Liveaboard Diving in San Diego
What To Expect On A San Diego Liveaboard
San Diego liveaboards do not dive in the San Diego area; instead, it is one of the departure ports for liveaboard dive trips that visit Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Socorro Islands in Mexico. When you think of California, generally, the thought is sun, sea, and surf, but we focus only on the sea. It is a buzzing place to start or finish your liveaboard trip, with lively nightlife, fantastic sunny weather most of the year, and much to do.
Liveaboard Diving from San Diego
Several liveaboard vessels depart from San Diego; they run from July to October, which are the peak seasons for Great White sharks, and sharks are what you will get to see on these trips. The liveaboards used to take divers to Guadalupe Island, a tiny island off the west coast of Mexico, which is still part of the Baja California state. This volcanic island only has a population of 213 people and measures 35km (21 mi) by 9km (6 mi), but it used to provide the best spot to go cage diving with Great White sharks. The main reason for this is the warm waters; there are also Great White sharks in Cape Town, for example, but the waters are much colder, so diving multiple times a day is not as pleasant. The second reason is that the visibility here is generally excellent; on average, it ranges from 42m to 50m (125 ft-150 ft), which is great to see sharks already coming from afar.
Until now, they have identified 171 individual sharks in the region, and every few months, different sharks come by. July and August are when the rowdy, bachelor, teenage males come by and provide divers with an energetic experience. In September, the females start showing up, and then you see a mix of sharks. Finally, in October and November, the large females appear, magnificent and calm creatures that are curious about the cage so it will be a perfect opportunity for some shark underwater photography. The combination of warm, clear, turquoise waters and the excitement of coming so close to some of the most impressive species of the sea is a truly unique experience.
NOTE: As of January 10, 2023, cage diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe, 400 miles southwest of Ensenada, Mexico, became permanently prohibited. The Mexican Government's ban covers all tourism inside the reserve, including film production and liveaboard diving.
Getting to San Diego
San Diego's international airport is the Lindbergh Field International Airport. It is located around 4.5km (3 mi) from downtown San Diego, so in an easily accessible place. Flights arrive from multiple destinations, including other cities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and even Tokyo.
The port from which the liveaboards will depart is the Unified Port of San Diego. Mexico liveaboards will depart in the evening, usually at 7 p.m., and arrive the next day in the afternoon, as Guadalupe Island is around 400km (260 mi) from the mainland.
