Dive Sites

A 166' US Coast Guard cutter, the second ship sunk in Wreck Alley. She sits upright and intact, completely covered in anemones and marine life, with good beginning-penetration opportunities.

A 100' x 32' kelp-harvesting vessel turned artificial reef. Her wooden hull and superstructure have collapsed over the decades but she now hosts dense marine growth.

Located south of the Point Loma peninsula on the US-Mexican border, the Hogan wreck rests just far enough from the San Diego dive boats to make it a real treat to dive. Originally 314 feet long, the ship now rests in about 125 feet of water in several pieces. Her bow section rests on its starboard side, and her stern sits upright. Most of the structure is collapsed; you can expect a consistent 125-foot dive forward of the stern section, which has the most relief of the whole site.

It looks a little bit like a miniature castle: it's about 60' high and 25' square on the sides, with a catwalk circling the perimeter. It rests on its side and, like many of the deeper dive sites around here, is covered in Metridium anemones. In the center is a large tube about 10' in diameter. Description from Ashley Armstrong. For more spectacular pictures follow this link: https://www.ashunderwater.com/blog/dive-missile-tower-wreck-san-diego/

Two P-38s get dived locally: the well known one off Torrey Pines at about 130', and a deeper, more intact one off Solana Beach at about 180'. We sometimes run them as a double P-38 day. The corrosive nature of saltwater has taken its toll but the plane is still a wonderful wreck!

A 366' Canadian Mackenzie-class destroyer in Wreck Alley off Mission Beach, and San Diego's signature wreck dive. She rests on her port side; large cutouts allow trained divers to penetrate.

A 166' US Coast Guard cutter, the second ship sunk in Wreck Alley. She sits upright and intact, completely covered in anemones and marine life, with good beginning-penetration opportunities.

A 100' x 32' kelp-harvesting vessel turned artificial reef. Her wooden hull and superstructure have collapsed over the decades but she now hosts dense marine growth.

The former Ingraham Street Bridge was demolished and sunk in wreck alley in the 1990s as an artificial reef. The cement pillars, railing structures, and other rubble are covered in Gorgonians (sea fans). These are a rare find in our local waters and well worth the dive. The field of rubble spans the length of Mission Beach, and each area offers different structures and a wide variety of sea life hidden amongst the crevices.

The pilings that supported the structure have been underwater since 1959 and are covered in life. The fallen structure is littered with invertebrates. It is a great place to practice penetration skills; while there is no actual overhead environment, the maze-like structure allows you to weave in and out.

A steel-hulled vessel intentionally sunk as one of Wreck Alley's artificial reefs off Mission Beach. One of the lesser-known, less-visited components of the Alley - not currently one of our regularly dived sites.

Three near-parallel rocky reefs running east to west with sand channels between them, so you get both sand-dwellers and reef life. Absence of kelp in the sand lets in more light.

A rarely visited Point Loma wall site with funky rock structure, nudibranchs, and large sheephead.

A Point Loma kelp-forest site with cavern-like reef structure. The site held onto kelp after the 2015 El Niño period when many local kelp forests were damaged.

The Ancient Sea Cliffs are believed to be the ancient shoreline of Point Loma. The structure here is unique from all of the other sites in the Point Loma Kelp. The rocky reef is littered with small caves, crevices, shelves, and vertical cliffs as large as 30' tall.

A San Diego dive site we run. Details on the site page.

A beginner-level kelp dive with varied topography, a 15' overhang full of nooks, and a small swim-through leading back to the top of the structure.

A rocky reef with newly sprouted kelp, medium caves, crevices, shelves, and vertical cliffs up to about 30' tall.

Chris's Rock often sports some zippy surface currents, along with the potential depth, making it an advanced-level dive. Named for one of the large rocks rising from the sandy seafloor, Chris's Rock consists of a series of rock piles among a sandy bottom. Swim east and you'll discover the rocks create a gently sloping topography; swim west and you'll find the large rocks have sheer wall faces. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to scope out. If this site weren't below the water, rock climbers would have a fun time practicing their skills around these piles.

A large 45' rocky reef pinnacle nestled in about 75' of water in the Point Loma kelp forests. The south end has a sheer cliff that begins at the seafloor and runs to the top of the pinnacle. The pinnacle itself is a tabletop of rocks and boulders teeming with schooling fish, surrounded by canyons that channel out in numerous directions. With overhangs, endless nooks and crannies, and abundant sea life this is a fantastic dive location. (Description by Dive Master Chris)

A newer site that's been a hit every visit - a bit of everything: sandy bottom, giant rocky crevices, giant kelp, and tons of life.

