San Diego · Baja California, Mexico, Mexico · Reef
Coronado Islands
Playful sea lion pups in clearer water across the Mexican border
The Coronado Islands lie across the border in Baja California and are dived on a full-day trip of three to four dives from Mission Bay. The draw is the sea lions, with pups that play around divers, and clearer water than the coast, with sites such as Lobster Shack, Keyhole and Middle Grounds between 6 m and 21 m.
Also known as Los Coronados.
Where it is and how deep
32.4175° N, 117.2605° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The day starts with the run south across the border, a transit on which dolphins or whales are sometimes seen from the boat. At the islands the boat works through several sites over three to four dives, including Lobster Shack, Keyhole and Middle Grounds, with depths from 6 m to 21 m (20–70 ft). The water is clearer than along the coast, often 9–21 m (30–70 ft) of visibility and about 15 m (50 ft) on average.
Sea lions are the reason for the trip, and the pups are playful. On the rock below there are garibaldi, moray eels, scorpionfish and two-spot octopus, plus plenty of macro life. Surface water runs at 16–21 °C (60–70 °F), warmer than the Wreck Alley and Point Loma sites, but it is cooler at depth, where most of each dive is spent.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
- Octopus & cuttlefish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows San Diego: Visibility is best from late summer into autumn and poorest from late winter through spring; lobster season runs October to March.
Dive videos
ScienceSea TV - Episode #4: Scuba Diving the Coronado Islands, Mexico · ScienceSeaTV on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Do I need a passport to dive the Coronado Islands?+
Yes. The islands are in Mexican waters, so a passport is required on the boat. The Mexican permit and visa are included in the trip from Mission Bay.
How deep is diving at the Coronado Islands?+
The sites are dived at 6–21 m (20–70 ft), with visibility often 9–21 m (30–70 ft) and about 15 m (50 ft) on average.
Sources
- Coronado Islands | San Diego Dive Site — Marissa Charters
- Coronado Islands — Wikipedia
More dive sites in San Diego
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Artificial reef
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An upright 1934 Prohibition cutter with a wheelhouse to look into
Similar dives elsewhere
Rated advanced for swift current rather than for depth.
Reef topography that mirrors the cliffs above, at 11 to 18 metres.
Reef
Anglin Pier Ledge
Fort Lauderdale · United States
A single shoreward ledge in 15–18 m, drifted after the wrecks
A King Neptune statue set down in the late 1970s marks the north end