consistency but major pollution issues.
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Scripps Pier offers beginner to intermediate beach break rated 6/10, with pier structure creating defined peaks on both sides.
La Jolla Shores functions as San Diego's most popular beginner beach, rated 7/10 for learning environment.
Longboard and fish heaven with soft, rolling waves and cruisey shoulders. Best on mid to high tide with small W/NW or combo swells. The parking lot fills late morning but has decent turnover. Gentle vibe overall, though watch for drifting learners. Perfect spot for a mellow session on a small day.
Ocean Beach delivers San Diego's most consistent surf rated 8/10 but most dangerous beach. Receives all swell directions 200-310° (center 270°) with east offshore winds (90°).
Mission Beach serves as central San Diego surfing bellwether rated 6/10. Nearly 2-mile stretch from South Mission Jetty to Pacific Beach offers year-round beachbreak.
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Track marine layer burn-off and watch the tide flip around mid-morning. Use the crowd meter in Quiver to find gaps between surf school lessons.
Check live wind before you paddle. Kelp-protected reefs hold shape longer, while open beachbreaks favor lighter boards once the breeze arrives.
Pair the rising morning tides with combo swells for longer rides. If the main peak is slammed, drive five minutes to the alternates listed above.
Choose the objective that matches your session and we'll filter the best peaks.
San Diego has a long season of approachable peelers, surf schools, and forgiving sandbars. This guide highlights where new surfers can practice, how to pick a window with manageable tides, and what to expect from parking to post-surf snacks.
View the full beginner friendly playbookSan Diego can get claustrophobic on swell pulses, but shifting a few blocks or timing the tide flip often unlocks empty shoulders. Use this playbook to pivot quickly with backup spots, parking intel, and crowd-aware forecasting.
View the full less crowded playbookTides dictate which banks fire in San Diego. This breakdown maps upcoming highs and lows to the sandbars, reefs, and piers that flip on with just a foot of variance.
View the full tide timing playbookFrom spring upwelling chills to balmy south-swell summers, San Diego water temps fluctuate more than the forecast suggests. Use this guide to pick the right rubber and understand when sudden drops are coming.
View the full water temperature playbook