The Point Loma beaches aren’t exactly your standard San Diego beach. They’re fairly rocky and uneven, and the shorelines tend to be fairly narrow, which is far from the wide, sandy beaches you can see throughout Southern California. You won’t be getting a lot of sunbathing done here, but these conditions make Point Loma perfect for both surfing and tide pools.
The surf here isn’t for the faint of heart. The large, fast waves make surfing fairly challenging, and the surf breaks are only accessible if you head out on a boat.
The lack of a nearby beach can make recovering after a wipeout more difficult as well. However, for those who accept the challenge, renting a surfboard and taking a boat out to the surf breaks can be a defining moment of your San Diego vacation. You’ll also encounter thinner crowds than on many of the beaches with more accessible surfing, so it’s easy to spend the whole day out in the waves.
On top of showcasing what San Diego’s surfing culture is all about, Point Loma is also known for its tide pools. When the tides go out, the divots in the craggy beaches fill with water and catch various sea creatures. Walk along the beach and peer into these tide pools for an up-close look at ocean life that’s as interesting and exciting as any aquarium trip.