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Map of La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point)
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IntermediateShore entry

La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point)

California, United States
Open Water suggested8–23 m depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point) at a glance

La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point) is a intermediate shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 7.6–22.9 m (25–75 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Two-spot octopus, Sheep crab, and California sheephead. Recent reports put the water around 24°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 3h ago
1.1 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 24°C · seasonal avg 21°C

Site hazards: Stingrays in the sandy shallows (shuffle feet), kayak and swimmer traffic overhead in the shallows, occasional currents along the canyon rim, dark conditions and cold thermoclines at depth (canyon water 53-58 F, as low as 49 F in late winter/spring), easy to overshoot depth into the canyon.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sun
Sun6:00–20:00
Mon6:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:31 · Sunrise 5:59 · Sunset 19:52

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.6 km from site · graded 3h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Two-spot octopus, Sheep crab, California sheephead
Best time: Summer and fall for calmest surf and best visibility; early mornings before the afternoon wind. Leopard sharks aggregate in the shallows June-October; squid runs and sevengill sightings occur in winter/spring. Night dives here are popular.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan70%15°C1.3 m
  2. Feb66%15°C1.4 m
  3. Mar62%15°C1.4 m
  4. Apr89%16°C1.2 m
  5. May96%18°C1.1 m
  6. Jun100%20°C1.1 m
  7. Jul100%21°C1.0 m
  8. Aug98%22°C1.1 m
  9. Sep99%22°C1.0 m
  10. Oct92%20°C1.1 m
  11. Nov91%18°C1.1 m
  12. Dec88%17°C1.1 m

June and July havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Two-spot octopusCommonly seen
  • Sheep crabCommonly seen
  • California sheepheadCommonly seen
  • Nudibranchs (various)Commonly seen
  • Bat rayCommonly seen
  • California spiny lobsterCommonly seen
  • Round stingrayCommonly seen
  • California halibutCommonly seen
  • Shovelnose guitarfishCommonly seen
  • Angel sharkOccasionally seen
  • Leopard sharkSeasonal
  • Sand dollarsCommonly seen
  • Broadnose sevengill sharkRarely seen
  • Market squidSeasonal

  • Urolophus halleri recorded here Mar, Jul, Nov (3 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Loxorhynchus grandis recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Neoclinus blanchardi recorded here Feb, Jul (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Octopus bimaculoides recorded here Jul, Dec (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Phalacrocorax penicillatus recorded here Nov–Dec (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Semicossyphus pulcher recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Squatina californica recorded here Mar, Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Triakis semifasciata recorded here Aug, Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2014

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

The most popular beach dive in San Diego, where an easy sand entry leads to the rim of the La Jolla submarine canyon. The main wall at Vallecitos Point lies in about 60-70 feet, with deeper sections descending in terraces past 130 feet and beyond recreational limits. Coordinates estimated for the canyon wall just offshore of the named entry point.

muckshorewall

Stingrays in the sandy shallows (shuffle feet), kayak and swimmer traffic overhead in the shallows, occasional currents along the canyon rim, dark conditions and cold thermoclines at depth (canyon water 53-58 F, as low as 49 F in late winter/spring), easy to overshoot depth into the canyon.

Reviews

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