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Rocks, rips, and reefs

Diving classes, free and open to the public

Getting ready for water
Getting ready for water

Of the several hundred rescues on summer weekends by San Diego lifeguards, most are people caught in rip currents. Yet those currents are used by surfers, kayakers, and swimmers as a path out through the breakers.

The 3Rs: Rocks, Rips & Reefs

Shore divers and snorkelers have to deal with surf and currents, too; hence only three beaches are noted safe for divers and dive classes out of the eleven listed on the city lifeguard webpage – La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, and the Children’s Pool.

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La Jolla Shores is popular for beginners due to the semi-protected beach with no reefs nearby. The Children’s Pool and La Jolla Cove are more challenging because of rocks and reefs, but are nearer kelp beds teeming with life, and free-diving hunters can legally target yellowtail and white seabass. There you will find more experienced divers. Most of the diving certification classes hold their open water dives at the more protected south end of the beach at La Jolla Shores in front of the lifeguard tower. Open water diving certification is required to scuba dive; classes cost around $500 for the basic package and can be obtained in as short as three days.

The San Diego Council of Divers is offering 3Rs (rocks, rips, and reefs) classes covering entry and exiting the ocean. Learn to identify underwater features by observation of surf and water movement, how to safely navigate rip and alongshore currents, and how to plan outings based on conditions and tide movement.

The 3Rs classes are free and open to the public, and SCUBA certification is not required. You’ll need a mask, fins and snorkel, and though the water is warm this summer, a wetsuit will guard against scrapes.

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Getting ready for water
Getting ready for water

Of the several hundred rescues on summer weekends by San Diego lifeguards, most are people caught in rip currents. Yet those currents are used by surfers, kayakers, and swimmers as a path out through the breakers.

The 3Rs: Rocks, Rips & Reefs

Shore divers and snorkelers have to deal with surf and currents, too; hence only three beaches are noted safe for divers and dive classes out of the eleven listed on the city lifeguard webpage – La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, and the Children’s Pool.

Sponsored
Sponsored

La Jolla Shores is popular for beginners due to the semi-protected beach with no reefs nearby. The Children’s Pool and La Jolla Cove are more challenging because of rocks and reefs, but are nearer kelp beds teeming with life, and free-diving hunters can legally target yellowtail and white seabass. There you will find more experienced divers. Most of the diving certification classes hold their open water dives at the more protected south end of the beach at La Jolla Shores in front of the lifeguard tower. Open water diving certification is required to scuba dive; classes cost around $500 for the basic package and can be obtained in as short as three days.

The San Diego Council of Divers is offering 3Rs (rocks, rips, and reefs) classes covering entry and exiting the ocean. Learn to identify underwater features by observation of surf and water movement, how to safely navigate rip and alongshore currents, and how to plan outings based on conditions and tide movement.

The 3Rs classes are free and open to the public, and SCUBA certification is not required. You’ll need a mask, fins and snorkel, and though the water is warm this summer, a wetsuit will guard against scrapes.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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