Water temperature in San Diego
San Diego, California
Updated February 10, 2026 at 7:22 PM · Dialed recommendations refresh every 30 minutes based on tide, wind, and crowd telemetry from Quiver.
Pack the right rubber and you'll extend your sessions in San Diego by an hour. Temps swing from upwelling lows to summer peaks, and the difference between a 3/2 and a 4/3 day can come overnight.
Thicker suit needed for cold water
Extras: booties recommended
7-Day Trend
Data from Avalanche
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
23 spots
Avalanche
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Big Jetty
AdvancedNo description available.
Blacks
AdvancedBlacks Beach represents San Diego County's best beach break and California premier beach break overall, rated 9/10.
Coronado North Jetty
AdvancedNo description available.
Crystal Pier
AdvancedNo description available.
Hotel Del Coronado
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Marine Street Beach
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Mission Beach
IntermediateMission 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.
Mission Beach (Central)
Beginner friendlyBeachbreak 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.
New Break (Nubes)
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Ocean Beach
AdvancedOcean 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°).
Ocean Beach Pier
IntermediatePowerful 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.
Osprey Point
IntermediateNo description available.
Pacific Beach
Beginner friendlyPacific Beach (Crystal Pier) offers multiple peaks rated 5/10—always something but rarely truly good.
PB Point
IntermediateNo description available.
Silver Strand State Beach
Beginner friendlySilver Strand State Beach (Coronado) offers beginner-friendly gentle waves rated 4/10 for inconsistency.
Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)
AdvancedSunset Cliffs features multiple reef breaks along Point Loma rated 7/10 with numerous named spots (Luscomb's Point, Garbage Beach, New Break, Abs, Osprey).
Sunset Cliffs – Garbage
IntermediateGarbage 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.
Sunset Cliffs – Luscombs
AdvancedLuscombs 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
Intermediate to expertTijuana Sloughs represents legendary big-wave spot rated 5/10 for consistency but major pollution issues.
Torrey Pines State Beach
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Tourmaline
Beginner friendlyTourmaline (Old Man's) provides exceptional longboarding and best beginner spot in San Diego, rated 6/10.
Tourmaline Surf Park
Beginner friendlyLongboard 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.
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What to focus on today
- Weekly temperature trends and seasonal averages
- Gear recommendations for dawn patrol versus midday
- Upwelling signals that drop temps overnight
- Health and recovery tips for long cold sessions
Session logging tips
Once you wrap the surf, drop a note in your Quiver journal with tide, board, and crowd observations. Over time you'll see crystal-clear patterns about when San Diego rewards this type of session objective.
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