Point Loma Kelp Forest Dive Charter, San Diego
Giant kelp on rocky reef · 2 dives · ten divers · boards 8:00 am at Mission Bay
Marissa Charters runs two-dive Point Loma kelp forest and reef trips from Mission Bay, San Diego, for $209 per diver, all taxes and fees included. The trip runs about five and a half hours to sites generally within seven miles of the dock. Ten divers maximum. AL80 tanks, weights and air fills are included, and nitrox is blended onboard.
What the kelp is like
Giant kelp on rocky reef, 25 to 114 feet depending on the site. The Point Loma forest, with the La Jolla forest to its north, is the largest stand of giant kelp on the U.S. West Coast, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography has studied it since the 1950s. Garibaldi, sheephead and lobster live on the reef under the canopy, and a sevengill shark passes through now and then. Sites are sites and marine life is never a promise. The whole story of the forest, from the Bottom Scratchers of 1933 to the Scripps study of 2026, is on our Point Loma kelp forest page.
Sites you might run
Treefish Terrace, Divers Disneyland, Strawberry Ledges, Connor's Canyon Pinnacle, Submarine Seamount, Bowsprits, Chris's Rock and Lost City are all Point Loma stops. The listing names the sites before you book, and the crew makes the final call on the water. Every site has its own page in our dive site directory.
Certification
Several of these sites are Open Water friendly. Some are Advanced. The trip listing states the requirement, and your card has to be current and match the dive. Not sure a trip fits your card, text Capt Lora at (619) 757-3280 before you book.
Kelp needs good buoyancy
A 7mm suit or a drysuit changes your trim, and sloppy buoyancy in kelp means entanglement. Stay off the bottom, keep your hoses tucked, carry a cutting tool, and if you get wrapped, stop, turn, and unwrap rather than kick. The crew briefs kelp navigation before the first dive.
What the ticket covers
- Transit to and from the sites
- Core crew, a Master Captain and a Dive Master
- AL80 tanks in DIN or yoke, and air fills
- Hard and soft weights with belts
- Your own dry bin and wet bin
- Enclosed head with an electric toilet and hot shower
- Snacks and goody bags, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options
- Water, hot cocoa, coffee, tea and warm packs
- A Marissa swag bag
Per seat, taxes and fees included. Pay in full, or use Affirm or Klarna at checkout.
What it doesn't cover
- Nitrox fills. $16 single, $28 doubles, for nitrox certified divers
- Rental gear. Through House of Scuba, roughly $57 to $89, plus $20 for pickup and drop off
- An in-water guide. Per USCG order our Dive Master stays aboard. We'll connect you with a trusted independent guide if you want one
- Crew tips. Customary 15 to 20%. Card, cash, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App or Zelle
Where and when
Mission Bay Sports Center, 1010 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109. Parking is free. Boarding is 8:00 am, and boarding is not departure. We leave once everyone is aboard, kit is mostly assembled and the briefings are done.
Water runs 50 to 52°F. Bring a 7mm with hood, gloves and boots, or a drysuit if you're trained in one.
Questions we get about this trip
How deep are the Point Loma kelp sites?+
From about 25 feet on the shallow reefs to 114 feet on the deepest pinnacles. The listing names the sites and their depths before you book.
Do I need Advanced Open Water for the kelp?+
Not for every site. Several Point Loma sites are Open Water friendly and some are Advanced. The trip listing states the requirement.
What will I see?+
Giant kelp on rocky reef, with garibaldi, sheephead and lobster on the reef and a sevengill now and then. Marine life is never a promise.
How long is the trip?+
About five and a half hours dock to dock, boarding at 8:00 am.
Are tanks and weights included?+
Yes. AL80 tanks in DIN or yoke, air fills, and hard and soft weights with belts are in the price.