San Diego Beaches
San Diego has 70 miles of shoreline ranging from pristine white-sands to rocky shores. Some beaches (such as La Jolla Cove) offer gentle waves suited for children while others (such as Windansea) offer smashing waters suited for the very brave. Because of different water & shore conditions, some locales are suitable for swimming & snorkeling while others are great for surfing. Read about beaches here. 
Rules and Regulations
The beach is the place to go to kickback and relax. But in order to keep everyone safe, please adhere to these rules and regulations: - glass containers are not allowed
- alcohol of any kind is not allowed
- smoking is not allowed
- overnight camping is not allowed*
- open fires allowed only in City-designated fire pits or in personal barbeques that are elevated off the ground
- dogs are not allowed on the beach from 9 am to 6 pm. After that, dogs are permitted but must be on a leash. Owners are required to clean up after their dog**
*Beach camping is allowed at South Carlsbad State Beach, San Elijo State Park, Silver Strand State Beach (RV only), and Mission Bay (RV only).
**Dogs are allowed 24 hour a day without a leash at Dog Beach (Ocean Beach) and Fiesta Island (Mission Bay).
Lifeguards Lifeguards are on duty in some but not all beaches. For those who do not know how to swim, please play near a lifeguard station so that help is near by if/when needed. Lifeguards post flags along the beach to impart information. - A yellow and black checkered flag divides the beach into zones: swimming, surfing, or boating.
- A red flag signifies "no swimming here".
- A yellow flag with a black dot means "swimming only" (no surf boards or boats here).
- A green flag means "all OK".
Each beach uses a slightly different flag system so read the accompanying signs or ask the lifeguard to be sure.
On average, lifeguards in San Diego perform over 5000 water rescues per year. These include: - rescuing swimmers, divers, surfers;
- assisting stranded boaters, cliffside hikers/climbers;
- providing medical aid (jelly fish stings, sun stroke etc);
- and more!
They don’t just look good, they do good. So be respectful: it is a “Misdemeanor” to purposely disobey or provide false information to a lifeguard; it is a “felony battery” to intentionally injure a lifeguard.
Dangers
San Diego beaches are full of fun-and-sun, but they are many man-made and natural dangerous too. Before you pack your beach bag consider these hazards: red tide, rip currents, sting rays, jelly fish, and more. Play safe by reading about how to protect yourself from these dangers.
Choose a Beach
- Blacks Beach – clothes optional!
- La Jolla Shores – has open fire pits; gentle waves
- La Jolla Cove - visually stunning; best snorkeling & diving
- Children's Pool Beach – has sea lions & seals; walk along seawall
- Windansea Beach - has powerful waves; a surfer's delight!
- North Pacific Beach
- Pacific Beach -
- Mission Bay Beaches
- Mission Beach
- South Mission Beach
- Ocean Beach - has pier for fishing; rowdy night life
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