When the tides drop, a kaleidoscopic display of ocean life unveils itself in San Diego's tidepools. To attend the aquatic show, all you need to do is check the tides, pop on some old tennies, smear on some sunscreen, and head west until you hit the water. Remember, though, that it's absolutely forbidden to collect or touch any marine life you come upon. So many creatures found in tidal pools have been snatched over the last few decades that fewer are reaching sexual maturity, placing these delicate ecological zones in a state of danger.

Where to Look:

Tidepoolers delight in rocky, craggy areas of coastline, but only 10.7 miles of San Diego's 76 miles of shoreline fill the bill. Most of these stretches are in Ocean Beach, Point Loma and La Jolla, so your choice of tidepooling terrain is easy.

Ocean Beach
Located just south of the Ocean Beach Pier, this small grouping of tidepools is often overlooked but provides a great introduction for beginners. On any sunny afternoon you’ll find hermit crabs, beach crabs, shrimp, sea anemones and even an occasional small fish hanging out in the shallow crevices. The pools closest to the beach are relatively easy to navigate, but the rocks can be very slippery.

Point Loma
The west side of Point Loma's Cabrillo National Monument offers stupendous tidepooling, with water-filled crevices in flat reefs that extend far out into the ocean. Cabrillo Monument offers ranger-guided tidepool walks at most low tides, but be aware that collecting marine life is strictly forbidden. At the end of Catalina Boulevard are the Point Loma tidepools, a tiny enclave of public coastal access where sea stars, brittle stars, bat stars, sculpins (scaleless fish with spiny heads) and hermit crabs are aplenty.

La Jolla
La Jolla's rocky shores make it ideal for exploring, particularly the west side of La Jolla Cove or the reefs in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art. For secluded La Jolla tidepooling, hop on down to Bird Rock. At low tide, you can meander all the way to Pacific Beach Point. Because this area has less traffic than Cabrillo Monument or La Jolla Cove, you're likely to see more interesting creatures near Bird Rock. However, as with all tide pool areas, look but don't touch these fragile ecological zones.