Local Hazards for San Diego

A good source of information that concerns navigation as well as many other issues all boaters should keep abreast of is the U.S. Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners. For further information on Coast Guard navigation issues you should take a look at the Coast Guard Navigation Center .

You can get vessel movement information at Vessel Traffic Advisory.

At the entrance to the bay are several areas to watch out for. To seaward of Point Loma and the lighthouse are thick kelp beds, which run for about 1.5 miles south of the point. While the fishing is great, it's very easy to get kelp caught in intakes.

There are breakers near the tip of Point Loma as well, just inside the kelp line.

To the east of the entrance is a submerged jetty that runs for approximately 2 miles off shore. Some of the rocks are visible at low tide. This borders the Zuniga Shoal, further to the west.

At approximately 32° 41' 10.2"N 117° 13' 40.7" W , which is near North Island, is a submerged jetty. There are some that go into this area during high tides, but one does so at one's own risk.

There are shoaling waters near the entrance to Shelter Island. Be especially careful when entering near the southern tip of Shelter Island and follow the marked channel.

There is a shoal just west of the Coronado Ferry Landing and east of the carrier basin on the Coronado side of the bay.

Another shoal is just at the first dog leg heading south to Chula Vista and the entrance to the Sweetwater Channel. There are shoal signs (unreadable at night, small letters day).

And one more shoal is between the #1 green buoy and the amphibious base southeast at the entrance to Glorietta Bay. It can be trouble on average tides and to smaller vessels at low tides.