A shallow site with a diverse layout, easy to get around even without a guide. The reef has a large round rock with a hole straight through the middle of it, and that is where the name comes from. It sits above the thermocline, so the water is warmer than most of our dives.

A unique Point Loma kelp site where natural erosion has carved tables into the reef, with crevices and channels above and below holding abundant life. Investigate below the reef, not just above.

A large 45' pinnacle nestled in about 65' of water in Point Loma. The south end has a sheer cliff that begins at the seafloor and runs straight up to the top of the pinnacle. With endless nooks, crannies, and abundant sea life, this is a fantastic beginner-level dive :)

A shallow favorite, named for its shape: a long rocky structure that looks like a horse's head. Full of life for how shallow it is.

This rocky reef resembles a miniature city. One of the few sites that recovered from the El Nino, and so has a bit of a kelp forest. It also sports a fun swim-through that pops up about 10' off the sand and attracts several species of schooling fish. The modest depth means longer dive times. A beautiful and fun addition to our dive day!

One of the shallowest sites in the Point Loma kelp forests, and ideal for beginners and open water training. A mix of large boulders, plentiful marine life, and waters that lack a thermocline ;)

A unique reef structure in relatively shallow water set in a clearing ringed on three sides by large kelp forest, with cracks and crevices full of life.

Also called Jigsaw Wall, a newly discovered wall-style reef site with dramatic structure and a more secretive feel.

A San Diego dive site we run. Details on the site page.

A structure-focused rocky reef site with crevices, crags, caves, cliffs, and newly sprouted kelp.

A Point Loma macro site with ledges, reef structure, and kelp-forest life. Known as a newer favorite for photographers and critter hunting.

A rocky reef atop another rocky reef, shaped like a submarine both underwater and on the boat's sonar. Craggy rocks, overhangs, and lifts, with cliffs up to 15' tall.

An intriguing rock formation that grows from a 1' wall at its south end to 30' tall heading north, with 20' cutouts, a crevice, and a castle-top profile.

The Train Wheels dive site is named for its token namesake, a set of train wheels. There are a couple sets of them here and to see them lying where they do will surely boggle your mind. There is speculation that perhaps they were used as anchors or perhaps ballast on a smaller cargo ship. Some say they were once part of an exercise for Navy divers. Whatever the case may be, you would have to agree that the wheels are strangely out of place.

A rocky reef with pinnacles jutting up here and there; anchor in ~55' along a ridgeline that runs north, sloping to ~70'. An easy dive loaded with life.

In beautiful La Jolla Kelp marine reserve, this rocky reef is teeming with life! Large rock outcroppings sit right on the edge between the rocky reef of La Jolla and the sand falling away offshore at depths of 45 to 50 feet. There are lots of interesting rock fingers, small caverns, holes, etc. This is also generally the edge of the kelp forest, and one of the healthiest kelp forests left in Southern California. It is often clearer than our other shallow kelp dives.

Two rocky reefs in the La Jolla Kelp Marine Reserve, set near the transition between rocky reef and sand. Relief ranges from low ledges to larger outcroppings with holes, rock fingers, and small cavern-like features.

A full-day trip across the border to the Coronado Islands, Baja California - a sea-lion destination with clearer water and a wild-water feel, plus terrain like Lobster Shack, Keyhole, and Middle Grounds.

Located south of the Point Loma peninsula on the US-Mexican border, the Hogan wreck rests just far enough from the San Diego dive boats to make it a real treat to dive. Originally 314 feet long, the ship now rests in about 125 feet of water in several pieces. Her bow section rests on its starboard side, and her stern sits upright. Most of the structure is collapsed; you can expect a consistent 125-foot dive forward of the stern section, which has the most relief of the whole site.

It looks a little bit like a miniature castle: it's about 60' high and 25' square on the sides, with a catwalk circling the perimeter. It rests on its side and, like many of the deeper dive sites around here, is covered in Metridium anemones. In the center is a large tube about 10' in diameter. Description from Ashley Armstrong. For more spectacular pictures follow this link: https://www.ashunderwater.com/blog/dive-missile-tower-wreck-san-diego/

Two P-38s get dived locally: the well known one off Torrey Pines at about 130', and a deeper, more intact one off Solana Beach at about 180'. We sometimes run them as a double P-38 day. The corrosive nature of saltwater has taken its toll but the plane is still a wonderful wreck!

