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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 StatesDirections
Open Water suggested8–23 m (25–75 ft) depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point) at a glance

La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point) is an 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 Angel shark, California halibut, and Sheep crab. Recent reports put the water around 25°C (76°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:03

Forecast for this hour · 15:00 · run 17 h ago
0.8 m (2.7 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 25°C · seasonal avg 20°C ( · Forecast 76°F · seasonal avg 68°F)

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

Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 8 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 6 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 5 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:36 · Sunrise 7:02 · Sunset 18:03 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.6 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 22:25 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near La Jolla Shores Canyon (Vallecitos Point)

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: California halibut, Sheep crab, Sand dollar
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. January, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 66% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 89% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (60°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  5. May, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  11. November, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  12. December, 88% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots

June and July have typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

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

    most recent 2013

  • Leopard Shark recorded here Aug, Oct (2 records)

    Triakis semifasciatamost recent 2014

  • 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

Newest record here: 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.

Data updated June 2026

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.

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