Skip to content
Map of NOSC Tower
Add the first photo
IntermediateBoat entry

NOSC Tower

California, United States
Open Water suggested9–18 m depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

NOSC Tower at a glance

NOSC Tower is an intermediate boat dive site in California, United States with depths of 9–18 m (30–59 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Mussels and sponges, Gorgonians (purple and brown), and Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica). Recent reports put the water around 22°C (72°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 2h ago
1.2 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 22°C · seasonal avg 22°C

Site hazards: Entanglement in fishing line among the twisted girders, sharp metal, mild currents, surge in the shallower sections, cold water

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Wed
Fri11:00–19:00
Sat7:00–19:00
Sun7:00–19:00
Mon7:00–19:00
Tue7:00–19:00
Wed7:00–19:00
Thu7:00–19:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:05 · Sunrise 6:30 · Sunset 19:00 · all windows sit within daylight

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.0 km from site · graded 2h 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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Mussels and sponges, Gorgonians (purple and brown), Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica)
Best time: Fall and winter for best visibility; good year-round second-tank or night dive

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 seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

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 NOSC Tower was a 100-foot steel research platform secured to the seafloor about a mile off Mission Beach in 1959 by the Naval Ocean Systems Center for oceanographic and acoustics experiments. A large winter storm toppled it in 1988, leaving a 40-foot-square base and a tangle of girders and beams in 30-60 feet of water - the only Wreck Alley structure not sunk intentionally. The open lattice is plastered with strawberry and yellow anemones, gorgonians, hydrocoral, sponges and mussels, making it one of the most life-dense and photogenic dives in San Diego.

boatreefwreck

Entanglement in fishing line among the twisted girders, sharp metal, mild currents, surge in the shallower sections, cold water

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.