Tide Guide
San Diego Tides
Tides are the heartbeat of the San Diego coast. They decide when tide pools open at Cabrillo National Monument, when surf reefs at Sunset Cliffs come to life, when sandcastles get built and washed away at La Jolla Shores, and when sea caves are safe to explore. Learning to read a tide chart is one of the highest-leverage skills for spending time on this coast.
San Diego experiences a mixed semidiurnal tide pattern, which means two high tides and two low tides each day, with noticeably different heights. The largest swing — from a "lower low" to a "higher high" — typically spans around 7 feet. Spring tides (around new and full moons) exaggerate the swing; neap tides (around quarter moons) flatten it. The annual king tides in December–January and June–July are the largest of all.
Above is today's live San Diego tide chart, followed by a quick primer on what the numbers mean, why they matter for tide pooling, surfing, fishing, and beach exploration, and the small mistakes that can ruin a trip (or a wetsuit) if you ignore them. Planning ahead? See the monthly minus-tide calendar for every negative low tide over the next 12 months, including the king-tide windows in December–January and June–July. Timing a session instead? Cross-check the San Diego surf report and pick a break from the San Diego beaches guide.
Lunar Tracker
Tonight's Moon over San Diego
Live lunar phase, illumination, and the next full moon — perfect for planning beach nights and tide pool walks.
Unable to load lunar data. Please try again.
Data source: U.S. Naval Observatory
Best for
Find your perfect match
Best low tides for tide pools
Top pick: Cabrillo at 0.0 ft or lowerPlan your visit when the chart shows a 0.0 ft (or negative) low — the most marine life is exposed.
Best for surf timing
Top pick: Match swell + tide windowMany San Diego reefs only work in a narrow 2-hour tide window — check before you load the car.
Best for shore fishing
Top pick: Sunrise on a rising tideIncoming water brings baitfish closer to shore — sunrise on a rising tide is prime time.
Best for sea cave exploration
Top pick: Falling tide at La JollaCave access opens at minus tides — but only enter on a falling tide for safety.
Best for king tide photography
Top pick: Sunset Cliffs spray showKing-tide highs at Sunset Cliffs turn into a dramatic wave-and-spume display.
Best for moon-phase planning
Top pick: Tonight's Moon TrackerSpring tides cluster around new and full moons — neaps at quarter moons. Plan with the lunar cycle.
Know before you go
Plan it like a local
Always check the chart before you go
Tide times shift by ~50 minutes each day. Yesterday's perfect 8am low tide is today's 8:50am low tide. Always confirm — don't assume.
Build in a buffer
If low tide is at 10am, start exploring at 9am and turn around by 11am. Water rises faster than people expect, especially across flat shelves.
Watch the moon
The largest tide swings happen around full and new moons (spring tides). The smallest swings happen at quarter moons (neaps). The Moon Tracker page shows tonight's phase.
Mind closed-off coves
At higher tides, some La Jolla and Sunset Cliffs coves are completely cut off from a walkable shoreline. Check the tide before committing to an exploration walk.
Beware sneaker waves
Even on calm days, occasional larger swells can run far up the beach. Keep cameras, kids, and dogs above the visible high-water line.
Use a backup tide app
When cell service drops in coves and canyons, a downloaded tide app or a printed chart from the visitor center is worth its weight.
FAQ
Frequently asked
- How do I read a tide chart?
- A tide chart shows water height (in feet) over time. Two highs and two lows happen daily on the San Diego coast. Numbers above zero mean water is higher than the long-term average; negative numbers (e.g. -0.6 ft) mean an exceptionally low tide — perfect for tide pooling. The tide moves in roughly six-hour cycles between extremes.
- What is the best tide for tide pooling?
- Aim for a tide of 0.0 ft or lower. The lowest tides of the year (king tides and minus tides) expose the most marine life. Plan to arrive 30–60 minutes before low tide so you can explore as the water recedes, and start heading back as it returns — the incoming tide can cut off access fast.
- What is a king tide?
- King tides are the highest predicted tides of the year, occurring in winter and summer when the sun, moon, and Earth align. In San Diego they can exceed 7 ft and cause coastal flooding, beach narrowing, and dramatic wave run-up. Photographers love them; property owners brace for them.
- Why are there two high tides per day?
- The moon's gravity pulls ocean water toward it, creating a high tide on the moon-facing side of Earth. Inertia creates a second high tide on the opposite side. Earth rotates through both bulges every 24 hours and 50 minutes, so each high tide arrives about 50 minutes later each day.
- How do tides affect surfing?
- Most San Diego reef breaks have a preferred tide window. Sunset Cliffs surfs best at medium tide; La Jolla Cove flattens at high tide; some sandbar breaks in Pacific Beach favor lower tides. Surf reports usually note the optimal tide range alongside swell data.
- Can the tide be dangerous?
- Yes. A rapidly incoming tide can trap explorers below sea cliffs at Sunset Cliffs, Sandstone Bluffs, and Black's Beach. Always know when the next high tide arrives, and never explore caves or coves on a rising tide without an escape route above the high-tide line.