A Point Loma area where numerous WWII aircraft (Corsairs, TBM/TBF Avengers, SBD Dauntless) were dumped post-war - over a dozen documented across multiple dives.

One of the six vessels intentionally sunk to create Wreck Alley off Mission Beach; essentially undocumented beyond the bare name. Not currently one of our regularly dived sites.

A deep WWII Brewster Buccaneer aircraft wreck off Point Loma, located and identified through extensive research by the local tech team.

Also called the workboat, a 125' steel-hulled Coast Guard cutter sitting upright and intact. Debris and lift bags from a failed re-float attempt are scattered around the wreck.

The wreck of a Cessna 414 that crashed off Point Loma in June 2025, located and positively identified by the local tech team in coordination with the USCG, NTSB, and family. A respectful, somber site.

The Corsair Plane is a recently discovered dive site, and research into its history is still ongoing. Downed in approximately 120' of water, the wreckage is recognizable but fragmented. Fish netting partially covers the engine and wings; the wings and cabin section lie about 20' behind the engine, with the fuselage another 15-20' beyond that.

A WWII-era Douglas Skyraider aircraft wreck documented off San Diego via photogrammetry.

The F-4 sits around 150' off Torrey Pines, very close to the P-38. It is often dark down there with limited visibility. Check out this Great Video from Drew Wilson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMkWfvnWmU4

Downed in about 120' of water, the plane is in recognizable pieces. Fish netting covers a portion of the engine and the wings. The wings and cabin are directly behind the engine about 20' away. The fuselage is about 15-20' behind the wings and cabin. Covered in sealife, you will enjoy this new treasure to SD's diving community!

Two separate, nearly complete single-engine WWII fighter wrecks off San Diego, different variants of the same aircraft type. The Point Loma example is unusual for being almost fully intact.

A 128' wood-hulled Yard Patrol craft (YP-621) turned tuna seiner, now significantly deteriorated. Fishing nets and disorientation make a reel essential.

A deep ocean mound near Scripps Canyon, Murray Head will not disappoint. The topography levels onto sandy ledges with overhangs, and runs to 300'. Around 150' the seawall becomes littered with life. Few divers have been on it.

A WWII PBM Mariner flying-boat wreck off Point Loma, documented in detail via photogrammetry and featured in upcoming SoCal aviation-wreck work.

A sunken barge off Point Loma, dived and modeled by the local tech team.

2 species photographed here by our divers.

An ongoing deep-water search off Point Loma for the Ables' S-3 Viking, with multiple dived targets (wing sections, debris fields, mystery aircraft) at 190-280'.

WWII SBD Dauntless dive-bomber wreckage off Point Loma, part of the documented airplane junkyard of dumped aircraft.

Scripps Canyon is a deep canyon and wall near Scripps Pier. The canyon eventually drops to deeper than 1000', which creates the possibility for pelagic fishes to swim up and make an appearance. Scripps Canyon is largely a wall dive. The canyon walls begin around 90ft and descend to about 250'.

A steel-hulled working boat wreck off Point Loma found via sonar and documented with photogrammetry.

A distinct Avenger wreck off Point Loma, separate from both the deep (~250') TBM-3S2 and the shallower (~170') "upside-down" Avenger already in our TBM Avenger record.

WWII Avenger torpedo bombers lost off Point Loma. Multiple exist locally, including a deep intact example (~250') and an upside-down Avenger (~170'). Challenging deep-wreck dives.

Chelsea Lee was a fiberglass hulled sailboat. She sat for weeks abandoned and anchored off Point Loma. She finally gave in to the ocean and sank. The crew of the Marissa as well as some volunteers removed all of the potential environmental hazards that we could. "Although swells have long since reduced the fiberglass sailboat into a debris field, the rocky reef structure at the wreck site remains a favorite destination for divers due to its dramatic wall topography and rich marine life." (Ashley Armstrong, ashunderwater.com)

While only remnants of the massive ship remain, she is a spectacular dive. Her ribs and winch are visible, as well as a portion of her stern. The wreck is not the only thing to see at this site though; large 20' boulders house a large variety of nudibranchs.

A WWII submarine chaser sunk after a collision, resting at about 90' off Point Loma near the mouth of San Diego Bay. Notable for a widely-documented historical curiosity: her first, very brief, commanding officer was L. Ron Hubbard, later the founder of Scientology.

A San Diego dive site we run. Details on the site page.

One of the six vessels intentionally sunk to create Wreck Alley off Mission Beach; essentially undocumented beyond the bare name. Not currently one of our regularly dived sites.