Surf in San Diego today
San Diego County, California · 22 breaks ranked
PB Point is the call in San Diego today - chest to head high at 16 seconds with light cross-shore wind, rated poor to fair. Old Man's at Tourmaline is close behind.
1PB Point3.9ft–4.3ft
9.2 km8kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best Noon–6pm
2Old Man's at Tourmaline3.9ft–4.3ft
9.2 km8kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best Noon–6pm
3Swami's3.3ft–3.6ft
16.4 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
4Pipes3.3ft–3.6ft
15.2 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6pm
5Scripps3.9ft–4.3ft
2.7 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
6La Jolla Shores3.9ft–4.3ft
3.0 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
7Windansea3.9ft–4.3ft
6.8 km7kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
8Pacific Beach3.9ft–4.3ft
10.3 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
9Mission Beach3.9ft–4.3ft
12.5 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
10Ocean Beach3.9ft–4.3ft
15.5 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6pm
11Sunset Cliffs3.9ft–4.3ft
16.9 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
12Coronado Beach3.9ft–4.3ft
25.3 km6kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
13Imperial Beach Pier3.9ft–4.3ft
36.7 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best Noon–6pm
14Grandview3.3ft–3.6ft
21.2 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
15Beacons3.3ft–3.6ft
20.0 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
16Moonlight State Beach3.3ft–3.6ft
17.9 km9kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
17D Street3.3ft–3.6ft
17.7 km9kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
18Cardiff Reef3.3ft–3.6ft
13.9 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6pm
19Seaside Reef3.3ft–3.6ft
12.7 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6pm
20Del Mar3.3ft–3.6ft
7.8 km9kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
21Torrey Pines State Beach3.3ft–3.6ft
4.2 km9kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best Noon–6pm
22Blacks3.3ft–3.6ft
1.1 km8kn onshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6pm
Tomorrow, Friday 18 September
PB Point is the call in San Diego tomorrow - chest to head high at 15 seconds with light cross-shore wind, rated poor to fair. Old Man's at Tourmaline is close behind.
1PB Point4.3ft
9.2 km4kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
2Old Man's at Tourmaline4.3ft
9.2 km4kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
3Coronado Beach3.9ft–4.3ft
25.3 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
4Grandview3.6ft
21.2 km4kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
5Beacons3.6ft
20.0 km4kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
6Moonlight State Beach3.6ft
17.9 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
7D Street3.6ft
17.7 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
8Swami's3.6ft
16.4 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
9Pipes3.6ft
15.2 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
10Cardiff Reef3.6ft
13.9 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
11Seaside Reef3.6ft
12.7 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
12Del Mar3.6ft
7.8 km2kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
13Torrey Pines State Beach3.6ft
4.2 km2kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
14Blacks3.6ft
1.1 km2kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
15Scripps4.3ft
2.7 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–10am
16La Jolla Shores4.3ft
3.0 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–10am
17Windansea4.3ft
6.8 km3kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–10am
18Pacific Beach4.3ft
10.3 km4kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 8am
19Mission Beach4.3ft
12.5 km4kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 8am
20Ocean Beach4.3ft
15.5 km4kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 8am
21Sunset Cliffs3.9ft–4.3ft
16.9 km6kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 8am
22Imperial Beach Pier3.9ft–4.3ft
36.7 km4kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–10am
Surfing in San Diego
San Diego's coast runs forty miles from Oceanside to the border and faces almost due west, so the whole county takes the same swell - but not the same way. The reefs of Encinitas and La Jolla (Swami's, Cardiff, Windansea) need a long-period north-west or south swell to stand up; Blacks focuses anything through its canyon into the heaviest beach break in the county; the beach breaks of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach take whatever comes and are where the city learns.
On most days the difference between a good session and a wasted one is which of those to drive to. This page ranks the county's named breaks from today's and tomorrow's forecast, using the same model as the app.
Where should a beginner surf in San Diego?
La Jolla Shores - a gently sloping sandy beach with surf schools and a lifeguard tower, protected from most of the county's power. Pacific Beach and Tourmaline are the next step, and Tourmaline is the longboard beach where nobody minds a learner.
Blacks is for experienced surfers only: a long trail down, strong rips, and waves that are far bigger than the rest of the county. Windansea and Sunset Cliffs break over rock.
When is the best time to surf San Diego?
Autumn through winter - October to March - brings north-west groundswell and the best conditions at the reefs and at Blacks, with offshore Santa Ana mornings. Summer south swells favour the beach breaks and Cardiff; the water is warmest in August and September. Spring is the windiest and least reliable season.
Common questions
Where should a beginner surf in San Diego?
La Jolla Shores, then Tourmaline or Pacific Beach. All sand, all with schools, none with the county's heavier waves.
Is Blacks good today?
The table above says. Blacks needs size and a long period, and is only worth the trail down when it is rated good or better.
When is the best time of year to surf San Diego?
October to March for groundswell and offshore mornings. Summer for warm water and gentler south swell at the beach breaks.
What tide is best in San Diego?
It varies by break. The reefs - Swami's, Cardiff, Windansea - are better with more water; the beach breaks are more forgiving of tide.
Is the surf better in North County or the city?
North County has the reefs and more consistent shape; the city beaches are more accessible and gentler. On a big day North County; on a small summer day the city.
Forecast generated 17 September at 20:38 UTC. Open-Meteo marine forecast (EWAM/GFS Wave), scored with Frontside's model.
Description last checked 2026-09-17.
