Canuck heading to San Diego

[DivingGal]

I'm heading to San Diego at the end of March on business. I was able to have the boss send me there a couple of days ahead of the conference so I will have time to explore.

So any recommendations of "must sees" (above or below the water) would be appreciated.

 

[kelpmermaid]

I'm not local, Diving Gal, but for info, you might want to check out:

www.divebums.com

I have only been down there to dive once, but it's drysuit territory on the wrecks - it was 53 at 75 feet in October on the Yukon when the water should be at its warmest.

The weather is still upredictable at that time, so if you don't get into the water, check out the Birch Aquarium at Scripps to see what you are missing. I know they have a website, but don't have that info at the moment.

Just found it: http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/

I have no idea what it is like to attempt to cross the border to Tijuana as a pedestrian anymore (or as a Canadian), but there is a trolley that will take you there. Do lunch at some point overlooking the ocean in LaJolla.

 

[sdbaroni]

Some good resturants at reasonable prices -

Sam Choys Bali Hai on Shelter Island - http://www.samchoysbalihai.com/ - great views across SD Bay to downtown - hawaiian style menu - http://sandiego.citysearch.com/profile/246670

Old Town Mexican Cafe - In Old Town San Diego, great food, good price - gets crowded every night of the week - if there is a long wait and room at the bar - head to the bar, you can order all the same food there. http://sandiego.citysearch.com/profile/86401

Taste of Thai - Hillcrest area, for Thai food. http://sandiego.citysearch.com/profile/91075/

Extraordinary Desserts - Just north of downtown off the beaten path but well worth the trip. http://sandiego.citysearch.com/profile/87100

The Prado Restaurant - in Balboa Park, if you head to the park for a quick walk around, make some time to eat here. http://sandiego.citysearch.com/profile/167743

Lots of resturants, live music, and dance clubs - Gaslamp District Downtown.

As for diving, something you probably really wanted to learn about right? If there is a boat heading for San Clemente Island for the day (it's about a 70 mile boat ride from SD) - that would be the best diving you could find in this area imho. Otherwise you can go off the beach at La Jolla Cove, Marine Room area just south of La Jolla shores. Local boats will head to the Yukon, Ruby E. Point Loma Kelp Beds (20 minutes ride) & Coronado Islands (1-1.5 hours ride) - here is a list of dive boats in SD - http://www.californiadiveboats.com/

Other thiings - Scripts Aquarrium as mentioned is very nice. The SD Zoo is also a wonderful place. Unless you want to see the big fish - I would not bother with Sea World.

have a great trip!

 

[sdbaroni]

Thought of a few more nice to do's in SD while visiting.

head over to Coronado and take inthe Hotel Del Coronado - built over a hundred years ago and sitting righ on the ocean - it is truly a beautiful place - http://www.hoteldel.com/

Do you like to hike and the beach - head to Torrey Pines State Reserve just north of UCSD. You can hike down to vistas on top of the cliffs overlooking the ocean. You can even walk all the way down to the water and beach. Head north or south for a stroll with the cliffs on one side and the pacific onthe other. Caution - watch for high tide and if you head too far south you will hit a swim suit optional area - you'll know when you do. http://www.torreypine.org/

For more great views of SD and the ocean - head out to the tip of Point Loma and take inthe Cabrillo National Monument. Ona clear day you can see all the way to Mexico and beyond as well as the mountains to the East (well what we call mountains anyway :^) - http://www.nps.gov/cabr/home.html

Again, Enjoy your Trip!

 

[trymixdiver]

I give the Aquarium a thumbs up too!

If you can hit the Yukon, but as the others mentioned there are more local wrecks and some good shore diving to enjoy also.

use that Divebums site, the dive reports section is a good one to watch as people post every weekend the conditions at the various beaches and wrecks. Good info there.

I will be doing the cabazon cruiser at the shores Saturday in fact.

Wreckmania III in San Diego , cool count me in!

Andy

 

[divedude]

kelpmermaid once bubbled...
I have only been down there to dive once, but it's drysuit territory on the wrecks - it was 53 at 75 feet in October on the Yukon when the water should be at its warmest.

53 at 75' :wacko: Remember DivingGal is a Canadian
That's shorty temp here!
We wish the water would get that warm
Very seldom above 50' at depth here.

 

[DivingGal]

Thanks guys & gals... lots of info. I'll be checking out some of those sites you've provided. I'll be staying at the Shelter Pointe hotel so hopefully won't be too bad to get to some of the places you've pointed out to me.

Natasha -- I'll pick up a "care" package if you're interested, and mail it to you on my return if you want.

 

[Natasha]

A Care package would be wonderful! Thanks.


PS. My parents live in San Diego. Ok I should have confessed that before. But, the truth is, I have never been able to dive while I'm visiting because ..well you know how it is when you visit Mom.

 

[DivingGal]

After approaching a couple of the shops on the Divebums site, I was asked did I want shore dives or boat dives.

Should I stick to the recommended boat dives by sdbaroni... go for shore dives?

 

[kelpmermaid]

I haven't done shore dives down there, but you might want to see what conditions are like. Viz would generally be better off of a boat...